Flu Sh*t

I find it interesting that for the past I don't know how many years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been trying to persuade everyone to get annual flu shots. They remind people that 36,000 people die of the flu every year, and that widespread flu vaccinations would cut down on that number. And I quote from last year's guidelines:

Epidemics of influenza typically occur during the winter months and have been responsible for an average of approximately 36,000 deaths/year in the United States during 1990-1999. Influenza viruses also can cause pandemics, during which rates of illness and death from influenza-related complications can increase dramatically worldwide. Influenza viruses cause disease among all age groups.
...
In the United States, the primary option for reducing the effect of influenza is immunoprophylaxis with inactivated (i.e., killed virus) vaccine (see Recommendations for Using Inactivated Influenza Vaccine). Vaccinating persons at high risk for complications each year before seasonal increases in influenza virus circulation is the most effective means of reducing the effect of influenza.

Read the entirety of last year's CDC flu guidelines here.

By contrast, you can click here to see one of the flu shot promo posters for this year. The headline: "Vaccination is Not the Only Way to Prevent the Flu." It goes on to suggest we not have close contact with sick people, stay home if we're sick, wash our hands, not touch our faces, get plenty of sleep, eat well, reduce stress, and drink plenty of water.

I'm young and reasonably healthy, hence not one of the high risk groups who are getting vaccinated this year, but I'm really not in to getting potentially fatal preventable diseases. With modern medicine, I'm also not planning to rely on the drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest method. I'll update tomorrow with the solution we're trying.