Usefulness of flu shot if you've already had flu?

[tny915]

DH just got over the flu.

Is it still worth it for him to get a flu shot? Will it protect from other strains from the rest of this season, or does he now have a natural immunity from actually getting the flu?

[geochick]

The way I understand it is this:

There are many strains of flu. He had one strain. Are you sure he had the actual flu? Anyway, the flu vaccine protects against the strain of flu vaccine makers think will hit the most number of people. Since they have to make it months in advance, they are really just playing a guessing game about which strain will hit. If it were me, I'd get the vaccine.

[MMEand1]

From what I understand (and someone correct me if I am mistaken), when we get tht "flu" we are actually only getting "flu-like" symptoms. The actual influenza virus is what the vaccination is really preventing. Influenza is very dangerous and puts a lot of people in the hospital. I would go ahead and have your DH get the vaccine...better safe than sorry.
Mariah P.