This is the 2nd year I take flu shots. Before then for a couple of years I was getting nasty flus each year that knocked me out for a whole week. The flu shots did help a bit last year, as I was only knocked out for a few days. This year I got sick right after I took my flu shot, and was again out for a few days. Our family doctor said I probably already got the flu before the shot.
The doc told me that the flu has been around non-stop since August. It is also very potent from what I see at the office.
The bird flu pandemic is inevitable. No the flu shot today doesn’t give immunity to bird flu, but I am hoping that, by taking the flu shot I am less likely to catch the more common flu so I stay healthy, and getting my immune system working in top condition, to prepare for when the real deal strikes.
My folks refuse to take the shots. They believe that they should not artificially temper with their immune system. They don’t go to crowded places and have relatively little chance of getting flu, except on Sundays where they like to travel to Causeway Bay and Central on a 962 for HK$1. I’d have to talk to them about this again.
At the end of the day it’s a personal choice. But for HK$150 to decrease the chance of catching common flu, I think it’s a no-brainer.
2 responses so far ↓
1 James Mok // Nov 3, 2004 at 12:05 pm
I have started exercising daily early this week. Costs: 1/2hr – 1 hr daily, zero dollar.
Last Sunday, I took Alec to the College field for some track training in preparation to his upcoming interclass track meet. I jogged with him for several laps and then showed him the different postures for sprinting and long distance. We had great fun.
2 tin_the_fatty // Nov 4, 2004 at 7:02 am
Daily exercise takes a lot of persistence. Good luck.
I stopped swimming every other day since October. Must find some other exercise to do. Running is no good, it puts too much stress on my knees.
I took Jasper to the local sports ground (football pitch with jogging lane) a few weeks ago. Pity people were playing football so we couldn’t go around the jogging lane. I think I’ll take him there again this weekend.