I air on the side of caution. CAUTION meaning, preventing me from getting deathly sick. I get sick a lot from being a mom, a teacher and having allergies. I just don't want the risk of getting influenza. If a shot can prevent that then I'll get one.
I've known two people that have had influenza and it wasn't pretty. My co-worker that got it had thyroid issues and along with that had eye problems. It was horrible. My husband got it and missed 2 weeks of work.
I was a skeptic about shots when my boys were younger. Mica got his staph infection a week after getting his vaccines and Isaak got his meningitis two days after getting his vaccines. For awhile I thought maybe my boys had some rare reaction when it came to their vaccines. Mica had an ear infection on the same side as his staph infection. Isaak could have gotten meningitis anywhere. I pushed all my skepticism aside.
Now I'm thankful that we have the vaccines we do today. Grandma Spiehs had Polio when she was a little tike. It's been a real problem in her life. Vaccines prevent things like that.
When I got my shot today Isaak was with me. He said, "Momma are you scared to get a shot?" I said, "No honey. It really doesn't hurt that bad. It's like a little sting." He said, "Oh. Will you cry?" I said, "Nope." Then he said, "You will get a sticker when you are all done!" I said, "Nope. Only kids get stickers. Not adults." He said, "Oh." I think he felt sorry for me that I didn't get a sticker for being oh so brave.
The boys are getting their flu shots later this month. The nurse asked if I wanted them to have the flu mist or the shot? The shot is what I went with. The boys won't like that decision, but I know they will in fact get it. With the flu mist...well they won't even blow their noses; I doubt they will suck in a mist effectively.
