After hearing last night on the news, how ineffectual the flu shot is this year,
maybe the risk outweighs the benefit for PWMS?

Well, there is always that, Sally

I'm frustrated about the latest news but not sorry I got my Flu Vaccine. Over the last several years that I have received the Flu Vaccine my health has been much better

I have seen how sick someone (me) can get when mixing the Flu and MS

This year I guess I will keep my fingers and toes crossed (please, please, no flu).

I know right!?

Since it is not a live virus in shot form, it won't give you the flu. If you get the flu soon after the shot, you ended up getting a strain of flu that was not in this years combination that made up the vaccine. Some of the side effects may initially make you think you have the flu, but they usually wear off in a few days. Do not take the FluMist, which is a LIVE Virus! You can get the flu from it, especially if your immunity is down more than our MS normal like with steroids. It is recommended by the National MS Society, and almost all neurologists that I have heard about recommend it as well. Calling the Pharmacy first would probably be the easiest option. Hope this helps! Looks like someone else has already answered the same way, sorry! The disabled nurse in me goes straight to any medical questions.

I am so glad you replied Nursemom. There is so much mis-information surrounding the flu shot and also immunizations in general. I have always had the flu shot and only once in about 20 years I had a mild case of influenza. My former MS neurologist insisted on the flu shot and my regular neurologist and my PCP now recommend the flu shot. The flu shot is cheap insurance against a full blown bad case of the flu.