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Originally Posted by luv
When you get the shot, you are fighting it off. The purpose of the shot is to help you build up your immunity. That's why some people still get sick after getting it.
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Every flu shot you get forces your body to have a little jump in antibody production. That antibody production normally occurs naturally in the body, but now you're forcing your body to produce it at times when it may not even need it. After repeating that the following year(s), your body is now used to having that extra boost to help fight off the flu, and produces less antibody on it's own.
Add to that the fact that each time you take a flu shot, some of the influenza strains you're carrying adapt and build an immunity to the vaccine. That's why new shots must be developed every year. The vaccine you took last year won't have an effect this year, because the influenza has adapted to it. So you're constantly creating a new cocktail, while creating more resistant strains of influenza at the same time. Each new vaccine you take makes you a little less naturally resistant, which is why some people still get sick after getting the shot.
Like I said, there are lots of people who do need them. But it should be restricted to those who's immune system cannot produce it's own antibodies for other reasons.