I would like to hear form those that have refused the mandatory Flu Shot.

Nurses COVID

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I don't want to turn this in to a debate regarding the flu shot. I have made my opinion and until some more evidence based studies are performed I don't want to get it.

Up until now I have been allowed to sign a waiver, but I have interviewed at a hospital that has made it mandatory, or you have to wear a mask.

I would like to hear from those that have opted to wear a mask during flu season. Is it truly realistic? Have you ended up caving because its a pain? Are you the only one to refuse on your unit or are there any other rebels? I really want this position that I interviewed for, but I absolutely do not want to get the vaccine. I'm trying to figure out if I should just pass on this job, or if wearing the mask is feasible. Thanks

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I've only had two flu shots in my 50 something years. Two decades of nursing.

The second one was last year when my job was threatened.

The nurses who stood their ground wore the mask the way they were ordered to for the first couple of weeks. Then they started only wearing it in the hall or the pts room. Then they started wearing it only in the pt's room. I haven't seen a nurse wear a mask for at least 3 weeks, and nobody is paying attention.

Next year I might just take the mask instead of the shot.

Thanks for all the replies, I'm glad to see that it does happen, that there are some that will wear the mask and stand their ground.

10 years ago I heard that flu kills 36,000 people every year. If you remember it was shortage of vaccine 10 years ago. There is no shortage now, more people get vaccinated, but you still hear that 36,000 people dies of flu. What is your conclusion? My collusion is: flu shot is not effective,

You think flu shot is safe if take it as recommended? They recommend flu shot every year beginning from the age of 6 months old and until you die. It is a new recommendation. It translates into 70-80+ flu shots in life time. Experts say it is safe. But how can they know? Only 80 years from now, when dr able to assess people who get it annually from their birth until death, you will be able to say it is safe to take it as recommended. At this time I refuse flu shot, prefer to ware mask.

10 years ago I heard that flu kills 36,000 people every year. If you remember it was shortage of vaccine 10 years ago. There is no shortage now, more people get vaccinated, but you still hear that 36,000 people dies of flu. What is your conclusion? My collusion is: flu shot is not effective,

Even if by some coincidence the number of deaths were exactly 36.000 this year and the same ten years ago that would mean a lower percentage of deaths since the population today is larger than it was then.

However, the number 36.000 is an estimate based on a statistical model. Furthermore it's an average for nine flu seasons during the 1990s. The range of estimated annual influenza-related deaths during that time period was 17.000-52.000. Nobody knows the exact number of deaths caused by influenza, the reasons for this are explained by the CDC. The CDC explain it much better than I do, so I've included the link.

CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Questions and Answers Regarding Estimating Deaths from Influenza in the United States

In order to determine if a vaccine or any type of intervention/treatment is effective you need much more information and data than just the number of deaths from two different years (even if they actually had been exactly 36.000 each year). For example, some strains of the of the influenza virus are associated with higher numbers of death than others.

I simply don't think that you have presented enough information to support the conclusion you're drawing.

Based on research, there is no doubt in my mind that the flu vaccine saves lives.

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/780114

Thank you.

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