Flu Vaccine, enough already!

Nurses COVID

Published

Yes, we are in flu season. And it seems you can't go anywhere without being bombarded/enticed to get the flu vaccine. A lot of times scare tactics are used also. They tried making it mandatory for nurses last season but that failed, thank goodness. Then a friend went to a job interview, and a condition of employment was that she had to get the flu vaccine even though she did not want it.

Yet recently, a healthcare employer (I have declined to identify) went as far as to offer employees who get the flu vaccine (at work), entry into a raffle for a hot electronic gadget. I just think its too much. People already know about the flu vaccine and have made an educated decision about whether they want it or not. Flu vaccines have become extremely commercialized, which leads me to conclude that a financial windfall is being made somewhere. Just sayin...

Specializes in General Med/Surg.
If you want the warm fuzzies, get a pet rabbit. If you want to prevent illness, get a vaccination.

According to the House Rabbit Society: Viral Hemmorhagic Disease (VHD) is scary and it is a "swift and sudden killer". No vaccine yet found.

Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD)

:redlight:

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No vaccine yet found.

"Vaccinations are available in countries where the disease in endemic" Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD)

I needed that laugh. I can't believe I took the time to read that on a Friday night. I'm glad it's not endemic here; I was about to euthanize my pet rabbit.

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Specializes in General Med/Surg.

Ha ha!! I had a lot of rabbits when I was a kid. They were in big homemade "pens" in our barn and I used to climb inside and hang out with them. I came home from school one day and they were all gone. My dad gave them away...we lived on a farm. He said I didn't care about them anymore! A suppressed childhood memory that comes back now and then. Some family had a nice big rabbit stew!! I never got sick from them, but one day I swear this is true I was getting into the cage and one them bit me on the b.u.t.t.!!! No lie. I had to get a tetorifice shot. hmmm maybe that's why they went missing.

Yes, Friday night. Happy Blue Moon!!!!

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It SHOCKS me that so many health care personnel would choose not to protect their patients and others because of a couple of days of flu like symptoms.

It SHOCKS me how many people get into healthcare and then whine about working weekends and holidays, or having to come into work during inclement weather. You pick your Martyr Mary, I'll pick mine. Considering I'm allergic to a component (I suffer the days of symptoms for other vaccinations, and would even consider flu despite the allergy if it didn't require YEARLY exposure to a known allergen), I'm not going to feel bad that I consider maintaining my own airway more important than my patients.

Besides, if you're so concerned about your patients' welfare, are you wearing a mask during the entire cold season to avoid spreading RSV to your patients? After all, they might spread it to a baby, and then there's a dead baby that's ALL YOUR FAULT. The year that H1N1 and seasonal flu were circulating before the vaccine was available, did you wear a mask until the vaccine came out? Or did you risk spreading flu to innocent people that could die from it? If you aren't wearing a mask all cold season, I'm SHOCKED that you as a healthcare worker care so little about your patients that you won't even wear a mask.

The guilt trip over the flu vaccination is ridiculous, as the martyrs for that cause completely ignore the fact that they're spreading other illnesses while they smugly walk around flu vaccinated.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Oh please! Knowingly spreading diseases? Give me a freaking break! All you can do is take every precaution that is reasonable. For some getting the flu shots not reasonable. For most it is and that's all I'm saying.

"No day but today"

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All you can do is take every precaution that is reasonable.

How is wearing a mask the entire time you're in a care setting unreasonable? Protect your patients. I'll be wearing a mask all flu season. My patients won't catch anything spread by droplet from me. YOUR patients will only be safe from flu. It SHOCKS me that so many health care personnel would choose not to protect their patients and others because of the discomfort of wearing a mask all shift.

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Considering I'm allergic to a component (I suffer the days of symptoms for other vaccinations, and would even consider flu despite the allergy if it didn't require YEARLY exposure to a known allergen), I'm not going to feel bad that I consider maintaining my own airway more important than my patients.

The guilt trip over the flu vaccination is ridiculous, as the martyrs for that cause completely ignore the fact that they're spreading other illnesses while they smugly walk around flu vaccinated.

My intent is not to put people on a guilt trip or force my view on anyone; it's to try to engage on an semi-educated debate on the benefits/pitfalls of flu vaccination of HCPs. I welcome varying viewpoints. I would NEVER recommend a vaccination to someone who is allergic to a component of the vaccine. I refuse to vaccinate clients b/c of prior vaccine reactions or other contrindications or precautions to vaccination and refer them to their PCP. In the same respect, why would you call those who get the flu vaccine "'martyrs' who walk around smugly" if you don't like being judged for opting out of being vaccinated?

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

It's not unreasonable if your sick or if you can't get the flu vaccine. I was just stating my opinion, if you aren't able to get the vaccine that is a totally different situation than someone who could and just doesn't want to for comfort reasons. I said that's what I found shocking, and I do. You are speaking of a situation on which I said nothin about. Anyway, I'm not into arguing on he Internet. Just wanted to share my opinion. Be well

"No day but today"

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

And the Beat goes on~ :cool:

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Lets take a poll ---

How many people are allergic to a component in infleunza vaccine? Raise your hand.

Which component are you allergic to?

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Also, having read through some of CDC info on flu vaccine, I would also weigh in on the severity of the allergy reaction to any component of the vaccine and if I would need to visit an allergy specialist.

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It's not unreasonable if your sick or if you can't get the flu vaccine. I was just stating my opinion, if you aren't able to get the vaccine that is a totally different situation than someone who could and just doesn't want to for comfort reasons. I said that's what I found shocking, and I do. You are speaking of a situation on which I said nothin about. Anyway, I'm not into arguing on he Internet. Just wanted to share my opinion. Be well

"No day but today"

What reason are you not able to wear a mask throughout your shift? Is it for a reason other than comfort reasons? SHOCKING if you don't wear a mask to prevent spreading rhinovirus or RSV or parainfluenzae or pertussis or.... for mere comfort reasons.

Also, having read through some of CDC info on flu vaccine, I would also weigh in on the severity of the allergy reaction to any component of the vaccine and if I would need to visit an allergy specialist.

The visit to the allergy specialist would be at whose cost?

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