The flu is no run-of-the-mill cold.  It can cause the following:

•Fever and/or chills
•Cough
•Sore throat
•Runny or stuffy nose
•Body aches
•Headaches
•Extreme Fatigue
•Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)

Most people recover within two weeks, but for the elderly, children, people with chronic health conditions, and those with weakened immune symptoms, it can be deadly.

Still, many people choose not to get vaccinated – and some for good reasons, like an allergy, previous reaction or a serious aversion to needles.  But for those of you still on the fence, here are a few more reasons to consider (and you won’t be seeing these on T.V. or in the news).

1. It’s No Time For Fun – Sure, a break from work or school sounds great, but with a fever and exhaustion, a simple run for more Nyquil feels like climbing Mount Everest in a thousand layers of wool.  (Feel free to substitute Everest with “Mount Killing-man-ow-oh.”)
2. Double-Duty of Duties – Since you are often contagious a day before you feel sick, sharing the virus at the office can spiral into double duty catch-up work upon your return.  (This could be triple, quadruple or superduple duty, depending on how many keyboards and door knobs you sneeze on.)
3. The Time-Turner Effect – A rarely talked about side effect of the flu its ability to turn back time – grown ups revert to a child-like state, some even become babies again.  If your partner skips the shot, you’ll need to stay healthy so you can get your big baby back on solid foods.
4. It Ain’t Pretty – Don’t kid yourself, if you have one ounce of vanity left, you may as well plan to spend two weeks with your head hidden beneath a paper sack.  No one looks good with a runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a hacking cough that sounds like 100 starving, junkyard dogs fighting over the same bowl of Chow Hound. (Also note, bullet points three and eight above are going to be very difficult with your head in that paper sack.)
5. The Dreaded Headache – You can expect a headache if you catch the flu, but don’t forget the headache that will last at least a week beyond.  I refer to the one caused by all of the following questions and comments: did you get your shot?, why didn’t you get your shot?, you should have gotten the shot? I told you to get the shot”… and the list goes on and on.

But in all seriousness, the reason I get the flu vaccination is simple.  Making sure the whole family is vaccinated can greatly reduce the risk of having the virus in the home and spreading it to those I love.  For me, keeping them healthy is reason number one.