Yep....I had to run Teagan in this morning for shots and had to have the discussion with "them" about the flu shot. They of course are recommending it to everyone, but after I explained that I believe in getting sick so our bodies learn to fight the illness on their own. They quickly agreed and changed the recommendation to those who have compromised immune systems. Teagan and I discussed it on our own not too long ago, because she was worried she was missing something important. So I gave her the reader's digest version of the benefits and failings of the flu shot and why I refuse to get one and in the end, she seemed to understand why. I told the NP that we believe in getting sick....and she laughed while silently giving me a thumbs up.
With many viruses our bodies do produce immunity. But influenza viruses mutate so rapidly we probably won't have protection for the next one we are exposed to in a few weeks/months. That's why it is recommended to get a second, updated virus, in spring, especially for those "at risk." I would have done as you did for Teagan and yourself as long as neither of you were immune challenged. Elderly are particularly at risk for serious complications and death from many things younger people aren't. Lisa, you are still "young people." DH gets them because he
is elderly, is exposed to so many people, and flies on airplanes twice a week. I, personally, usually get a cold and sometimes influenza after plane trips. And, even though DH rarely gets anything he brings all kinds of stuff home to me.
I'm not a bacteria germaphobe but I'm a major cold/influenza virus "magnet." I'm the person who grabs the wipes, at entrance of store, handfuls, and wipes much of cart down, and continuous wiping going through store. We keep bacteria/virus wipes in all cars, around the house, and several packages in my purse. Throw any bacteria at me and my system will kill it fast but not so with cold/influenza. I dip almost every grocery item in bleach water before putting up especially produce.
Every time I eat out it is a risk for getting a cold or influenza. Oh, yeah, anti wipes on table at restaurants almost all the time.
DH's system, on the other hand, is great at fighting off viruses. Bacteria is more of any enemy for him. Fragile skin does come along with aging. He usually gets at least one scratch from a Bub when he comes in from trips on his arm or hand and it always bleeds like crazy. If he doesn't clean, antibacterial cream, and bandage immediately he will get an infection in the small wound. I've taken antibacterial drugs only a few times in my life and I'm exposed to all kinds of things all the time. DH got a pseudonymous infection under a fingernail the one time he backwashed the pool. He almost lost the finger. (We repossessed a Mastiff that had several skin and systemic infections secondary to something that could have been easily taken care of, in beginning, if treated properly. He had very little hair left and was covered with open sores. We fought it for a year and finally had to put him down. He was shedding pseudonymous and others, all over the place, the whole time. None of the other dogs or I had any problems but DH certainly did.)
Hugs, Alice
{edit} DH maintained he picked up the fingernail infection from backwashing the pool. (At that time I hadn't gotten heavy downpour running into pool from yard under control.) That gave him a "reason" to never backwash pool again.
