Quote:
Originally Posted by christiangirl
Well, I'll throw this in about flu vaccines. My mom has gotten the flu shot every year since I can remember and every single year, she catches the flu--not just a little discomfort either, she would be out of work for a full week or more. She's a really healthy person otherwise, nothing comprising her immune system or anything. However, my parents never gave me the flu vaccine when I was little for whatever reason and I've gotten the flu three times that I can remember (ages 9, 15, and 21). So, for obvious reasons, I never saw the point of having it. I got it this year because I intern at a hospital and they run around like everyone who doesn't get it is bound to die a painful, miserable death.  It was just for this year and, as I had a reaction to the shot, I don't plan on doing it again, unless I once again find myself working in a hospital or some other place with immonosuppressed people. And even then, it'd be for them and not me. |
That's probably because your mom came in contact with the flu before getting the vaccine or before the vaccine was in full effect.
There's a window of time that your vaccinator (is that a word? like, terminator) will tell you about when you get the vaccine. My vaccinator told me about the window of time years ago when I told her "flu vaccines don't work or they must give you the flu sometimes...because so-and-so still got the flu."
As for your reaction to the shot, the form that most of us sign at flu clinics (or your doctor can tell you) explains the risks for people with certain allergies and conditions. I always sign the waiver because the flu is worse than MY allergic reactions.