<p>My S can get one at his school's health clinic, but he swears he got sick from one last year (while he was still in high school-he got a cold around the same time). I know I never got flu shots until I hit about 35. He is trying to decide what to do. He is very healthy. I think he should, but just curious what your kids do.</p>
<p>My S gets one. But the lines are very long at school, so I have him get it when he comes home for Christmas break. A cold is one thing, but he can't miss a week of classes from the flu. He did not get a flu shot while he was in high school. But now he is in the dorm.</p>
<p>My three get the flu shot every year.</p>
<p>Mine do. Thanks for reminding me about them. I sent WildChild an email. He has asthma issues with colds and flu, so he really needs to take all precautions.</p>
<p>Absolutely! Who can afford to miss a week or more of classes?</p>
<p>Absolutely, one case of the flu can take down the whole dorm population in no time.</p>
<p>It's a persistent myth that the flu shot can cause someone to get the flu. There was a recent thread about this and I posted this link.</p>
<p>Flu</a> vaccine myths, misconceptions - USATODAY.com</p>
<p>Your son might get the flu in spite of being vaccinated (not because of it, in spite of it). If he has had the shot, his course will likely be much less severe than it would be without having had the vaccine. </p>
<p>Unless he has a medical condition that would contraindicate it, I would encourage him to get it. The flu is VERY VERY contagious and it can indeed spread like wildfire in dorms.</p>
<p>My son has been getting flu shots here in NJ for years, and when he called me yesterday from college he mentioned that he's getting one today -- they were offering free shots at the Walgreens near the U of Chicago campus, and he plans to walk there this afternoon.</p>
<p>yes.......</p>
<p>We have all as a family gotten flu shots every years for the last 9, since my husband was diagnosed with lymphoma, which is basically a cancer of the immune system. His doctor recommended it as a way of protecting my husband's health. </p>
<p>Flu shots are recommended for anyone who is likely to be in contact with the elderly, babies, and crowds... I think that's everyone.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I contacted S and told him he should get it-especially because he's in a dorm. He actually called me back and let me know he went in and got one a few minutes ago.</p>
<p>My son will be getting the flu shot from his campus health center.</p>
<p>It's generally a good idea for college students because they live in crowded places.</p>
<p>Last year, my son's campus health center actually ran out of flu vaccine, so he got his shot at an urgent care place. My daughter got hers at her campus health center, which was evidently better supplied than the one on her brother's campus.</p>
<p>Incidentally, doctors and clinics probably have flu vaccine by now. I visited my doctor three days ago for another reason, and she already had flu vaccine on hand, so I got the shot then. I, of course, get flu shots because I'm over 50, and flu vaccine has long been recommended for older people.</p>
<p>I'm hoping son will get one. Last year he got the flu 3 days before his music audition and a week before a trip for a national performance. I have never seen him that sick. I just texted him and he is saying he won't get the shot. I'll keep working on him.</p>
<p>Yes. D1 gets hers at school. Last year they also offered the vaccine "mist" for a few $$ more. Given her love of needles, she opted for the mist (which is also supposed to be somewhat more effective I gather).</p>
<p>Yes, absolutely. He had asthma when younger (he has outgrown it) but he still gets them. I think dorm living makes it even more important than when he was living at home. He saw how a case of the flu for me turned into bronchitis and literally knocked me on my butt for a couple of months afterwards. I started getting the shots after that (as did my husband). I never want to be that sick again.</p>
<p>I need to remind mine. This can become critical. One bad case of flu at the end of Thanksgiving break can destroy your fall quarter. You still have to pay the loans on a term that ends in a medical w/draw. I know this from experience.</p>
<p>Just talked with my freshman S. He just got back from a visit to the Health Center (closes at 9:30pm). He's sick as a dog--started with a sore throat and worked its way into major upper respiratory congestion and massive headache. He's had this since Sunday. He's also had a slight fever for last two days. The health center said that a lot of kids have this bug/cold/whatever and it lasts 7-10 days. They did a strept test which is negative and told him to come back on Monday if he doesn't feel any better. Sounds as if the flu has arrived.</p>
<p>The flu shot,not the Flumist nasal spray, is a killed virus preparation. It is impossible for it to make you sick,despite widespread misconceptions,even among the nonphysician medical community. I have made my high school daughter get it as soon as she was old enough since she is around several family members who are either elderly,asthmatic or immunocompromised.
It's also a good idea to get the meningitis vaccine if you are living in dormitories and it might also be good to consider the pneumonia vaccine as well.
The biggest question is not if, but when to get the vaccine. It might be better to wait until November or early December to protect you through March and the spring break season.
It can take up to 4 weeks for the protective effects to work.</p>
<p>No. Both my kids and I have never had any flu shots. My husband gets one since he's a health care provider.</p>