Flu shot anyone?

carkris said:

Iam required to get it every
Iam required to get it every year unlessI have a good excuse. I did receive both the swine flu and regular flu vaccine during chemo. It was advised.

Every year, always by a nurse
I got my first flu shot in 2010, when I was not quite a year out of treatment, so made a point of asking my oncologist first, and he strongly encouraged it. I've had one every year since. I feel a little tired for maybe a day or 2 afterwards, and get a little bit of a scratchy throat, which my oncologist's nurse said was common, but it's all very minor.

Last winter, a nasty flu went around my office -- everyone dropping like flies -- and I never got sick. Impossible to really know if it was the flu shot or not, but I'm willing to make that bet.

My big issue is that I just can't let some random person trained to give flu shots stick a needle in me, so I never get mine just at a drugstore. I'm sure I'm being irrational, but it just gives me the oogies. Thankfully, I have a CVS near me with a Minute Clinic, staffed by nurse practitioners. Someone with "nurse" in their name is welcome to stick a needle in me! :-) The entire visit takes only a few minutes, and my insurance covers the entire cost. Well worth the time to me.

Traci

Everyone is Different
I get my flu shot every year for work. If I don't I have to wear a mask when I am with patients. My husband has asthma and probably should but he doesn't because he is an engineer and doesn't feel he needs it. (He isn't around too many people. There are only a dozen or so at his company.) He did get the flu shot when I was getting ready to start chemo and I don't think there were any ill effects.
In any case, I think we are equally healthy during flu season.