There is very good evidence that the flu vaccine prevents the flu, reduces hospitalization and saves lives. N-of-one anecdotes are not a substitute for science. The efficacy of the shot varies year to year, as te flu virus is constantly changing as are the dominant strains year to year. So scientists have to predict what these changes are going to be and often they are close, and sometimes they are off and the vaccine misses the mark. Nonetheless, actual influenza (not a cold, not a sore throat, not a stomach “flu” with vomiting and diarrrhea) will take you out for a week for most, but for a large minority it can be life threatening and lead to complications in many organs.
The idea that flu vaccine or any other vaccine weakens one’s immune system is bunk. We develop immunity when exposed to viruses and bacteria. Vaccines simply expose us to bits of those viruses or bacteria without getting sick. So the immune system will recognize them and kill them before we get sick. Vaccines make the immune system “smarter” able to fight (certain) diseases.
Re the rare cases of guillain barreé that have been associated with the flu vaccine, what is neglected by these sensational stories in the media, is that the actual flu is probably thousands of times more likely to trigger Guillain Barré