I already get vaccinated every 12 months for the flu, so that seems like a fine plan to me.
Should the flu vaccine be combined with newer vaccines which have numerically less safety data?
Perhaps you could try to make a case that we need more time to evaluate the long-term effects of the vaccines. Historically speaking, we know that side effects for any vaccine are incredibly rare after more than a few months. mRNA vaccine technology has been researched for decades and there are no indicators that there are long-term complications resulting from their use. Other vaccine technologies show similar long-term safety.
Because it's safe and easy. I have immuno-compromised friends and elderly family members. Vaccines are almost literally the least I can do to help keep them safe. I have kids and taking care of sick kids is awful. Also I really really really hate having the flu personally. Bleh.
> If you believe official reports, it’s basically been eliminated by virtue of simple mask mandates that everyone swears no one is following.
I have not seen official reports that determined the drop in flu was due to masks. I would assume the drop in flu was due to many factors combined: schools and businesses going remote, other physical distancing, more people getting the flu vaccine to avoid getting sick and potentially straining our strained healthcare system, masking, and who knows what else...
...at any rate I expect the flu will return as kids go back to school, workers return to offices, etc. I'll keep getting vaccinated for the flu as long as my doctor recommends it for my reasons stated above.
The takeaway isn't that official reports are baseless propaganda. It's that we were really bad about handling the flu before 2020. How many times did one of your coworkers show up with a persistent cough, running nose, or sneezing fits? How often did you see people with symptoms in grocery stores or buffets? I'm not surprised even a modicum of care greatly outperforms our previous habits.