The vaccines are known to usually lessen the symptoms even when they aren't a perfect match, so even if the herd immunity stuff doesn't float one's boat, self-interest should.

Last year was the first year I ever got a flu shot. A couple months after being vaccinated, I got a different virus that caused a near-fatal case of bronchitis. I suspect, but cannot prove, that if I had contracted the flu at the same time I got the bronchitis, I wouldn't be here to bore you with this.

Infections that affect essential organs like the heart and lungs shouldn't be taken lightly, especially as we age. Flu isn't a big deal for young folks, but it kills us elders with great frequency, even when we appear to be healthy prior to infection. That said, everyone here is an adult and gets to make his/her own decisions. Whatever anyone decides, I hope it works out for the best.

Oh man... I am so sorry to hear that [MENTION=459252]mwalsh5757[/MENTION] :(

You have my deepest sympathy. So many people have passed away from the horrible flu epidemic! It starts out innocently enough:
1) You feel like you just have a cold. No biggie... You'll shake it off, you know?
2) You wake up the next morning with a 100.8 fever, chills, and you honestly, can't breathe.
2a) If left untreated, it quickly turns into pneumonia.
2b) Pneumonia turns deadly, as your lungs, alveoli, bronchial tubes get all infected.
2c) You quickly develop sepsis, as your body tries in vain to fight off the pneumonia, and sadly and tragically, you become a statistic in the news. :(
3) You go to the doctor and they shove that long Q-tip up your nose (almost puncturing your brain!) and it comes back positive for the flu.
4) They put you on Tamiflu and Azithromycin (Z-pack) and darn near quarantine you from everybody, and you are out of work for up to a week.

Thread moved from 50+ forum to Pills and Ills subforum.

Currently in recovery mode from the flu right now. I haven't been this sick in over 20 years. My wife brought it home from school a month ago. She is still sick. My daughter contracted it 2 weeks ago and started feeling normal yesterday. She and I have taken Tamiflu. It really does work, however the virus just hangs on like a bad dream after the Tamiflu wears off. I still have weakness in the legs, gunk in the lungs and generally have zero energy.
By the way, one rare, but real side affect of Tamiflu is hallucinations. I had them for sure, but still soldiered through with the program. I just want warm weather and sunshine. Why does she insist on living in Michigan? This place sucks!

I’m 6 days into it. It’s a fight to keep blood sugar numbers down. Fever around 101. The sneezing and cough is better. The worst of it was yeasterday. The sneezing was so violent my back feels like I had a powerlifting workout. :)