Annual flu vaccine - Will you get yours this year and why?

Nurses General Nursing

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Each year I give our staff the annual flu vaccine. I find many people are hesitant to take advantage of this opportunity. Will you get your flu vaccine this year? If not why?

Cali:nurse:

I get one because I don't want to spread it to some old person or baby and kill them.

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I always get my flu vaccine. Even helps when I get a cold.....I don't seem to get as sick.

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I have reservations about the plethora of vaccinations which are routinely administered to both adults and children. Among my concerns:

1. Allergic reactions which can precipitate the type of events recorded in the National Vaccine Adverse Reporting database maintained by the CDC. Although these are supposedly "rare" most experts estimate less than one in ten cases are actually reported to this database. Even so, billions have been paid out in compensatory damages to parents and children who have been "injured" by vaccines.

2. Contamination of vaccines with viral or prion based organisms. Such as was documented with the early Polio SV 40 contamination. Who is to say that current vaccines are not contaminated with newly discovered (although not definitely established) agents such as nanobacteria, virions, and or prions.

3. I believe that God gave us a wonderful immune system which if properly maintained via appropriate rest, nutrition and exercise is generally capable of fighting most pathogens without assistence. Some have speculated that one reason that many Health care workers seem to be suffering from HH-6 infection (Human Herpes Virus Six which has been linked by SOME research to chronic fatigue sydrome and improper immune response) might be related to over vaccination.

Of course I DO believe that vaccines PROBABLY save many more lives than they take. However, I believe that EVERY vaccination decision must weigh the relative risks from the pathogen being vaccinated against, and the risks of the vaccine itself.

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I know it's a killed virus, but a co-worker took it at work. Within 3 hours she had 101 temp. Was off work x 3 days. Coincidence? I'm not convinced. I've worked in ER for 3 years. Hadn't had it yet. I think we may build up an immunity due to frequent exposure to everything. Anyway, I will be eating my words if I get sick, but I'm not taking it.

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I haven't had a vaccination since my smallpox shots many years ago.

I don't take them. I'll take my chances. I'm not really one to get sick.

-Russell

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

I came down with the flu every winter season for as long as I can recall.....including the one year that I finally succumbed to getting a flu shot. :eek: So.....having the flu shot or not having the flu shot......I still caught the flu. So, I'll probably go ahead and get a flu shot anyway. It can't hurt....even if it doesn't help. :D

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

We are required to get a flu shot in the NICU to protect or pts from us--if there's a shortage of vaccine, the NP from employee health actually saves some for us and comes to the unit to "shoot"us. I have also had pneumonia x2, and am prone to asthma, so I've had the pneumonia shot twice now (got pneumonia many years ago, got the shot then, got it again last winter, so got it again after I was well.

I have never smoked, but I was raised by 2 smokers, and believe that to be a factor with my "lung health". Bummer.

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I usually get one, I work in a school, where moms refuse to keep their sick kids home... they tell them to come see me and if they should not be in school I should send them home! By then they've been in the bus with all the other kids and then the whole school gets sick! Besides, I seem to have a lot of bronchitis and sinus infections every year, so yes... I've been getting it the past few years.

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I know I should get one, but I'm afraid to! I heard alot of people get the flu after getting the shot.

Shygirl

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I always get one! The one year I didn't I got that stinkin' flu and was out of work for 5 days! DH didn't get his last year and he got it. I know that it only covers one type, but at least that is one less thing I have to worry about!

I usually get a fever the next day, nothing big, just a low grade one that last 24 hours, and then I am right as rain after that.

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I have had it the last two years and have not had the flu in those 2 years, before that I got the freakin' flu every year!!

Not sure if I will get one this year or not. Anyone know of contradictions in geting the flu shot while pregnant? It is on my list to ask to OB doc at my appointment.

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