Thanks, Chris. By no means was it my intention to imply that you suggest trying to escape infections altogether. I was very sure that you didn't mean that. Like you, I not only skipped the flu vaccination often, I never had one. But earlier this year, I had such a severe bout, that I decided to get the flu shot from now on. My hesitation to get vaccinated was purely due to a laissez-faire mindset, rather than vaccination skepticism, which is stupid.

Thanks, also, for alerting me to the Nature paper. My only criticism of it is that the NNT=37, that is, 37 people need to be vaccinated to prevent one CVD event. 35 of those vaccinated ones wouldn't suffer an event even if unvaccinated. There is also no differentiation of participants along the lines of physical fitness, which substantially moderates the CVD risk. So, yes, the study demonstrates in principle a CVD protective effect of vaccination in those aged 60plus. For me personally, though, that wouldn't be a reason to get the flu shot. The real reason is to not get the flu, or at least less severe than it would turn out without a vaccination.