This article about contaminated flu vaccines explains a lot. This winter a co-worker's family of 9 all had severe cases of the flu, and all had been given their flu shots prior to the flu season. They wee all prescsribed Tamiflu -- which was described as ineffective in treating them. They were very sick with all the symptoms and side effects of the flu and it lasted a week or more.
Personally, the last time I had a flu shot was the last time I had the the worst case of flu in my experience. And I found Tamiflu expensive and worthless. In spite of exposure to the flu every season, I have not had the flu for several years. If symptoms of a cold or flu begin to show up, I take 2000 mgVitamin C and 2 capsules of Echinacea-Goldenseal complex 2-3 times a day, along with my other vitamins and minerals. Very seldom do I come down with anything that lasts more than 2-3 days, or is incapacitating.
My doctor is always recommending that I get a flu shot because I am at that 'high risk' stage of life. But I have found this is a piece of medical advice it is wiser to ignore -- at least for me.