This is the time of the year when everyone should be vaccinated.
Between September and December, during the Fall season. Why?                         
Because the flu (influenza) usually hits during Fall and Winter.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Everyone, specially if you have children. Definitely, if you are more than 55, suffer from any chronic condition like asthma or  diabetes, have to take aspirin, etc... Everyone should get vaccinated. Period.

Why Should One Get Vaccinated?

An estimated half a million people have died in the US since 1957 of
flu-related conditions. In some epidemics in the past, 2 million people would die worldwide in one single year! And, not necessary sick people. But also young, strong, working people.

Besides, if you don't get immunized, you can pass on the germ to the
your close ones. Your young children, your elderly parents, your
debilitated bosses and co-workers, your sick patients (if you have
any...) will be at high risk to become statistics themselves.

Last but not least, if you don't get vaccinated some other quidam
will sneeze on your face, or will kiss you, shake your hands, or share
his knife with you and give you the virus. The least which will then happen to you is to be sick (fever, cough, muscle pain, vomiting, etc...) for a whole week. Then, you will have to miss work (that's OK). But you will also miss that wedding you really did not want to miss (and that is not OK).

What If You Were Vaccinated Last Year!

Yeah, but the virus changes its genetic code every year. It is like
the Camry. Same car, but different every year. So, you have to take
it again.

Can You Get Influenza From the Vaccine?

Not a chance. The virus in the vaccine is a killed virus. The only side effects of the vaccine are some muscle aches, and little fever for a day or two.

Important. There are a lot of respiratory infections manifesting 
themselves with cough, sneezing, fever that you can develop during the
winter. Those are not caused by the influenza virus, though we call
them 'flu', by lack of better pop terminology. Remember, that the real
flu (influenza) is a serious infection which kills people, mostly
children and the sick and the elderly.

Can You Be Allergic to the Vaccine?

Unfortunately, you can. Mostly if you are allergic to eggs. So call
you doctor and/or go to the Emergency Room if after taking the shot
you develop a bad rash, real high fever, a rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing... You are not supposed to. But, allergic reactions to the flu vaccine are very, very rare. Not an excuse for anyone to skip a yearly shot.

Can This Shot Save Your Life?

For real, it can. Every year it saves millions of lives. It may have saved your life last year. You just did not know about it, because you had your shot. And remember, more than anything, it protects your child.

(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Wednesday, September 29, 1999).