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• Tweet ^[1]
• Email ^[2]

I get a flu shot every year. I visit my doctor, pay my $10-15 or whatever it is, and get my shot in the arm. In some years, out of convenience, I get it at Costco or some other place, but generally it’s with my regular doctor and it’s not really a big deal. A few days of soreness in the arm and I’m on my way.

You’ve probably read all the news that this year’s flu season is going to be a particularly nasty one ^[3]. I have a few friends who have already come down with it and having gotten the flu in the past, I know it sucks. You feel heavy, everything hurts, and you sleep all day but never feel rested. I get a shot because I figure it’s ten bucks to have a pretty good chance of avoiding it.

I also know people who never get the flu shot, in part because they say they never get the flu. That strikes me as a pretty bad reason but I’m not in the business of trying to convince people to get flu shots so I usually just let it go. In all the times I’ve driven, I’ve only ever once gotten into an accident (someone ran a red light) but I wear a seat belt each time. But it’s all a matter of personal choice and I don’t judge, I am, however, curious why some people get a shot and others don’t.

I get it because I would rather pay $10 for a 50% chance at avoiding a flu that knocks me out for 4-5 days. That’s my logic and I know that the flu shot isn’t 100% protection, so I peg it at 50%. It’s probably higher but at 50% it’s still worth it to me. Heck, I’d pay $100 for a 50% chance to avoid 4-5 days of suck.

Do you get flu shots? Why or why not?

(photo: scelera ^[4])