Yes, I just got mine today. The only regret I have is I couldn't get it via a nostral-mist, I am over the age limit for that type.

I haven't had a flu shot in years. I just don't get the flu and I work in health care. It is manditory this year even though I don't have direct patient contact, I have to get it. I hope they got the right stains in the vaccine this year because I don't want to be sick.

I teach crisis and risk communication at Washington State University. Any vaccination will injure and kill some people and some animals. In this case however, the chance of dying from influenza is many, many times greater than the risk from the vaccination, especially if one is over 65, under 5, or otherwise immunocompromised. It's funny because when people express a reluctance to vaccinate they do so in a way that implies they have some measure of control over their exposure and subsequent disease that provides greater protection than successful vaccination. That’s the same reasoning used by many people who are reluctant to fly and will state they will drive a car instead. Auto travel is thousands of times LESS safe than flying. Media makes its living on the injured person who took a vaccination but is reluctant to show the about 36,000 folks that will die with influenza or the 114,000 that will be hospitalized. Want to see a real story? Find the person who was infected with an influenza virus and cooked their brain with encephalopathy and a high fever or now has severely compromised lung function. See all the pink ribbons around rightfully raising breast cancer awareness? If we had a vaccine and we proved it could prevent breast cancer but up to 20 people in a million could potentially develop Guillain-Barre syndrome, would you take it? Remember breast cancer kills about 42,000 people per year with some 194,000 new cases reported annually.

We did last year courtesy of our IPA client, I think we all got mild cases of H1N1 anyhow since a separate vaccine that we didn't get was also required to hold off H1N1. This year, some of us had to quit seeing our favorite IPA doctors because Kaiser had the best deal on health insurance, and perhaps, directly related, there are no free shots being offered by our client this year that I know of. I'm therefore going to go ahead and take my chances.

I will absolutely get my flu shot as will my whole family!

I never got a flu shot until this year. I used to dismiss as paranoid/hypochondriac people who would get the flu shot. I still don't worry so much about getting the flu myself, but I work at a medical center and I figure I have a responsibility to reduce my chance of spreading the virus. The shot was available for free through work and it really couldn't have been any easier, so I really had no excuse.

Anonymous 10:13,

You're right. It should have been noted that the authenticity of the woman in the video has been questioned. I've added that to the post. Thank you.

Michael Sebastian

Re: Anonymous:
Not a chance. The government rushed through the making of the vaccines.
{First: disclosure - I work for US Health and Human Services.) It is deeply frustrating to read statements like this on a presumably professional forum. The flu vaccine for this year was developed following the same timetable with the same precautions as have been followed for the seasonal flu vaccine in all years past. A new vaccine is developed each year because the flu strains circulating change each year. The seasonal vaccine for this season protects against H1N1 as well as other flu strains. To state that its development was "rushed" is flatly untrue.

I work in a hospital. Our options were to get a flu shot and pertusis vaccination or wear a mask everywhere in the hospital for six months with the exception of the cafeteria and front lobby. Needless to say I got poked twice.

Absolutely yes. I work at a medical center and have a baby. I would never want to put my family at risk for something so completely preventable. And my organization provides them to employees for free.

It seems the original posting should have noted that the woman in the YouTube video was found to be a hoax. Even Inside Edition aired a story showing the falsity of the claim. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwlRwGQl5x4&feature=related

I already received my flu shot. I did it for selfish reasons (don't want to get sick), personal reasons (I have small children and don't want to share bad germs with them) and professional reasons (I work in health care and wanted to contribute to my orgs goal of 100% participation - either vaccinated or declined response). After being in meetings last year related to communicating the importance of vaccines and preventing spread of illness, I vaccinated myself for the first time against flu. For all the reasons listed above, I received the vaccine again this year and have had no complications.

People don't die from a flu shot. People CAN die from the flu, especially if they already have a compromised immune system.

I rarely get sick, but I'm getting a shot anyway out of consideration for my community. Put away the unfounded sci-fi paranoia and be more considerate of others.

Just got my company sponsored flu shot. Wasn't going to get one this year (just to take a year off) but there they were in the conference room, no lines, no waiting. Ingredients can't be any worse than that fast food I had for lunch yesterday.

I get sick every year, sometimes twice a year. I’m not sure if it’s the flu, but I know it usually hits me hard and lingers for a long time afterward. I had never had a flu shot before because of the stories; I’ve heard that it’ll only make you sicker. However, I decided to finally try it last week and see if I could avoid my annual illness (that, and my employer was paying for all the employees to get one). So we’ll see whether I get sick this year like usual, or if the flu shot does it’s job.

Nope. Never had one. I've heard horror stories of allergies (of which I have many) and even flu-like symptoms as a result. I'd rather let my immune system do its job by eating healthy and getting enough rest.

People forget so easily how awful it is to be sick in bed with the flu for days on end. I'll definitely be getting a flu shot since it increases my chances of staying healthy by 70-90%!

James A., et al,

Formaldehyde and Thimerosal are in flu shots. That's all I need to know to NOT get one.

I always get a flu shot. I work in corporate communications for a health organization, so I see first-hand how seasonal flu shots help prevent the spread of the disease. I also have diabetes, asthma and other chronic health issues, so I need the flu shot for my own protection. If I don't get the flu shot, then I seem to get every cold that circulates the town, and when I get them they linger or grow almost to pneumonia levels. Get your flu shot, and don't forget to wash your hands on a regular basis and cough into your sleeve (not your hand). Here's more infor, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.

I always get one. Read the facts about the flu shot before assuming it's bad because "the government rushed through the making of it."

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

Absolutely - already got one. Best part was that I did it at Harris Teeter; they've made getting these things so easy. If you do get one, do it sooner: takes about 2-3 weeks to build immunity.

Absolutely not. Never needed on before and don't need it now.

Ditto the previous comment about rushing through development. That simply doesn't instill confidence for me.

Not a chance. The government rushed through the making of the vaccines. I'll take my chances with the flu than with whatevers in the shot.