Had mine last Saturday, been getting them for decades. Never had any reactions. I got the regular shot which contains 4 strains.
My sig other was at the grocery store checking on a product and he noticed the pharmacy had flu shots, so he asked about them. He got the "senior" flu shot that contains 3 strains at a higher dosage. Plus he got a coupon for $5 at the grocery hot bar, you think he had struck gold :) Now with the "senior" flu shot, the pharmacist said it will make you very tired for a couple of hours, and sure enough it did. He's back to normal today.
My parents use to get their flu shots every year even up into their mid-to-late 90's. Not once did they ever have an issue.
I finally got my boy in for his much needed rabies shot, distemper and leukemia shots. Couple days later he couldn't keep any food down, so we took him to the Animal ER where they ran a battery of test. Doctor figured since Charlie was years behind in getting his shots that could have been the cause. Lesson learned.
Now I have two other cats [female] who aren't outdoors that much, and run from danger [where Charlie runs toward danger and makes friends with any critter that passes through the yard], that we will only do the rabies shot and nothing else on the other two.
I did have the flu when I was about 14 and was off school for two weeks. I do get mine reguarily these days can't afford the flu risks at my age .
I worked in family medicine, and gave thousands of vaccine injections over the years, and sometimes saw the side effects of those shots! But regulations dictated the schedule and they had to be adhered to I realize, as if not, a child could so easily get behind and not meet the requirements before starting school. But still, I hated that we had to administer so many so fast! Uggg! I have often wondered if there is any Vaccine connection to Autism, and I'd hate to think that there is, but who knows, so much mixed information out there about it! And Rainmom, as a Mom to an Autistic child, I hear your concerns, for sure!
I have to admit, that I have skipped the Flu jab for the past few years, and I've only had actual Influenza one time in my life many years ago, and would not want to repeat it, so I guess I should get my butt in there and get er done! Especially with an older person living in my home.
I am personally glad that the drs. are all on computers these days as it makes my life easier. I can sit and look at our health charts, renew scripts and keep track of moms appointments.
I do volunteer work at a regional hospital, and during the flu season the ER is packed with people who are so very sick and dehydrated. I am always hoping that no elderly person is among the patients because it is extremely high risk.
The hospital even starts to limit visitors.... no one under 18 is allowed to visit patients during the flu season... and any visitor who feels a tad under the weather must wear a hospital mask and use the hand cleaner. Us volunteers are constantly using those hand cleaners.
Everyone has the right to make their own healthcare decisions, however, I suspect that if everyone really learned the facts about immunizations, the risk factors associated with getting the flu, etc., that they would get it.
It can't protect you 100%, but, it's better than no immunization. I've gotten it almost every year since I was a young adult and I've only gotten the flu once, and that was in the SPRING of the year when I had just traveled to EUROPE. I got sick on the flight home. I'm not sure if my shot from the year before had worn out or it was a different strain of flu.
It's a myth that one can get the flu from a flu shot. What happens when one does get sick not long after having the flu shot is because they already have the flu virus caught from someone else, but the symptoms weren't showing as of yet. It takes 2 weeks before one gets the full coverage of a flu shot, so if one already has the virus that shot isn't going to help for that strain... but will help for the other strains.
With being caregivers, it is very important to have that flu shot. I would hate to pass on a flu virus to an elder, as one can have the virus and feel good not realizing they have the virus. Hug Mom or Dad, or kiss them, oops, now Mom or Dad could get the flu.
My parents had worked at a regional hospital at the front information desk for over 20 years... they got their flu shot every year.... not once did they get the flu. Same with me, I also do volunteer work at this same hospital. It is now mandatory for all Staff, volunteers, and vendors who come in on a regular basis to get the flu shot. There is major building going on, so all the construction workers need the flu shot. No shot, no work.
Angel #2
On the year I got no flu shot, I had no illnesses beyond seasonal allergies...no fevers etc.
Angel