The Flu Vaccine

Each year at our school we are offered the flu vaccine and each year I reject it. My thinking is that the flu is not deadly, if I get it, I will survive. It's not that I am against vaccination. I have been vaccinated against a lot of things that I genuinely don't want, such as Hep B and polio and other childhood things, probably including tetanus. I don't like needles (who does?).

I have been sick for the past few days with a cold that could possibly be the flu. I have had an aching body, runny nose etc and just haven't felt too steady. I have taken some bed rest and the occasional paracetamol (which I normally rarely take) and I am beginning to feel much better. In fact I'm confident I will return to work tomorrow and all will be well.

Lot's of people have asked me why I didn't get the flu vaccine. I am not really old, the flu is not going to kill me. I have seen people get the flu vaccine and still get the flu, sometimes shortly after the vaccine. I just don't beleive in it. I have no medical knowledge or qualification to say this, but I just don't believe in it.

On the Australian Government health site about the flu vaccine, it says

"Most healthy adults recover from influenza within a few days but some people, especially those aged 65 and over, and those with certain chronic illnesses like heart or lung disease, can develop complications. These can include pneumonia or heart failure, which can be fatal. "

I am not over 65 and I don't have those mentioned diseases. So there you go!