Flu Vaccine, enough already!

Nurses COVID

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Yes, we are in flu season. And it seems you can't go anywhere without being bombarded/enticed to get the flu vaccine. A lot of times scare tactics are used also. They tried making it mandatory for nurses last season but that failed, thank goodness. Then a friend went to a job interview, and a condition of employment was that she had to get the flu vaccine even though she did not want it.

Yet recently, a healthcare employer (I have declined to identify) went as far as to offer employees who get the flu vaccine (at work), entry into a raffle for a hot electronic gadget. I just think its too much. People already know about the flu vaccine and have made an educated decision about whether they want it or not. Flu vaccines have become extremely commercialized, which leads me to conclude that a financial windfall is being made somewhere. Just sayin...

Another try at “how much has the flu shot improved that?.......hmmm”: It’s probably really difficult to get a true estimate, but here is some interesting data that may reveal the benefits of flu vaccine availability/uptake:

1918 – 1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic:

  • There was no vaccine available, and an estimated 50 million people died worldwide.

2009 – 2010 H1N1 Pandemic:

  • 80 million people were vaccinated against H1N1, which minimized the impact of the illness, & estimates are between 8,870 and 18,300 H1N1 related deaths worldwide.

In response to “Herd immunity does nothing for contaminated surfaces”, there would be no surfaces to decontaminate if no one had the flu.

Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..
I agree 110%. It takes a lot to make me get a shot that I KNOW will make me feel ill rather than negate the risk of maybe feeling Ill.

O.K., how about this; the flu shot that makes you feel ill reduces the chance that you will be the reason that an elderly, compromised, neonatal, or pregnant friend or patient gets ill. Is that enough? Let me guess what the answer will be . . . . Want to put some money on it, Gitano? :rolleyes:

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
Want to put some money on it, Gitano? :rolleyes:

I'm not the gambling type, however, like the commercial says.... Wait for it!!! :cool:

Of course, public health measures such as water treatment, improved sanitation in general; had nothing to do with that? compare apples to apples please. I have read (no citations for you, i admit) that the death rate has NOT improved, in fact has remained pretty steady. We need to improve general nutrition and understand that death comes to us all, eventually. Do you remember the preg. women from australia? ~ nine were in critical condition from the flu, they were determined to be IgG2 def. ya think the vacine would have done them much good? Going along with "herd immunity" this is called "culling" of the herd. Brutal thought, but not illogical.

Another try at "how much has the flu shot improved that?.......hmmm": It's probably really difficult to get a true estimate, but here is some interesting data that may reveal the benefits of flu vaccine availability/uptake:

1918 - 1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic:

  • There was no vaccine available, and an estimated 50 million people died worldwide.

2009 - 2010 H1N1 Pandemic:

  • 80 million people were vaccinated against H1N1, which minimized the impact of the illness, & estimates are between 8,870 and 18,300 H1N1 related deaths worldwide.

In response to "Herd immunity does nothing for contaminated surfaces", there would be no surfaces to decontaminate if no one had the flu.

Going along with "herd immunity" this is called "culling" of the herd. Brutal thought, but not illogical.

Interesting thought. Brutal, as you said, but interesting.

Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..
Interesting thought. Brutal, as you said, but interesting.

Yes, epidemiology is a cold mistress, but her lessons make it possible to not just treat, but prevent disease; the highest objective of all healthcare.

Sentimentality is much more attractive, but, unfortunately, the currently available scientific evidence has not shown that warm fuzzies effectivly prevent disease.

Alas, this is a harsh world, sometimes.

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Enough said :cool:

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Yes, epidemiology is a cold mistress, but her lessons make it possible to not just treat, but prevent disease; the highest objective of all healthcare.

Sentimentality is much more attractive, but, unfortunately, the currently available scientific evidence has not shown that warm fuzzies effectivly prevent disease.

Alas, this is a harsh world, sometimes.

Not exactly true, CountyRat. Warm fuzzies promote the flow of endorphins. Endorphins boost our natural immunity. Therefore, warm fuzzies help us stay healthy.

Simple.

Specializes in Med-Surg.
Another try at “how much has the flu shot improved that?.......hmmm”: It’s probably really difficult to get a true estimate, but here is some interesting data that may reveal the benefits of flu vaccine availability/uptake:

1918 – 1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic:

  • There was no vaccine available, and an estimated 50 million people died worldwide.

2009 – 2010 H1N1 Pandemic:

  • 80 million people were vaccinated against H1N1, which minimized the impact of the illness, & estimates are between 8,870 and 18,300 H1N1 related deaths worldwide.

In response to “Herd immunity does nothing for contaminated surfaces”, there would be no surfaces to decontaminate if no one had the flu.

Can I just say that using data from 1918 vs 2009 is kind of inaccurate, in the sense that healthcare has GREATLY changed since then, as well as other things previously mentioned. We do not have the same facilities, treatments, equipment, or knowledge. Data would be needed from at the very least the same generation/decade from two different places where one vaccinates and one doesnt... Just my two cents...

And when we are talking about vaccinations that are prepared very quickly, with not nearly enough testing in my opinion, I am very reluctant to be a guinea pig for it. I have seen Guillain-Barre syndromes, colleagues passing out in their cars, high-grade fevers...I do not want to subject myself or my child to the possibility of that.

And we are healthcare professionals. If we have to go in to work where we might expose anyone, we wear protective gear. I don't know about you guys, but when I have flu-like or respiratory infection symptoms, I rarely go breathing or coughing in people's faces.

Not exactly true, CountyRat. Warm fuzzies promote the flow of endorphins. Endorphins boost our natural immunity. Therefore, warm fuzzies help us stay healthy.

Simple.

If you want the warm fuzzies, get a pet rabbit. If you want to prevent illness, get a vaccination.

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Pet rabbits can carry tuleremia....far worse than the flu. I'm getting my vaccine as soon as we have them available at work.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

It SHOCKS me that so many health care personnel would choose not to protect their patients and others because of a couple of days of flu like symptoms. Just think of the risks you are already exposed to.... MRSA, c-diff, VRE etc. we do it because we chose this field to help people. If you find it's too much trouble to have flu like symptoms for 1-2 days in order to potentially SAVE LIVES It's mho that you should not be in healthcare.....

"No day but today"

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