Please feel free to also post after you take the poll, to explain any concerns.

Question:
Since it's the flu season, I just want to see how many people take the flu vaccination, and how many do not. If you have let us know if you have had any severe reactions to them.

Choices:
Yes, I have(I have not had any ill reactions.)
No, I do not take it (due to severe reactions.)
Yes, I have to because of being in the medical profession (I have not have any severe reactions.)
Yes, I have to take it due to my profession (I have had severe reactions, but still take it.)
Other (Choose this one for any other situations)
No, I do not take it just because I do not believe in them.

 

Not only do I not take it, but I wonder about people who can't take it due to them being in poor health. I guess they would fall under the other category.

No, I don't get the Flu shot. I've done it once or twice, but since I didn't get sick using or it and didn't get sick NOT using it, I decided to not use it.

No, I don't. I'm not yet of an age nor am I within any of the other categories for which the NHS says it is necessary. None of my friends and relations, with the exception of my mother (who is old), have it either.

No. I am not in any of the "high risk factor" groups and since They can't be certain from year to year exactly what strain will be the most prevailant, let alone to which specific strain I might be exposed, I believe that the risks outweigh any potential benefit.

I last got a flu shot in 1992 (and last got full blown flu in 1993). Some years I tell myself I am going to get the shot, but just never do bother as I am not high risk.

Two of my previous jobs offered the flue vac as a voluntary bonus, so I had it for about 6 years, and never had an issue other than a slightly sore arm for a few hours. I am not taking it anymore, because I couldn't be bothered paying for it.

I actually got one for the first time this year. My mom wanted me to get it because she thought this year would be different or something.

Nope, I don't get it. Mainly because I hear every year about shortages and there are probably lots of other people who need the immunization a lot more then me.

I don't get a flu shot even tho I am considered "high factor" due to having asthma. But on the other hand I am "high factor" to not receive it due to having Guillaine Barre. Even if I didn't have that I still wouldn't get a flu shot because the shot is only for a specific strain - usually the one most prevalent that year - and there is no guarantee you won't come down with another strain of influenza.

I do not get a flu shot, because I remember that when I had a flu in the past, I got a headache slightly worse than the migraine headaches which I used to get, and that when I had a virus in the past, I climbed onto my knees to bang my head on the headboard due to stomach cramps. I guess that I can do these two creepy things again and live, but these days I try to remember to pray and get God to remove what begins to come upon me, and He seems to be getting rid of any symptoms, too.

I usually get one, since they usually are free at work. I'm the kind of person that is likely to get sick if I am not careful. Ed always gets one, since he works in an environment where he is in contact with people who are contageous, and is very susceptible to germs that come into the house. I couldn't find one last year, though, since there was such a shortage.

I got the flu about 20 years ago, and I didn't even know there were flu shots then. I was sick for three weeks, it was awful. Never want that again.

I've never had one before so see no reason to start now

I'm with the others, citing that just because you get a flu shot it may not protect you from another strain floating around that year.

I am in the "high risk" group, too, also because of asthma, but I never got a flu shot until last year. I had the flu pretty miserably the year before that, but never really thought about getting the shot because I don't often get that sick. However, my mother was going through chemo last year and her doctor told her that her immediate family should all get flu shots, so we all did. And I didn't get sick. So I got it again this year. Besides, they're giving them at work so I didn't even have to go anywhere.

I had the flu shot twice in earlier years, each time I did I got another form of flu which did not fall under the realm of that year's flu shot. I do get pneumonia shots regularly I have a history of getting a cold/flu which develops into walking pneumonia thus am classified as high risk for pneumonia.

I hear tales of mercury and other interesting things in the production of the flu shot. Is this true? I do not know.

My thoughts on the matter is that the body actually needs to get sick occasionally in order to get stronger. Like eating dirt as a kid - it actually is beneficial and strengthens the child's immune system against other predatory viruses and bacteria's. Common cold and flu may be a pain in the.... when you have it but if they don't kill you (as in high risk groups which have complications from these ills) they make you stronger.

This year is a different story my doctors insisted, and all of my immediate family members have (through doctor suggestion) took the flu shot.

Well having practiced as a surgeon for 30 years I never did get the flu shot and I of course was exposed to many illnesses.
I remember there being one strain sometimes back that when the patient took the flu shot they came down with Guillian-Barre Syndrome .
Since I am retired and over 65 decided I would follow the recommendation of one in this age group.
I haven’t had any bad problems with the flu shot. I have taken the Hepatitis B vac years back since needed that doing surgery. Have taken the Hepatitis A vaccine also.
Haven’t gotten to the Pneumococcal Vaccine yet.
Through the years I have had very little episodes of flu illness so can’t tell if all this makes any difference.
Some of our ancient statistics of viral epidemics causing many fatalities was due to secondary bacterial infections for which the treatments in the past were not as good as they are now.