I'm a lifelong resident of New England and deal with subzero temperatures every winter. Never once in my 42 years of living have I gotten a "flu shot." And in the few times that I do get the flu - about once every five years - I just drink a little extra water, sleep a little more and shake it off.
my parents are both in their mid 70s - they have never gotten one, never gave it a second thought. but so many americans, especially seniors, see health care as some kind of social event. if they aren't "doctored up" and taking pills for something, they freak out.
"Never once in my 42 years of living have I gotten a "flu shot." And in the few times that I do get the flu - about once every five years - I just drink a little extra water, sleep a little more and shake it off."
85% of deaths from flu or, more accurately, from complications from flu, are in people over the age of 65. The other deaths are from kids under 2 and folks with asthma, heart/lung disease, deficient immune systems, etc. Hence, the distribution guidelines.
PS- If all you had to do was sleep a little, drink some water, and shake it off, you didn't have the flu. Influenza, as opposed to the zillion other bugs that people catch during flu season, will knock even the healthiest person on his a** for two weeks.