<p>nysmile--</p>
<p>My son has that "cold" too and the health clinic told him the same thing. I'm hoping it's not the flu since he just arrived home for a long weekend and I <em>really</em> don't want the rest of the children to get the flu :-O</p>
<p>We had never gotten flu shots in the past, but last February my 15 yr old D got the flu and it was the sickest she has ever been. She was laid out for a week, and 2 months later she was finally getting back to full strength. </p>
<p>My mom is on chemo, and we are probably going to visit her for Christmas. So I decided this fall we're all getting flu shots. DS got one at his college clinic, he said it was the easiest shot he ever got - he barely even felt it, and had no side-effects. It was $20, I think that's money well-spent. (I wondered if we sent the receipt to insurance if we'd get some reimbursement, but S "thinks" he threw the receipt away...) Flu can go thru dorms like wildfire. I think it's a good idea for all college students to get a flu shot.</p>
<p>D is absolutely phobic about needles, so she's getting the FluMist as soon as I get around to calling the pediatrician. I think I will wait till her sports season ends in early November for the appt, though, as I hear FluMist can have minor side-effects (like a head cold). DH is giving me a bit of an argument; he's not a fan of needles either, and he works from home so he doesn't have contact with many other people. But I want him to get it anyway. I will get the shot.</p>
<p>NYsmile & Huguenot - D and I both had that virus about a month ago. It's basically a bad head cold that starts with a fever and sore throat. It's icky, but not nearly as bad as the flu!</p>
<p>Lafalum84</p>
<p>My kids get the FluMist and have never had a reaction. The kids comment that the name FluMIST is a misnomer, because it is not a mist - rather thicker and runs down the back of the throat. Yucky, but preferable to the shot in our family. Get it on a Friday just in case (although we've had no problems). Youngest d (needle phobic) will get it today or tomorrow - at the pharmacy. (I checked with my pediatrician before we did it the first time and he gave the go-ahead.)</p>
<p>Insurance has paid for the vaccine in the past.</p>
<p>Personal anecdote:</p>
<p>When the kids were young (k/preschool), one of them brought the flu home and everyone in the house was so sick. The next year one child brought the flu home and everyone was so sick - except me with my flu shot immunities. After 7-10 days of caring for husband and three kids, I announced that I would never again be the only one with immunity - everyone would get the flu shot or no one (me) would get the flu shot. We all get each year now.</p>
<p>Some family lore- One year when my kids were much younger I did not warn them about the flu shots but hauled them off to the local chain grocery store/pharmacy. They were horrified- not just by the fact that they were getting an injection- but by the fact that it was happening practically on the lettuce counter! Married grad student daughter told me last night it remains one of her traumatic memories! </p>
<p>I am getting the shot today at 11 and have some concern because I have a long race tomorrow morning. I hope I'm not too sore (arm). It's free at my work, so I don't want to miss it.</p>
<p>DS is feeling better, so he and I got ours today. The rest of the family is scheduled for next week. They weren't happy about it, but after the year we <em>all</em> (big family) got the flu, then three weeks later relapsed and went through it all again, flu shots aren't optional. My 6yo heard me make the appt and is horrified :-)</p>
<p>Anyone who has ever had a bad case of the flu knows the value of the flu shot. It is not like any other respiratory illness. You feel so bad you think you could die. You are in so much pain that you almost wish you would.</p>
<p>I always get a flu shot. We had a big flu outbreak at school last January, and I felt kind of bad for the people that I saw coming down with it, because they just looked miserable (I've never actually gotten it myself).</p>
<p>D had a health services appointment recently and got asked for a flu shot while she was there. I didn't ask or remind. I was shocked!</p>
<p>I got my flu shot and it wasn't too bad. I didn't embarrass my coworkers too badly!</p>
<p>No flu shot for my daughter. She did get a little sick a few weeks ago but she finally over it. My family never gets flu shot but we rarely get sick.</p>
<p>Did she escape the USC Plague? Last I heard it's up to 400 and there are still new cases.</p>
<p>^She did, everybody in her floor was sick.</p>
<p>HS d (senior) got FluMist this afternoon; college d (senior) will get a free flu shot on campus next week. S is at same school, but will probably miss the free option (even with reminder calls) and end up paying for a shot at a pharmacy.</p>
<p>I will get mine in the next couple of days.</p>
<p>My college-aged son is needle-phobic. I've encouraged him to get a flu shot, but I doubt he will. I work at a hospital and am getting mine next week at work.</p>
<p>The FluMist is a good option to the shot for those needle-phobic folks. I would have done it but you have to be under 49.</p>
<p>I'm not yet in college, but I will definitely be getting the flu shot when I come home for Thanksgiving next year. Even though my immune system is generally strong enough to let me overcome colds and the flu within a day or two, it's not worth the risk to contract it at all.</p>