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by jenrninmi Premium Member

I've heard there is a shortage of the flu vaccine this year. Will you get the shot anyway?

I am giving the shot all day tomorrow, and whether people think I'm selfish or not, I am going to get the shot. I had the flu last year and do NOT want to get it again and pass it on to my clients.

How about you??

[VivaLasViejas]

I don't really have a choice........I HAVE to get the flu shot, because I've had status asthmaticus four times and any kind of respiratory infection can cause my asthma to flare out of control.

I hope this year's vaccine is better than last year's.......I got my shot as usual last October, and then in February I got the OTHER strain that the shot didn't protect against. I was sicker than a dog, and it took over a month before I felt 'myself' again. Hadn't had the flu in over 10 years, and this stuff just knocked me flat.......I missed almost 2 weeks of work!

I haven't heard yet when they're going to start giving the shots at work.....hope we get the vaccine before the flu season gets under way.

[jenrninmi]

Originally Posted by mjlrn97

I don't really have a choice........I HAVE to get the flu shot, because I've had status asthmaticus four times and any kind of respiratory infection can cause my asthma to flare out of control.

I hope this year's vaccine is better than last year's.......I got my shot as usual last October, and then in February I got the OTHER strain that the shot didn't protect against. I was sicker than a dog, and it took over a month before I felt 'myself' again. Hadn't had the flu in over 10 years, and this stuff just knocked me flat.......I missed almost 2 weeks of work!

I haven't heard yet when they're going to start giving the shots at work.....hope we get the vaccine before the flu season gets under way.

I had the shot last year as well and got the flu for the first time EVER! I don't ever remember being so sick!
We've just learned about status asthmaticus in class...I can't even imagine how scary that must be! Bless you!

[not now]

No.

I probably just jinxed myself.

[jenrninmi]

I hope not!

Originally Posted by not now

No.

I probably just jinxed myself.

[RaysTaterBug]

Yep. I work in a LTC facility, so we are all getting them that work there.

I got one last year too, and it either really does work, or I lucked out...everyone around me seemed to be sick all the time, but I made it through with only a sniffle or two.

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

I had the flu last year and the stomach flu, ended up taking a day off for each. At last fridays inservice the DON said that she had ordered the influenza vaccine for the residents and if there was any left over that staff would get it first come first serve until our supply ran out. I declined the vaccine, I am not sure why because I am not the greatest patient ever but I keep hydrated and don't run to the ER or MD's office unless OTC medications can't control my symptoms.

[Larry77]

Originally Posted by JENRN2BMICHIGAN

I am giving the shot all day tomorrow, and whether people think I'm selfish or not, I am going to get the shot.

I don't think that it is selfish at all, we are in healthcare therefore, we are high risk, therefore have every right to the shot even with a shortage:

The Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices agreed that flu shot recipients should include people 65 or older, health care workers involved in direct patient care, caretakers of babies younger than 6 months, children 6-23 months old, anyone with a chronic medical condition, pregnant women, nursing home residents and children on aspirin therapy.

I myself haven't decided yet because I don't think I've even had the flu since I was a child. (knock on wood)

[emilyerin]

We can get a flu shot for free at our clinical site, so that's what I plan to do. Since healthcare workers can pass the virus to their patients who are probably already immunocompromised, it seems like a good idea for us to be vaccinated so we don't a bunch of Typhoid Marys making all of our patients sick.

[Sheri257]

Originally Posted by JENRN2BMICHIGAN

I am giving the shot all day tomorrow, and whether people think I'm selfish or not, I am going to get the shot. I had the flu last year and do NOT want to get it again and pass it on to my clients.

We had to pay a lot more cash than usual to get it this year ($45 each -- apparently the shortage has also created price gouging). But I work in LTC and hubby is a diabetic so ... selfish or not ... that does fall within the CDC guidelines (all health care workers and people with chronic illnesses are supposed to get the shot.)

Getting the flu shot is the ONLY thing that's prevented me from getting the flu every year. So we went ahead and paid since we didn't want to risk not getting the shot since virtually all clinics have been cancelled in our area.