So my mom and I were on the phone today discussing some stuff regarding my doctors appointments and upcoming surgery, and she mentioned that she and I will be getting our flu and Covid shots on Friday. That was fine with me, But I asked her why my sister and Dad weren’t getting theirs on Friday as well. She told me that my sister didn’t want to get hers, so she wasn’t going to force it on her, even though she really wants her to get it.
This really concerns me. It’s off topic, but I have Misophonia, and people being sick is a really big trigger for me. I hate the sound Of people coughing, sneezing, sniffling, etc. Luckily, for me, I’m away at college, so I often don’t have to hear it from my family. However, My mom often tells me when someone in the family is sick, primarily my sister. For example, A couple weeks ago, My sister had a stomach virus, And my mom texted me, saying, “Just a heads up, The stomach bug is going around. Your poor sister has been puking her guts out and having diarrhea all day, and your dad is sick too.” Shortly before that, She told me that my sister had a bad cold, and was out of school for three days. These text messages made me extremely freaked out. Having autism, Misophonia And emetophobia, the thought of sickness does not sit well with me.
On top of it, 2025 Seems to be a year of death for a lot of people in my life. My grandfather died unexpectedly in March, my great aunt died of cancer last month, my grandma put one of her dogs down unexpectedly, And today, my mom told me that my doctor has just died. I’m so afraid of who could be next, and the thought of any sickness just freaks me out completely right now.
I also feel like my mom has way more control over me than my sister. I wonder why, Because she’s two years younger than me, However, She was in a mental hospital for a while, depression, and suicidal thoughts. When she has moments of gloom and doom, My mom often avoids it and just gives into her demands. For example, We could be close shopping and my mom makes me buy a bunch of stuff I don’t need, And she says she wants to make sure I have clothes, I have buckets of stuff I don’t use. I ask her why she doesn’t get my sister any clothes, Because she only has about five outfits that she wears, and only one pair of pants. She told me that She has given up on taking my sister shopping because it often turns into gloom and doom, but we have never gone without the flu flu shot. She’s been sick twice this year already, So I’m not sure whether or not to be worried, Because usually she has a good immune system (When my whole family got Covid, She was the only one who didn’t, despite not washing her hands and being around us constantly). I don’t know if I should think it’s a good thing that she got sick twice, So then it’s over with when I’m home for the holidays, or if I should worry that it’s gonna happen again.
Has anybody here gone without a flu shot, And if so, Did it make you really sick? Being as nervous as I am, I would prefer it if you just mentioned good or mild experiences. Thanks.
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Humans survived millennia without vaccines, and the flu shot is relatively modern, so you’ll be fine, but that’s not a good reason not to get them now. But unlike for example measles, influenza is a common illness and generally well tolerated by healthy humans.
There’s over 1 billion cases annually, with a mortality rate between 0.029% and 0.065%. You’ll be fine.
Thank you! I plan to get the vaccination but idk about my sister lol
Lots of people don’t get it and are fine. I’m not a doc but unless you are elderly or have some serious chronic medical condition, or are an infant, influenza is almost always not fatal. The people like myself however, who have ever actually had the flu would not pass it up in order to not repeat that experience again. You should expect lesser symptoms with the shot.
Has anybody here gone without a flu shot, And if so, Did it make you really sick? Being as nervous as I am, I would prefer it if you just mentioned good or mild experiences. Thanks.
Your post subject asks a direct question but then you explicitly ask that the only answer people give you is positive affirmations.
I have personally not gotten a flu shot in decades. That’s not to say I don’t recommend doing this, I have no defense for my lack of action. To my knowledge I’ve also not had the flu in decades and the times I’ve been SERIOUSLY ill are few and very far between (I can’t remember the last time).
That said, the flu can be quite serious. It is unlikely to be fatal to a generally healthy individual but on average it’s going to be way worse than your common cold.
As to whether you should be “worried or not”. It’s outside of your control so there is no point in worrying. Take care of yourself. Get the vaccine, wear a mask, and limit your exposure to sick people.
Thank you! I did kind of mess up the question by only asking for positive affirmations. But it does bring me relief knowing it is ok to go without the flu shot.