I work in healthcare and I apologize if this has been covered earlier in the thread. The flu vaccine is created to be effective for what is believed to be the strain for the upcoming flu season. This year, I am of the belief, that the vaccine was 10% or so effective. That said, I see patients with the flu all day every day, some who have been vaccinated and some that have not. I am pretty much forced to get the vaccine, however, if I had the choice, I would not. Its not that I dont believe in vaccines, but the flu vaccine is a crap shoot for sure.