This issue comes up every year and upsets me every year.

No flu shot is going to protect you from every strain of flu and certainly will NOT protect you if you wait so late in the season that you can not build up an immunity to it with the required amount of time; usually at least 21 days. So yea people can and do sometimes get the flu soon after getting the vacine. It is not from getting the shot it is from being exposed to some other poor smuck who was a carrier and may or may not have stayed home protecting everyone..

But vacines do tend to prevent the most virulent forms of flu and you have a way better chance of surviving and epidemic.

And having a shot means you can generally care for those who are carriers if you get it early enough. Not that you can't be exposed to other illnesses having various other bodily fluids evacuated on you. Which a lot of people don't think about when they are so generous to say well it is their choice.

Having a flu shot every year for as long as they have been out I have only once had flu the once and that was more than enough for me. I don't get thinking it is somehow going to make you tougher being so sick. It doesn't make you immune later. You can get it every year if you want. But it is playing Russian roulette with your life and anyone around you.

How ever CDC demographics statistics prove flu shots do save lives and millions of dollars of worth of unnecessary misery, hospitalizations and missed work that everyone else ultimately pays for by in turn shareing that burden.

Some people are lucky and while a couple days of feeling yucky they recover and can go on. But for the probably fifty or more people they expose dragging around half sick before it becomes full blown flu it isn't always so wonderful. Flu causes a lot of miscarriages, chronic COPD, premature death for those with compromised immune systems, and sometimes long standing esphogeal problems from the violent vomiting or chronic irriable bowel for years after from the diarreha. Not to mention auto related fatalities where sick drivers make mistakes or fall asleep at the wheel.

As far as the miniscule meucury exposure you have a higher risk from wearing costume jewlery and playing with imported electronics and toys; not to mention imported or canned foods.

The military required my late husband to take them every year for 17 years and never sick with it. Strong as an ox health wise until right up to the first season he got out he delayed getting a shot and was exposed. Was unconcious in 48 hours and was gone in four days shattering our family. I went to the hospital 8 days later and almost died. I assure you I am VERY well read on the subject and Hell will freeze over before I fail to get my flu shot early and try to persuade anyone I love or even like to get a shot if they can.

Do I think and EMPLOYER has the right to force it. No but they absolutely have the right to keep you out of the work setting where they and their customers bear the risk of being exposed to flu if you refuse it. You can be spreading flu before you even realize your ill. I think the individuals right to choose to be a carrier ends with my right to not be exposed.

Tri Health seems to be a provider of health services, so people working for them would probably have a higher than average risk of contracting the flu, and then of course spreading it around. I suppose that is why it was required.

I have read that the flu shot is ineffective for people over -- either 50 or 60, I forget which, but I'm over both, so I don't plan on having it. I'm in excellent health and not usually in crowds, so it seems to me I'm at low risk.

I like George Carlins take on it.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnmMNdiCz_s

yes, yes I am...and I fixed it for you

Some people do better with the flu shot, the 3 times I got the shot, it was right at the start of shots being offered, and 2 weeks later I had the flu. I have never had the flu until I got the shot. I might be one of the lucky ones as I have also never had any of the childhood illnesses such as chicken pox. I went 28 years without ever having the flu, never had the shot either. As soon as I got the shots, I got the flu. I haven't had the flu shot in 5 years, guess what I haven't gotten...haven't had the flu. Maybe I'm just abnormal lol, I am also in the group of people that does not like to take preventative medication for an illness I might not get.

My memere never had a flu shot in her life, she lived to be 98 years old, and never had the flu. My meme died at 58 from cancer complications but she never got the flu. My mom is almost 58 now, never had the flu. None of them ever got a flu shot.

Thanks ManO

I've had flu shots and so have my kids when they were younger and we never had a problem.