Or not. That is the question. Flu season is upon us and there’s a big push for everyone to get not one, but two shots this year. That is, one shot for the normal seasonal flu and one for the dreaded Swine Flu. So, should I get them? Will you, or have you?

I have received flu shots in the past, and I’ve never had a bad experience with them. But I don’t do it every year, and haven’t been shot in the last several. For me personally, I’m not sure it’s really necessary. My kids get them, and that makes sense to me as they spend all day in school which is little more than a large incubator. But if they don’t bring the flu home, and Kim manages to not get infected, I should be pretty much immunologically isolated. It’s not like I interact with people all day or travel a lot on planes (also known incubators). And I’m not in a particular risk group, nor do I get sick much. I only recall one bout with the flu and that was some 20 years ago. Hence, it seems to me that getting flu vaccines is just being paranoid on my part.

On the other hand, it’s not like it’s a big deal. They offer them at work, which mostly means I need to walk upstairs and roll my sleeve up. It’s not really inconvenient. I also wrestle with the idea that somehow my lack of participation could make me part of the public health problem if I should become infected. I could infect others and that’s probably not fair to them. But my reclusive nature works both ways. In the same way that I shouldn’t become infected, I shouldn’t be passing this on. But maybe it’s not fair of me to expect that those around me who are exposed to lots of people will carry the burden of keeping me disease free.

So here I sit on the fence. I’m unvaccinated, but feeling a bit guilty about that. Depending on my path forward, perhaps you should avoid me until spring. Or maybe I’ll just spring for one of those new Japanese flu-resistant suits. (Wouldn’t you think this would come with a face mask, or at least a hat? Maybe it could be styled as a Zorro costume!)

Anyway, out of curiosity, what are your flu shot plans? And why?