As we get older our body's resistance gets weaker, the flu kills many elder patients every year. I have been taking the flu shots for the past eight years and it made a difference, before that, the flu would knock me down for at least a week, now ,during the flu season I just get a cold for a day or two. But, don't take the vaccine too early, it is only good for three months, I will be taking mine in early December, because the peak of the flu season is during the Xmas and New Year holidays, that's when people mix and mingle in crowded places.My son was a non believer of the flu shots but one year he got very sick and went to the emergency , the doctors then advised him to have the flu shots, he has been taking it for the past three years, he is a doctor.