Are We Caregivers Willing To Take The Anthrax Vaccine?

Are you willing to take the anthrax vaccine considering the nature of our work? !!!

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Nur20- That would be a pros vs cons decision. It would depend on my risk of exposure vs. risks from having the vaccine. I don't know much about the vaccine. What does it in entail? What are side effects? How effective is it? Cost?

And since you asked, I'm curious how you feel on the subject?

[CarolineRn]

This is a really good question. I haven't heard anything yet about an anthrax vaccine, although I've heard alot about the smallpox vaccine. I *think* I had that one back in the seventies, but not sure. Isn't that the one that left the awful scars on a couple generations of people? I do have that, but noticed that many people 2+ years younger don't.

Kona, you're right. Weighing the pros and cons is a must.

[fergus51]

I thought anthrax wasn't spread person to person?

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Anthrax is only spead from direct contact with the virus. ie "white powdery substance"

[nur20]

That is suppose to be true. It is not spread from person to person unless you inhale it. That being the situation, who knows what ventilation system, water system or whatever could be tampered with. It would be catastrophic for healthcare workers to become infected, therefore disabling our services to the general public. Yes, i have that old scar from the smallpox vaccine. They stopped giving those because they assumed there was no need.To answer the last question , no, but then i'm sort of weird when i comes to putting various substances in my body.I have declined just about everything including hepatitus.I guess i should know better, but this is a personal decision

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Smallpox vaccines were only effective for ten years and were discontinued in the early 70's. And yes, that's where we got that funky scar.

[prmenrs, RN]

We need to keep our diseases straight:

Smallpox is a virus, spreads incredibly fast airborne and contact. They stopped vaccinating for it in the early 70's because the vaccine was causing more problems than the disease. Bioterrorism-wise, it's MUCH scarier than anthrax.

Anthrax is a bacteria (only GW calls it a virus). The only people vaccinated so far are the military. Some people blame "Gulf War Syndrome" on it, I think--someone who was there help me out on that--so it's not a quick and easy solution.

Thanks, everybody.

[nur20]

http://www.oism.org/ddp/anthddp.htm OR..http://www.oism.org/ddp/anthddp.htm

[prmenrs, RN]

I read the link--Thanks!

[prmenrs, RN]

There is a machine they are already using to irradiate food to get rid of germs. Apparently, it's already being used for the mail, and they're going to install more machines.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/thu/business/news_1b25sure.html

is an article about it.

[debbyed]

I would gladdly take a Small Pox Vacc (Had one in 1955)

Would need more infor R/T anthrax Vacc. (side effects, etc.) before I could make an informed decision.