The hypochondriacs all flu away
27 Oct 2004 
in the early evening 
Matt Winckler
Flu shots! I have had the honor of being situated in a cubicle across from the room wherein people were shot up with the flu a few moments ago. Roughly twenty of the allegedly “high-risk” denizens got a dose of the deadened yet dastardly disease, doubtless while downplaying their dread of a debilitating denouement. (I never realized that the “high risk” demographic for flu included the middle-aged and the teen-aged.) Personally, I look askance upon flu shots, thinking them a frivilous and unnecessary risk. And after hearing anecdotal evidence just a few days ago of a coworker feeling sick for several days after receiving the shot, I figure I would rather take my chances with the regular flu–which I’ve never had–even if there wasn’t a shortage of shots to start with.
In fact, I am against most vaccines in general. Certain things I’m certainly glad we developed vaccines for–smallpox is a good quick example. But as someone who has contracted what seemed to be German measles (rubella) only 3-4 years after being immunized against them, my faith in most vaccines is particularly low. I know there are other people whose anecdotal evidence indicates the contrary. I don’t care. I’ve already talked to them, and I remain unconvinced.
I always thought I was a risk-averse person, but maybe there’s some risk-preferring attitude in me after all…