Is it selfish not to get a Flu Shot?

itsme2005 · Oct 14, 2005

My dad got the flu shot one year. (he never got one until his company recommended it because it was a bad flu season)

So he didnt get sick for the whole winter, but come early March, he is stricken with the worse flu he ever had.

Could it be that he was vaccinated for a certain type of flu strain, which he became immune to? Then when a new and stronger strain developed later along the year, he got it?

If that was the case, he would have been better off just getting the weaker strain of the flu, earlier that year.

Nella · Oct 14, 2005

When I worked in a hospital setting, I received the flu vacine yearly. I stood aside last year because of shortages, plus the fact I work out of my home now. I'm not at risk and I am not placing others at risk.

I do recommend the flu vaccine. Whoever mentioned that what most people call the flu is really a URI. True influenza can make one seriously ill. Huge difference between true flu and a URI. The vaccine is formulated to offer protection against the 3 major strains that will be the most prevalent. The CDC's rate for identifing the 3 most prevalent stairns in a given year ranks in the mid to high 90s%. That's pretty darn good in my book. Better than a crap shoot. Without checking the CDC site, usually the flu vaccine is formulated to cover an A and B strain, plus one other.

And a thimersol free version has been around for several years.

I just think they are a good idea. Have you guys ever watched the general public? They sneeze and cough all over everything. And they don't always carry a kleenex. Seems people don't over their mouths anymore. And anyway, if they do, then their hands are on everything spreading their mucous. And I'm not a fanatic about this kind of stuff.

TweetiePieRN · Oct 23, 2005

I have to say I have a lot of reservations about the flu shot. I worked in LTC for about ten years and every year every resident got a flu shot. And every year one or two of them got severely ill IMMEDIATELY afterward and at least one of them would die!
I don't believe in getting flu shots.

I'm pretty healthy. Never had any major illnesses. Had chickenpox as a kid, but got the very mild case. The one time in my life I got the flu was after getting the flu shot about 3 yrs ago. Seriously, about 30 seconds after getting the shot, my nose started running and my head and body hurt. I was sick for a couple of days but recovered.

So, therefore I probably will not be getting the flu shot...the only reason I am considering it though, is so I don't spread it to my family. Maybe this is selfish because I am not considering my patients, but only considering my family.

dbsn00 · Oct 23, 2005

I get the flu EVERY year - it's usually right around Christmas & I'm down for the count for at least 7-10 days. When I started in LTC I got my first flu shot & was twice as sick as usual. Now I just make sure I have some sick days available & use them. If someone I'm working with is "dripping" & won't do the right thing by staying home we get the supervisior or DON to send them home - no bargaining, they'll give you at least 3 paid days off (you'd owe them the time back when you accrue it).

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

No one can make you feel selfish unless you let them. You are not selfish. It's your body and you have the right to accept or reject a flu shot. I never got one until 4 years ago and now get one every year because I am getting older myself and I don't want to chance giving my elderly parents the flu.

The poster who made the point about those who go to work sick are selfish, I totally agree. If I'm sick I stay home. They don't complain they don't want sick nurses at work.

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

The hospital I work requires you to get a flu shot I have worked there for 3 yrs and it was always mandatory. I would have gotten it any way ,My husband is immuno-suppressed(liver transplant) I would just die if I gave him the flu not to mention any patient.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

I've never gotten the flu shot, mainly because I've only had the flu once.
On another BB at school (maybe she reads this bb too!) I was told that I may have gotten the virus, brushed it off without getting sick and infected other people without realizing it. Her arguement was if I didn't do it for myself think of my patients and coworkers and do it for them.
Made me wonder how many people I might have infected all these years and am I selfish.
Is there any documentation of this?
I already acknowledge that the CDC recommends all health care providers get the flu shot. I didn't realize it was so we don't infect others and perhaps I should change my thinking.

Don't know if you saw this or not but it reminded me of you! Just kidding! :kiss

I shall seek and find you

I shall take you to bed and have my way with you

I will make you ache, shake and sweat until you moan and groan

I will make you beg for mercy

I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I am finished

You will be weak for days

All my love,

The Flu

EinnOgTveir · Oct 23, 2005

Slightly off topic but dont you guys get sick leave? :uhoh21:

I noticed several times people writing about having to take vacation days for being ill or being without pay.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2005

Slightly off topic but dont you guys get sick leave? :uhoh21:
I noticed several times people writing about having to take vacation days for being ill or being without pay.

The trend in many areas is "personal days off" (PDO). For example, I get 30 days off a year for vacation/sick time. So far that seems to be plenty of time and I've stacked up extra time over the years, so I have plenty of time to be sick.

Newer people, without much time may have to think to themselves "if I call in sick today, it takes away from my vacation time I want next month".

TweetiePieRN · Oct 23, 2005

The trend in many areas is "personal days off" (PDO). For example, I get 30 days off a year for vacation/sick time. So far that seems to be plenty of time and I've stacked up extra time over the years, so I have plenty of time to be sick.
Newer people, without much time may have to think to themselves "if I call in sick today, it takes away from my vacation time I want next month".

It's the same way here. We call it PTO (Paid Time Off). It is like that! Alot of people don't like calling in sick because it does take away days from your "vacation days".

sdre · Oct 24, 2005

Have you ever heard of Typhoid Mary???

Indeed you may not get sick BUT you could be carrying the bug to work to your vulnerable patients.

So stick out that arm and protect yourself and others

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2005

Have you ever heard of Typhoid Mary???
Indeed you may not get sick BUT you could be carrying the bug to work to your vulnerable patients.
So stick out that arm and protect yourself and others

I'd like some documentation on that. Do you have a source that there is such a thing as a carrier. That's what I'm worried about it, but I'm not sure if it's a myth or not.

It's worrisome that there are well people walking around spreading the flu. It would be a hard thing to research though, but I gather is you're posting on a nurses board, you have some facts??