I would submit its less "opt in only" and more because everybody has had the flu in their life.

I've gotten flu twice in the last five years despite having gotten vaccinated religiously every year; CDC is reporting this year's vaccine is only 45-50% effective. That said, even if you get influenza having the vaccine, symptoms tend to be more mild and resolve faster due to antibodies.

I agree that a lack of vaccine and clinically-effective antiviral treatment for SARS-CoV-2 is contributing to much of the widespread unease-nee-panic in the general public, especially in vulnerable populations.

I too am not seeing my elderly parents.

I've had the shot every year for 30+ years (thanks Uncle), and I suspect that I have so many antibodies in my system that if I do get exposed to something the current vaccine missed, I still have a good bit of immunity. Occasionally I get very mild flu-like symptoms, not enough to slow me down, maybe just skip the gym for a day. So I think the shot's worth getting... if you don't, you'll eventually get a week+ home in bed.

I haven’t had a flu shot in my entire life and I haven’t had a case of full blown flu since I was in elementary school.

I had this mentality up until this year when the flu knocked me on my ass. Couldn’t get out of bed for a couple days. Hell, for all we know I might’ve had corona.

Needless to say, I’ll be getting the vaccine from now on.

Eh... I'm pro-vaccination, but flu vaccine is a shot in the dark
The annual vaccine targets a number of strands they think might be prevalent this flu season. Last couple of years the predictions were completely off and the vaccine was just about useless. Not saying don't get it, but don't expect much out of it.

That is correct but.... You develop antibodies for those strains. If you get a flu shot every year you develop more resistance to multiple strains.

I love how we've all become epidemiologist', stock analysts, and germ specialists over the last month or so (myself, included).

Say, if I get infected with CV while going to/fro or while at work, does that qualify as an OJI or long term med out? Askin for a friend....

Everybody is different.
Somebody close to me has not been sick since childhood, and it’s turned into an autoimmune disease. While being tested for something else in the doctors office this winter they advised him he had influenza.

CPZ all but announced imminent furloughs today.