Flu shot issue

[coolpeach]

I get a flu shot every year without any problem, and took a flu shot at work this week. This flu shot hurt a lot. It burned going in, and literally made my eyes tear up. Usually it doesn't hurt at all. I work nights, and went home and to bed right after. When I woke up the area was very swollen, red, hot to touch, and very sore. I took two Tylenol and went to work thinking the new H1N1 made it hurt worse, and it would get better.

By the next morning I felt feverish, my throat was so sore I could barely swallow my own secretions, and I was having periods of dizziness. I would be sitting there charting and suddenly feel as if the room had spun sideways. I made it through the night, and went home to bed. I woke up and my throat was better, but I had nausea, a headache, and was achy all over. I was off for the night so I went back to bed, and had a really rough night. I would be cold, but wake up wet with sweat so I think I was sweating off a fever.

When I got up I had hives all over me 16 total (back, buttocks, and sides). Since I have been up I have two more appear. I am still have a headache, feel achy, and feel feverish even though it shows my temp is normal.

I called into work tonight, and plan on seeing the Dr in the morning.

This year my hospital REQUIRED us to get the flu vaccine, paid for it, and administered it. If this is indeed a reaction can they consider my call in an occurrence, or would it fall under the workers comp plan as a work related situation?

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

It could be the preservative in it. I had a reaction similar to that 3 years ago with my regular flu shot. Got preservative free the past 2 years without a problem.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yes, except for reasons protected under EEOC, ADA, FMLA, and workers' compensation. Termination for any of those reasons would be legally actionable.

Yes, thank you for clarifying that.

[sethmctenn]

Our hospital requires it unless you have a letter from your pastor stating a religious exemption or you have a rast test showing egg allergy. If you dont' get it, you have to wear a mask in every patient room during the flu season.

[CuriousMe]

No, there hasn't historically been an H1N1 component to the seasonal flu vax.

Yes, shingles is caused by varicella zoster. However, it can be activated in stress or immunocompromised states.

According to the CDC there is an H1N1 component to each year's seasonal flu vaccine.

What does the seasonal influenza vaccine protect against?

Each year, the seasonal influenza vaccine contains three influenza viruses - one influenza A (H3N2) virus, one seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus, and one influenza B virus. The influenza viruses in the seasonal flu vaccine are selected each year based on surveillance-based forecasts about what viruses are most likely to cause illness in the coming season. Therefore, each year's seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses expected to cause disease during the upcoming influenza season.

CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Selecting the Viruses in the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

[klone, MSN, RN]

Thank you for that clarification! I was led to believe this is the first year it had been combined. So am I correct in assuming that the problem last year was that the strain in the seasonal vaccine was different from the strain that was more commonly making people ill? Because last year I got two discrete vaccines: seasonal flu and H1N1.

[OttawaRPN]

This is not true.

Especially if you work in an "at will" state. Your employer can fire you for whatever reason they want. Including refusal to get the vaccine.

Wow, little did I realize it was modern day Nazi Germany for my American neighbours!

From what I understand, Obama's administration will only strongly recommend that Americans get the flu shot, but put pressure on employers to come up with their own "mandatory regulations". It is illegal to force medical services or force consent on someone, regardless of corporate policy.

That would mean any employee who suffers even the slightest vaccine related reaction could theoretically sue the snot out of them.

What's next... human embedded RFID chips? Employee number tattoos? Now just roll up your sleeve and do as you're told.

So much for land of the free and home of the brave.

[CuriousMe]

Thank you for that clarification! I was led to believe this is the first year it had been combined. So am I correct in assuming that the problem last year was that the strain in the seasonal vaccine was different from the strain that was more commonly making people ill? Because last year I got two discrete vaccines: seasonal flu and H1N1.

What happened last year is that the pandemic strain (that was making everyone ill) was identified after production had started on the seasonal vaccine.....that's why they made a stand alone shot.

[coolpeach]

I am guessing the Dr made the assumption because I get the flu shot every year without an issue. This is the first time I have ever had a reaction, and its considered a severe reaction so I don't want to repeat it.

[CuriousMe]

Wow, little did I realize it was modern day Nazi Germany for my American neighbours!

From what I understand, Obama's administration will only strongly recommend that Americans get the flu shot, but put pressure on employers to come up with their own "mandatory regulations". It is illegal to force medical services or force consent on someone, regardless of corporate policy.

That would mean any employee who suffers even the slightest vaccine related reaction could theoretically sue the snot out of them.

What's next... human embedded RFID chips? Employee number tattoos? Now just roll up your sleeve and do as you're told.

So much for land of the free and home of the brave.

There is no forcing, you do enjoy that melodrama....Nazi Germany? Really? Way to minimize a horrible moment in history.

Getting vaccinated is a condition of employment, not a condition of living in the country. A person always has the option of working someplace else.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Wow, little did I realize it was modern day Nazi Germany for my American neighbours! ...

So much for land of the free and home of the brave.

Oh, please.

Employers have every right to mandate certain requirements for their employees, especially regarding issues of pt. safety.

And employees have every right to go elsewhere if they don't like their employers' requirements.

Land of free, exactly!

[coolpeach]

The H1N1 is a name given to a group of different flu virus, and yes there have been H1N1 groups in past vaccines. Here is an explanation of what H1N1 stands for.

Hemoagglutinine and neuroaminidase are two virus proteins found in Orthomyxoviridae, and are different in different virus types, so they can be used to identify the virus.

This is the first year that the swine flu which is an H1N1 has been included in the vaccine.

Since I get the vaccine every year without a problem, and the with the Swine flu (this years H1N1) added I had a severe reaction. He is deducing that I am allergic to the H1N1 (Swine flu) vaccine.

[CuriousMe]

The H1N1 is a name given to a group of different flu virus, and yes there have been H1N1 groups in past vaccines. Here is an explanation of what H1N1 stands for.

Hemoagglutinine and neuroaminidase are two virus proteins found in Orthomyxoviridae, and are different in different virus types, so they can be used to identify the virus.

This is the first year that the swine flu which is an H1N1 has been included in the vaccine.

Since I get the vaccine every year without a problem, and the with the Swine flu (this years H1N1) added I had a severe reaction. He is deducing that I am allergic to the H1N1 (Swine flu) vaccine.

This is the first year that an atypical H1N1 was included, it's not really a swine flu

While the pandemic, H1N1 influenza is often called a Swine Flu by the media and the general public, this strain unlike the Spanish Flu of 1918, is actually a "quadruple reassortant virus." This means that this strain is actually a mix of genes from four different influenza strains: American swine, European & Asian swine, Avian as well as Human. (Maher, B., & Butler, D. 2009)

Maher, B., & Butler, D. (2009). Swine flu: One killer virus, three key questions. Nature, 462(7270), 154-157.