[RN~in~CT]

The hospital that I work at is not immunizing any of the nurses, and I am quite surprised by this. I understand that severity of the shortage, but arent healthcare workers in the high risk category?

I can see it now, once the influenza pts start getting hospitalized, it will spread like crazy.

[RedVaz]

The biggest hospital in our area doesn't have the flu vaccine. They ordered from the company with the problem. A lot of the area MD offices did the same. My 6 year old and I both have asthma and haven't found a doctors ofc w/the vaccine.

While healthcare providers can't seem to get the vaccine, Piggly Wiggly and Publix (grocery stores) have it and administering it to anyone that can pay.

Perhaps the vaccine should be sold only to healthcare unless there is excess. After all, do you want the hospitals short staffed because all the employees got the flu?

[TriageRN_34]

We are getting the run around here, they won't commit to even my elderly residents getting theirs! So we have the staff that may not be vaccinated, and now them!?!?! Oh boy! Some of my residents got theirs already..but maybe 1/4 of the population! And those ones are the ones that could walk down the street to a safeway store nearby! Not the ones immobile in bed, or wc bound that may need it even more!

My hubby is a paramedic and he hasn't heard whether or not their company will get it either! OH man I am in trouble, because he will respond to a ton of flu symptom calls, and bring it home..then I will go off and give it to my patients!

I am just trying very hard to stay healthy...really washing my hands carefully (and they are getting so raw! LOL!), and I bring a box of klenex with me everywhere and if I hear a cough...boom they get a hankie from the nurse and the old cough lecture! Our CNA's are just as savy and are doing it too! We had a rough time last year with the flu and it was a living heck for 4 weeks...so we are very hopeful we will stay on the ball so we don't have a repeat of that magnatude!

[oldiebutgoodie]

I am a nursing student at a hospital/university complex. They gave free flu shots to all employees and students who were in contact with patients.

oldiebutgoodie

[TriageRN_34]

Originally Posted by RedVaz

The biggest hospital in our area doesn't have the flu vaccine. They ordered from the company with the problem. A lot of the area MD offices did the same. My 6 year old and I both have asthma and haven't found a doctors ofc w/the vaccine.

While healthcare providers can't seem to get the vaccine, Piggly Wiggly and Publix (grocery stores) have it and administering it to anyone that can pay.

Perhaps the vaccine should be sold only to healthcare unless there is excess. After all, do you want the hospitals short staffed because all the employees got the flu?

I absolutely agree!!!!!!!!!! And I hope this prompts our government/country to think very carefully about making the vaccine here in our own country vs buying from another! (no this is NOT a political statement what so ever...just startled me that we didn't have a company that made it in the US! I don't know...I think that would kinda be a good idea?!?!? This is year 2 this has happened, just think that maybe we should learn something...).

[jemb]

Our facility is giving free flu shots to all employees who have patient contact.

[newgrad2005]

Yes, I will be first in line on Monday morning!

[altomga]

The last e-mail I recv'd at work said that all direct-patient care employee's could get the vaccine, but to be honest it is still unclear...normally though all staff can get the vaccine which I appreciate myself!!

[chemoqueen]

Our practice has always given employees the shot, but we buy ours from the company that got sidelined this year so we do have any for us or our patients. We tell our patients to get one wherever they can and the employees have been told to do the same. I have elected not to get one as I feel I might take one that an elderly, very young, or immune compromised patient might need.

[fluffwad]

Our facility hasnt even received its vaccines yet. Last year it was 2 months late. The patients will be vaccinated first, then the staff with whatever we have left....assuming we get any at all.