DEAR DR. GOTT: When I went to visit my doctor last week, he suggested rather strongly that I get a flu shot. Well, I got one last winter and we had a mild season. I didn’t really feel it was necessary to get one then and I’m unsure about getting one this year, too. What’s you opinion?

DEAR READER: Every fall, every case of flu, and every individual is different. And, as we age, our bodies react differently than they have in the past. The flu season can begin as early as October and can last as late as May. During this seven month period, influenza viruses circulate around us. Sometimes we are healthy enough and have strong enough immune systems to bypass the virus, while at other times, we aren’t. Like so many things in life and pardon the expression, it’s a crapshoot.
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