What are the pros and cons of getting the flu shot?

Answer 1

Pro:

• Over 36,000 people die from the seasonal flu each year in the US. Flu vaccinations help prevent more deaths.

• When you get vaccinated, you help prevent death in infants, elderly and the ill who can not get their own vaccinations, or who can not produce the needed immune response to have their own immunity. ALL infants under 6 months old could die if you get the flu and give it to them either directly or indirectly. They can not be vaccinated until 6 months old, so your immunity from the flu vaccine is mostly what they rely upon to protect them (by having one less person infected with influenza, rapidly making and spreading more viruses, and spreading influenza to many more people who will do the same, exposing more and more infants and others to potential harm and death).

• You have a significantly decreased chance of getting a flu virus that season and some protection in the future against the same or similar viruses so you will not be one of the 36,000 who die from the flu each year.
• Flu vaccines are made the same way as they have been for decades and the statistical analysis indicates it is far safer than not getting vaccinated. The incidence of problems from receiving vaccinations is extremely low, especially when you consider these are given every year in every nation across the world to millions upon millions of people and have, thus, been proven safe. They are proven well worth any minor risks. See the information below from VAERS (US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) in the related links section.
• You can not get the flu from the vaccines.
• There are now alternative administration routes and many people no longer have to be vaccinated with a shot. See the related questions.

Con:

• Some people have stronger immune reactions to the vaccine (intended purpose, this is how immunity is produced) that will cause mild flu symptoms or local tenderness at the site of the injection that last a few days.
• Incorrect information is spread about the safety of the vaccines and people are afraid to get the vaccine which puts all infants under 6 months old at higher risk of death from a case of the flu.
• A very small number of people will have allergic reactions and some die. This is true for all medications on the market, none are without some risk. Even over-the-counter Tylenol and aspirin have as many or more risks and untoward effects when used as do flu vaccines.
• It used to be that anyone allergic to eggs could not be vaccinated due to the manufacturing process which uses eggs and chicken protein as the growth medium for the viruses to use in the vaccines. However, see the related question for new information about that.
• Fear of needles can prevent use of the injectable vaccines, but there are the nasal spray and intradermal formulations that can be used now. See more in related questions.
• Some people fear the traces of Mercury and thimerosol in the vaccines, however, studies have not found any association with these, in the minute amounts contained in the vaccines, and significant side effects. The amount of mercury is about the same as a single meal of fish.

Answer 2

The advantage of getting a flu shot is it's suppose to help lessen your chances of getting the flu. If you end up getting the flu, the hope is that your symptoms are not severe and you recover quicker.