iaink

The point is it may not be sufficient to kill you, but if you get flu, it may be sufficient to kill someone you pass it onto.

The more people that have the shot, the less any outbreak that that shot covers will spread and impact those that are at danger of serious consequences.

I consider it a civic duty, but then I wonder how effective the people developing the shot are at picking the active strains for any particular year.

I dont really see a downside, even if you get minor symptoms for a day or two, chances are you are going to be like that at some point over the winter anyway, and if it is a bonanza year for flu you are hopefully protected and helping to minimise the potential spread to others.

iaink

They would be walking to school or relying on mum and dad for a ride PDQ

Souvy

Minor symptoms? I was sick for weeks, as were many others. Compare that to the few days of symptoms when I've had the flu. Stuff civic duty.

BristolUK

We have it every year. My wife has a dodgy immune system made even worse with a treatment she gets.

It's recommended we have it for that reason but I'd want one anyway even if there wasn't a double recommendation for having diabetes.

I remember having "proper" flu once and that told me what I thought was flu previously was just a heavy cold. I don't want that again and certainly not when it could be even worse next time.

What if you get flu and can't clear snow?

iaink

Doncha think if the flu shot had that effect on everyone in a given year it would have made the news? Thats just weird. Ive had the shot for the last ten years or more, and nothing like that has ever happened to me or anyone else in the group here

Howefamily

I dont remember that last time I had "proper flu", I might even have been a child still

Tangram

Never had one.

bats

I get the flu shot. Flu season I get coughed and spluttered on by the clientele so I think it's sensible. Also if there's an outbreak and I haven't had the flu shot I'm not allowed to go to work so $$$ speaks.

I have had real flu once and never want it again so that's my main reason to have it. I've never had any reaction /adverse effects to the flu jab. It's free and it's no big deal so why not?

dbd33

So is getting a library card but I haven't bothered with that either. If people want to have it, good for them but, as you say, it's no big deal either way.

iaink

Widespread library card ownership is not, as far as Im aware, an effective public health measure to prevent the spread of a potentially lethal disease to the more vulnerable members of society.

Hawk13

Never had one , never needed one and don't believe in getting one.

Most people think they are on death's door and all they have is a cold.

curleytops

Agreed. I dodged the jab for years and hardly ever got sick. Then I started a job where I was handling money and dealing with the public all day and I was always picking up some bug or other. I think you have to consider your own overall state of health as Souvy said and the environment you work in.

Jingsamichty

I suspect the efficacy of the flu shot in preventing deaths by limiting the spread to vulnerable members of society is similar to the efficacy of full-body scanners at airports preventing deaths to air travellers... statistically miniscule but tremendously profitable for the manufacturers.

bats

There's no health risk associated with not having a library card.

(A plague of books will probably come rumbling down the road now)

No doubt I would have a different opinion if I hadn't had flu previously, and if I didn't work with people who did have it.

iaink

Given the rather dismal take up level demonstrated in this thread you may be right. But Im still going to get one as I still dont see a down side.