Flu Vaccine: Do it or not?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I have a flu shot every year because, as a diabetic, I'm more liable to get ill and/or complications from influenza viruses.

I think people also forget just how deadly influenza really is. As a virus it's responsible for millions of deaths each year. And let's not forget entities such as Spanish flu, which killed more people post WWI than those who died during the conflict (WIKI estimates up to 3-5% of the world's population).

Influenza was the cause of my diabetes. It killed me. 3 times in 2 days. Fortunately we have the NHS here in the UK or else I'd have been a proper gonner. In fact, had that situation occurred 3 years earlier, the technology to revive me wouldn't have existed. For that, I have to thank the Elsie Bertram Diabetic Centre and DiabetesUK for the funds they pump into research every year as well as the care and expertise of the medical staff; even more important now that the coalition government have lowered NHS & research funding.

Get the vaccination people!!!

I had no idea you were a diabetic too, Ben.

I did have a viral infection which caused my immune system to cannibalise my eyelets of langerhans. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life at the time and I can't remember ever being so ill. It could have been influenza thinking back to it, but I didn't get diagnosed until a month after being ill so there was no way to work out what had ultimately triggered my immune reaction.

But I echo the above. Get the vaccination.