Do flu shots work?

Who here has sometimes gotten flu shots and sometimes not? Do they work?

I got one last year, but didn't get one this year. I was in Hawaii last year, so the only thing I got was alergies...but I didn't get the flu this year (yet O_o), so it's hard to say.

i got the one that they put up your nose this year, i felt like shit right before i got it, but it got rid of whatever i had. The only part that sucked was when the "doctor" jabbed it up my nose and tried to take out the front part of my brain.

I've had them, and they generally work.

The way they work, is that they isolate the flu virus, early in the season,
over in asia, etc. Then they grow a big vat of the virus. Then they kill it.
And that becomes the flu vaccine. They inject you with dead flu virus.
So your body sees the virus, and attacks it. That is why you may feel
a little sick or strange the first day or two. But your body will make
the antibodies to kill the flu. And because it is already dead, it will
not reproduce, and will not get worse, or spread. But since your body
will know how to deal with it, when you are exposed to someone
who has the live virus, your body will already have the antibodies
to destroy the virus. So you won't get horribly sick. The only problem
is that sometimes the virus mutates before it gets from Asia to here.
In that case, you will still get the flu, but because you have the
antibodies to a version that is very close, it will not take your body
as long to figure out how to kill the mutated version. So either way,
you do not get as sick as you would without a flu shot. The only
downside I can see, is that the more you let your body fight
infections, viruses, etc, the stronger your immune system will be.
A flu shot is kind of a cheat. An easy way out, so you do not have
to fight off the flu.

Yep pretty much what the deathknight said! I got one 2 years ago and every year before that and i always stil go the flu butnever realy badly, just a mild case of it. but the last 2 years I have gotten a really bad dose of it!

Last year they did not have enough vaccine, so not many people got it,
and those that did, had a watered down version.

And the year before, the flu mutated before it hit the US,
so the vaccine was not as effective...

But in past years, my co-workers were all sick and miserable,
but I got off without ever catching anything. Knowing how
miserable it can be, I think it was totally worth it, to skip
being so sick and miserable.

I take my chances, it makes life more interesting. will I get ebola today? we'll see...

I would have to say...no.

i am one of those people who gets reactions to everything. i got the flu shot a few years ago and 2 days later i got the flu. the doctor said it was impossible and then another doctor told me it was possible. but who knows it could have been coincidence? all i know is im not going to get it ever again, i dont want to get sick.

when I was in college the school gave free vacines every season and I made sure I got one- and every season I was flu free!! I stay pretty healthy though, and am rarely sick so I can't say that was it for sure, but- Im sure id didn't hurt- I never felt sick the next day or anything like most people say either-

I will just eat three square measl exercise and get 8 hours rest and take my chances.....haven't been serioulsy sick in 8 years

Getting a lot of rest is key.

I have been at work, but rested, and had people sneeze right on me,
and I did not get sick.

But when I do not get enough sleep, and I am tired, a sick person
can look my direction, and I catch it...

A rested and healthy immune system is a good thing.

Got one this year, have not gotten sick.
didnt get one last year, thought I was going to die.

I have a feeling my luck won't last forever

I dont' get the shot. I got it a few years ago....and I was really sick most of the winter. I haven't even gotten a cold this year....and I usually get away with the sniffles.

of course...now that I've said that..
*Ah-Choo*
Ummm...uh oh!!!

I have had flus shots for about 6 years in a row, they help to an extent. I have to get one for immunity issues, so it is well worth it.