Flu shots

Here is a typical dinner conversation in our home every fall:

Me: FYI, we’re getting our flu shots next week.

Kid: What?! No! Why?

Kid #2: Those shots don’t even help! Remember when I was sick over Christmas??

Me: That was maybe 5 years ago.

Kid #3: I don’t even need it – I don’t get sick.

Me: We are all getting our flu shot!

Doctor Dad: blah blah blah, yada, yada, yada. (A long explanation of why we need the shots)

Here is a brief summary of his reasoning:

You wear a seatbelt, right? If you’ve never been in an accident, you still wear a seatbelt because you know it’s safer. Seatbelts also don’t work 100% of the time, but everyone agrees they do work a lot of the time – enough so that they’re worth wearing. Car accidents can be minor fender benders or a major accident. Either way you wear a seatbelt. Even if a seatbelt is slightly uncomfortable, you’re probably going to wear it just in case.

We know flu shots help. They’re not 100% effective, but they work much of the time, so why wouldn’t you get one? Even if you have never had the flu, why take the chance? The flu can cause you to miss a week or two of work, easily. The flu could kill you. Why wouldn’t you get the shot? Even if your arm is a little sore, common sense tells you it’s worth the extra protection.