I have been getting vaccinated since a few years after moving to Paris (1984) and getting the worst flu of my life only weeks after arriving. I was down and out for days of painful vomiting and running my pouch, dehydrated and dizzy...took me a week to be able to stand up again. A month to get back to normal.
I would get one about every 2 or 3 yrs and finally got smart and started vaccinating.
I made hubby start after his heart attack. I cannot afford to lose him to a stupid virus.
I do not care if they call it an epidemic, pandemic or just a virus...what I do care about is not getting sick and not getting others sick. I am a teacher. I live in Europe where we have huge, mobile, non-vaccinated migrant populations. The spread of all sorts of previously eradicated diseases are back because people choose not to get vaccinated (Rubella or Pocks and Tuberculosis are making incredible inroads and were in the news last night...).
I honestly believe that all public servants should be vaccinated if their job brings them in contact with the public...as a university teacher I feel it's important for both my and my students' protection.
I take public transportation 2-4xs/day for about 2 hrs and am exposed to coughers and sneezers and sticky, snotty fingers on railings...Darned right I vaccinate...I also push all of my family and students to do the same...
With all of our 'overly clean' environments and sterilized surfaces, we tend to have lower resistance to those nasty viri than if we were 'less clean'...our antibodies are not getting enough exercise.
The U.S is very liberal and gives people the freedom to choose, so do most democratic European countries. That means that it is up to you to protect yourself and your loved ones as well as the stranger at the pump or the coffee bar.
Sharon
ps. This year alone I have at least 5 students out of 30 out with the flu each week in each class. I have 15 classes. Yes, here they have announced that it is at the peak of the epidemic.