Considering I have had the flu a couple of times when I haven't had the shot, I do think it does what it advertises. When I was younger and more hale, a bout of flu didn't really bug me that much, but the older I get the harder it is to shake it off, so I've gotten resigned to getting one every year no matter what kind of side effects I have from the actual shot.

The pharmacist who gave it to me said that following an informal poll, no one she's dispensed flu meds to had gotten the vaccine. So yeah, I'll put up with the weak and the owies and the stupid brain.

Since I was sick for basically all of November and December, I couldn't get a flu shot (I do usually get one, but they turn you away if you're a walking petri dish), so I just kept thinking, "Come on, herd immunity!"

And I didn't get the flu, though that could have been because The Pleurisy was powerful enough to defeat all other diseases that wanted to set up shop.

Steph, I'm just getting mine now due to the two courses of prednisone and then that virus I had a couple of weeks ago. But the word is it may be going around for another couple of months, so I figured better late than never.

I think they've gotten better at formulating the flu vaccines. The first couple I had back in the 80s laid me out with a mild flu for 2-3 days. Having had the Hong Kong flu that didn't last that much longer, I saw no difference in getting the vaccine or not getting the vaccine. These days, about all I get is a tender arm and that's it. More than an acceptable trade off.

Steph, I'm just getting mine now due to the two courses of prednisone and then that virus I had a couple of weeks ago. But the word is it may be going around for another couple of months, so I figured better late than never.

Hmmm. I should probably do that, too. Somehow I always think that once the holidays are over, flu risk is gone. I know, I know, it makes no sense if I stop to think about it.

I was at the doctor on monday and could have gotten a shot but he was like, eh, kind of too late in the season for it.

I get the flu shot every year and am very grateful for it when most of the kids are laid out with it and I remain healthy. Getting flu-like symptoms from the shot is nothing compared to missing the actual flu.

so I just kept thinking, "Come on, herd immunity!"

I tend not to trust the herd. Plus a lot of holiday travel and being around mini petri dishes.

That and having had Tussie come to visit, I try and avoid what I can.

I got my flu shot in the fall and then had flu like symptoms and a good fever for a few days missing all of my Columbus weekend plans. But hopefully it will protect me from getting sick during the winter.

And speaking of winter, I am not leaving the house again until March at the earliest. If by some chance someone convinces me out of the house before then, I am certainly not driving.