I have gotten the flu shot every year since I was a senior in high school. When I was a junior I came down with the flu over Christmas and then relapsed a few weeks later during finals :-(. Not a fun experience. Since I have asthma, I don't take chances. The only year I've gotten the flu was a few years ago when H1N1 first made its rounds. I caught it about 2 weeks before the vaccine became available in my area. I've never gotten sick from a flu shot.