I'm an LPN, currently attending for RN. My next clinical site requires H1N1 and seasonal flu shot records.

Three weeks ago, I had the flu. My doctor believed it to be H1N1. I cannot receive a blood test, because they're only doing that for patients that were intubated (which is weird enough to me...).

However, if the facility giving shots knows you had a flu, they will not give you the shot. My school will not take my doctors word on it, I can't get a blood test, and the clinics won't give me a shot unless I lie. I'm worried about lying and getting a shot in case there are complications.

Advice?

Originally Posted by delilas

I'm an LPN, currently attending for RN. My next clinical site requires H1N1 and seasonal flu shot records.

Three weeks ago, I had the flu. My doctor believed it to be H1N1. I cannot receive a blood test, because they're only doing that for patients that were intubated (which is weird enough to me...).

However, if the facility giving shots knows you had a flu, they will not give you the shot. My school will not take my doctors word on it, I can't get a blood test, and the clinics won't give me a shot unless I lie. I'm worried about lying and getting a shot in case there are complications.

Advice?

As a nursing student, you should be eligible for the vaccine. CDC is recommending that you get it even if you think that you had the flu because there are many respiratory illnesses that can look like flu, and you were not tested. I have not heard of clinics
asking if you already have had the flu. You cannot honestly answer yes, anyway as
you were never tested, and have no confirmation.

Even if you really did have the flu, you will only be helping to boost your antibodies which is a really good thing. The pandemic is not over. As long as there are susceptible hosts, it may continue. There may be a third wave after the holidays, and it is going to take about 3 weeks for peak antibodies to give you the maximum protection.

I took the vaccine even though I was fairly certain that I had the flu already as did many of the staff that I work with. We had no problems with this vaccine, and were glad to get that protection. Two of our staff had family members that were in their twenties, and perfectly healthy but were deathly ill from this flu. We also lost a patient to the disease. It was a wake up call for all us. Though most cases of flu are mild, it is those random severely ill cases that should alert people to not just depending on their immune systems to protect them. Sometimes for unknown reasons, it just can't. The vaccine is cheap insurance, and well worth going out of your way to get.

Walgreens just announced that they are offering the vaccine nationwide.

Thank you for your help! We have a lot of cases, especially with children and teens, in local hospitals here. But they are asking here (at least at the health department, where I went) if you have had the flu or flu symptoms in the past month. When I answered yes, I was asked to leave. I will try my luck at walgreens this week. Thank you again!

There is a pharmacy in Pittsburgh that is giving out "seasonal" flu vaccine for FREE. That is the first time I have ever seen that.

Originally Posted by oramar

There is a pharmacy in Pittsburgh that is giving out "seasonal" flu vaccine for FREE. That is the first time I have ever seen that.

I can't even imagine that...

Well if you came into the health department where I give H1N1 shots, I'd give you one with a smile.

I'm in Florida

As for any place giving free seasonal flu shots....wow...