The CDC is encouraging Americans to get their flu shots early

[Ian David]

NECN/CNN: Susan Hendricks) - Fight the flu -- that's what the Center for Disease Control is asking every American age six months old and older to do.

"It absolutely will protect you for the full flu season which is from November to the end of March."

The flu shot protects against the same strains as last year, including the H1N1 virus.

But that doesn't mean if you got your shot last year, you can slip by this year without getting one.

"That protection wanes over time, so over time you won't have the optimal protection..so if you did get the flu vaccine last year, please get it another this year, because that will raise you antibody levels."

There is no shortage of flu shots this year.

More:
http://www.necn.com/09/13/11/Fighting-the-flu/landing_health.html?blockID=563378&feedID=4210

[HuckleB]

1. Our five-year-old got his yesterday.

I'm going to get mine on Thursday.

[Ian David]

2. Gonna get mine tomorrow. n/t

[laconicsax]

3. I'm avoiding it....

I read on VAERS that the flu jab turned someone into the Incredible Hulk, and even though I look good in both green and purple, that prospect terrifies me!

:scared::scared::scared:

[HuckleB]

4. Buck up, man. Halloween is just around the corner.

It's a free costume!

[hedgehog]

5. Thank you for the reminder! Thursday's the day for me!

[slipslidingaway]

6. My husband and I had ours today, selfishly I would encourage people ...

to get one as he is at day +347 from his stem cell transplant.

edit - thanks and rec.

[trotsky]

13. Wish I could rec your reply.

This is the most important reason we vaccinate: to protect others. I get the flu shot every year (provided supply is good and I'm not taking from someone else) despite being a healthy adult male. I could handle getting the flu - but I get vaccinated because I don't want to be part of the chain that spreads it.

[phylny]

7. I gotta talk it over with my doc

I have gotten sick the last two years from the vaccine (and no, I'm not an "anti-vaccine" person). I've lost weekends with flu-like symptoms after having had the vaccine on Fridays two years in a row. I am not sure I'm up for it again.

[hedgehog]

10. I think sometimes the flu vaccine activates the immune system -

resulting in fever, chills and fatigue! My grandmother was one of those people who got sick from the flu shot every year. Having watched her friends die during the flu epidemic of 1919 though, she was the first in line to get her shot every year!

It's a matter of balancing the certainty losing 2 days to vaccine reaction vs the possibility of losing 2 weeks to the flu and maybe 2 months or more to full recovery.

[SheilaT]

8. No thank you.

I've apparently had the flu enough times in the past that I'm quite immune. It's probably been on the order of 35-40 years since I last got it. AND, I'm pretty sure I've had a type A flu, either the Hong Kong or the Asian all those many years ago.

[trotsky]

12. For the sake of those around you...

please consider getting the vaccine. You can still catch and transmit the flu even if you never exhibit symptoms. It doesn't hurt you, and it can help others.

[HuckleB]

9. Study suggests flu shots keep kids out of hospital

http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110919/study-suggests-flu-shots-keep-kids-out-of-hospital-110919/20110919/?hub=EdmontonHome

[eShirl]

11. I'll be getting mine within the week.

If I'm not mistaken, Medicaid covers it in my state.