Every year about this time, the call goes out for flu shots. Health officials worry most about people over 65 and those with chronic illnesses. Is it worth trading a moment's pain for insurance against getting knocked down with the flu. While the flu claims about 20,000 lives in the United States each year, most young and healthy people face little danger.
Flu can be devastating, even for people who are healthy.
When it comes to healthy children, official guidelines don't make a recommendation. The flu is relatively insignificant in the broad view of childhood health threats, experts say. CDC experts said they'd be concerned if everyone rushed out to get a flu shot, because that might deplete supplies needed for those in more serious danger. But that's not likely to happen, so flu vaccine manufacturers said they aren't worried about meeting demand. Young, healthy people can make their own decision about whether to get a shot.