This is a reply I posted in response to a post by the Lazy Iguana. I decided to duplicate it here, because unlike my previous post, this is news you can use!
Unless there is a really heinous potentially deadly even to normally healthy people strain of the flu going around, I do not get the flu shot. The flu shot is pretty well a crap shoot. If you are immunocompromised or over 65, you should get the flu shot, because even healthy older people are more prone to the flu becoming pneumonia due to less hardy immune systems, lower lung capacity, and a general slowing of healing functions. But for the rest of us, it isn't as essential.
All this annoying medical training has taught me one thing: the new anti-viral medications are very safe and very effective. The one caveat is that you have to take them as soon as you realize you're really sick. Not just the coughing-stuffy head-sore throat-minor upper chest congestion kind of sick. The kind where you have a cough that feels like you're going to hack up one of your lungs, which may feel like you inhaled sludge. Also there is usually fever and muscle ache with the flu. There isn't a stuffy nose. There might be a sore throat, but it's usually from coughing. At any rate, get ye to the doctor and ask for an antiviral. It won't destroy the viruses that are already in your system but will stop them from replicating so you will get well faster. Rather expensive stuff but very effective. One of the few medications to come along where I've said "this stuff really rules!"
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