Yesterday on Dr. Nancy (msnbc weekdays at noon ET) I got my seasonal flu shot. September 1 was the first day that the shots were available, which is a whole month earlier than we normally think about getting a flu shot. The folks at Walgreens were kind enough to provide the shot and Mary Gonzales, a great nurse at NBC, was kind enough to stick the needle in my arm.

Why did I get it? For two simple reasons. I know the flu shot can prevent my getting sick later this Fall when the seasonal flu pops on the landscape, and by getting it now I give my immune system enough time to make the antibodies against this year's strains. The other reason is that by getting the shot now I won't be in line in a couple of months when clinics and pharmacies are deluged by latecomers and people getting the H1N1 shot. 

Remember that the seasonal flu shot is different that the H1N1 shot. The seasonal flu shot contains strains of three viruses (all dead) that the World Health Organization and our U.S. government predicted would be this year's culprits. Of course, the predictions were made before H1H1 (swine flu) surfaced in Mexico and quickly spread around the globe. 

H1N1 targets a different patient population. That's why if you are in a high risk group (pregnant women, young people, health care workers or those responsible for the care of someone else, and those with compromised immune systems) you will want to get ready for two rounds of the swine flu vaccination in mid-October when it's ready. And you'll want to think about the regular seasonal flu shot now.

I have said many times that this is not a conspiracy by your government or the pharmaceutical industry to experiment on you or round up needless business. And I know there is a lot of material to absorb. That's exactly why the public health campaign is important. Getting the right vaccines at the right time is important to keep you and your family healthy.

I am not a particularly brave person. I got my shot because I like being well. That's why you should get yours too.