Nope. A friend at work gets them every year and every year he gets really sick. This last month it was pneumonia. Super happy terrific! Last time I got one I was sick within 6 weeks.

Washing your hands on a regular basis goes a long way.

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

I am getting one!

Every year I say I'll get a flu shot and I never do.

Every year, I get the flu.

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Your favorite mafia sucks.

I used to get them all the time, when I worked in hospitals - because it was easy and they were free. Sometimes I got sick, sometimes I didn't.

Now that I'd have to actually exert some effort to get one, I haven't - for the past 3-4 years. Sometimes I get sick, sometimes I don't.

In my own little scientific study (n=1), I've concluded that it probably doesn't matter much either way you go.

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Dan DeMaio
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Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving.
- Albert Einstein

Rarely but they're giving them out free just down the hall tomorrow and since I'm going to be on the road alot this winter, I'm going to get one this year. At least when I end up sick as a dog all alone 1000 miles from home I will have done everything I could to prevent it.

I used to get them too, as they were provided free and at work. Then with the shortage last year, I decided not too.

No, never. I don't think it makes much sense for someone like me given the way the flu shot is set up. They only guess at what viruses will be around this year. It's an educated guess, but still a guess. The flu is not serious for someone like me. I'd rather risk my chances without the flu shot. If I was elderly or had some other illness, then I would probably get it.

Dawn

Nope. Never have. Just wash the hands a lot and stay away from crowds if you can. No flu and barely a cold for about 4 years.

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_________________________________
I'll be what I am
A solitary man

Nope I prefer to challenge my immune system while it is still healthy. When I get older or start having problems I'll consider it.

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Jim

**Note above poster works for a retailer selling bikes and related gear*

Even when I worked at a hospital I never got them.

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Paul

Just a couple of points...
1) flu shots protect you from the influenza virus, and only the strains predicted to be most common in any given year (a tough job that predicting, kind of like picking Kona winners)
2) since flu shots only protect from 3-4 strains at once, you can still get sick with a rare/mutated strain (less likely) or pneumonia, which is bacterial and flu shots do nothing for
3) getting a flu shot is a very good idea IF you have kids, have older parents/relatives, work in health care, education, etc...basically anywhere where you might be exposed to the flu, or expose someone else

IMO (end of rant) flu shots may not due much to protect a young, relatively healthy triathlete, but will protect the older/younger/weaker ones around us

I was pondering the same thing. I haven't gotten the stot in years and last flu season I was hit so bad that I missed an entire week of work, unable to even get up to let my dogs out the back door. It was miserable. I would like to not repeat that, but I am not convinced that the flu shot is any guarantee. Any one have any data on this or is it just a hit or miss sort of thing?

Every year since they are free here at work (getting one in about 30 minutes). Never get the flu, though I probably just jinxed myself.

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

I have gotten one every year for the last three or four years. I haven't gotten the flu, but I do occasionally pick up a bug that stays around for a couple of days each year. Last year, I didn't come down with anything, but I also washed my hands continuously. I'm very anal about washing my hands, but particularly during flu season. Handwashing is the best way to prevent the flu and other illnesses. I also stay away from buffetts during flu season.

RP

If you're not in a risk caregory, skip it. If you are at risk, get one. Flu shots don't give you the flu. What happens is that the makers of the vaccine have to predict more than a year ahead of time which strains will be a problem. If you caught the flu after having a shot, you caught a different stain. Washing your hands is one of the best things you can do to prevent illness. Insist that others (doctors, nurses, etc.) do it as well prior to treating you.

This has been a public service announcement of the Slowtwitch Department of Health.

Yes- but it left me feeling a little ill and I missed my workout that afternoon and the next day. The day after that I was fine.

I've only had a flu shot once in my life. Got it because my Dad was chronically ill at the time, and I wanted to protect him. That's the only year (since age 12 or so) I've ever gotten the flu. You can convince me it was unrelated, coincidental, etc. but it's hard for me to make sense of. So no flu shot for me.

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Suffering on the the bike is always more fun than suffering on the run.

Not until they take the mercury out of them...

No. I never get the flu so I don't think there's a point.

I also don't like needles.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

don't bother unless you are risky

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Train hard...race well.
www.jimmishler.com
"Jim, I happen to agree with you" DougStern

probably not. last two years I did and I didn't feel too good for a while afterwards. (timing, possibly, but quite frankly, I've only had a "flu" once...)

Never have. Keep the immune sys. strong the natural way.

Noni juice

Old Indian Syrup

Acupuncture

Plenty of sleep/antioxidants/and of course, hand washing.

Never have, never will. It has been recommended by my dad's specialist (MS) that none of his immediate relatives have one. There is no proven causal relationship between the flu shot and MS, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it can trigger symptoms in someone who previously never had any. My dad being an excellent example. Within an hour of receiving his first ever flu shot (provided for free at work) he started having symptoms. He's never been able to work since.

I've also never had the flu in my life.

Nope and I never get the flu. Of course, I will now X-(