Will you get the flu shot?

Everybody agrees. Get the flu shot. (Picture from the Long Island Business Blog.)

Now available for babies, and recommended for all school-age children.

Normally, a panel of experts gathered in Washington to endorse the flu shot for kids would be a big story.

Yesterday, not so much.

Despite the recommendations and well-stocked shelves I have to ask how many people will comply this year.

The flu shot is an out-of-pocket expense, and the average family is being asked to double that expense at the same time financial experts tell them the economy is on the brink of collapse.

Unemployment is rising, one-fourth of home sales this year will be foreclosures, and financial advisors are suggesting we all hunker down.

I have no doubt most middle-class families will get the flu shot as recommended. But the effectiveness of any shot rises as compliance with it approaches universality.

A lot of people aren't going to get the shot. Not only does that mean a lot of people are going to get sick, but this year's flu will have a rich protein stew in which to evolve and get nastier.

Next year's flu may be truly nasty.[poll id=26]