Hey Dr. Dave, is it true that you recently got the first flu shot of your life?

“Yep.”

Why now and not ever before?

“Well, that's a great question. First, you should know that I believe in science, and I love the idea that science allows us to change our minds and we don't have to feel guilty about it. We just change course based on the evidence at hand. A great example is the story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the first surgeon to promote the idea that washing hands between patients saved lives from doctor-caused infection. He was met with great opposition from his peers even though he was eventually proven 100% correct. Anyway, in the past, my thought was that the worst thing that could happen if I did not get the flu shot was that I would get the flu, and for me -- well, I simply don't get sick often, so I was never worried. But now, the worst thing that could happen is that I get sick, have no symptoms yet, pass the illness on to one of my patients and send them to the doctor or hospital, taking up critical space for those who really need the care.”

That's awesome, Dr. Dave, that you did that for your patients!

“Well, not so fast: without getting into specifics, I currently have a loved one laying in a hospital bed with a serious health condition that has nothing to do with COVID. If you have been following the news, you know that every hospital bed is precious right now, and hospital staffing is critically low. So, every patient that shows up to the hospital is diverting attention from my loved one, so in many respects, I am self-serving.”

Well, how are you feeling after your shot, and how did you feel after the COVID shots?

“We're talking now five hours after the flu shot and I feel great, not even a sore arm. The COVID shots were a different story.”

Really? Can you explain?

“Well, the first was no problem, minor headaches and body aches. The second was rough; I would not have been able to work if I had had to that day. It felt like I had the flu, but no respiratory symptoms. The booster was really rough for me. I had 36 hours of feeling pretty crummy, and somewhere in the middle of that time, about 8 hours of misery. Just felt really sick.”

So, do you regret getting it?

“Absolutely not. We are in the midst of a war right now. Over 800,000 are dead from COVID in our country alone. I have ancestors that put their lives on the line in the Civil War, World War II, and the Korean War. This is the least I can do for my country and my fellow man. I respect the right of everyone to determine what goes into their own body, but that's my rationale for getting fully vaccinated for COVID-19.”

One last question: since you were fully vaccinated and had your booster shot when you got your flu shot (first photo), why were you wearing a mask?

“Well, the pharmacist who was giving me the shot was wearing a mask, so I just wanted to show them respect.”