Flu shot issue

Nurses COVID

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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?

That's too bad.... keep us posted on how you're feeling. Do you remember which manufacturer made the flu shot? I'm getting mine today and will be taking the lot # down and getting an insert. Will let you know how I do, too. Last year the H1N1 shot gave me chest tightness and tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. I also had muscle twitching in my legs and arms that subsided after 4 weeks. I reported my symptoms but have been told that it's ok to get the trivalent seasonal flu shot this year. I'm against this vaccine as I never had problems until I started taking the flu shots. Now that I am in nursing school it is required (well, strongly recommended, but that means if you don't have it and an outbreak of any kind occurs, I'll be required to discontinue my clinical rotation and will basically have to repeat a whole year).

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Geez - that sounds miserable. I guess I am lucky that I have never reacted like that. I hope you are better soon!

Specializes in Oncology.

CoolPeach, I feel so bad that you are still suffering like that because of the vaccine. What if what you're seeing and feeling, isn't the only damage done?

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Just got back from the Dr., and I do NOT have shingles which is good.

I am having a severe allergic reaction. The Dr said there are hives all over my back, back of my arms, neck, scalp. In addition, there are areas that have taken on a sunburned shiny tight appearance (those are the areas which feel burnt).

I got a high dose steroid injection, and a Medrol dose pack. If I am not better by Thursday I go back to the Dr. She gave me note for work for tomorrow, and Wednesday if I am not better. (At this point I feel horrible, was running a temp at the Dr's office, and can't even wear a bra). So we will see how it goes.

Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
That's too bad.... keep us posted on how you're feeling. Do you remember which manufacturer made the flu shot? I'm getting mine today and will be taking the lot # down and getting an insert. Will let you know how I do, too. Last year the H1N1 shot gave me chest tightness and tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. I also had muscle twitching in my legs and arms that subsided after 4 weeks. I reported my symptoms but have been told that it's ok to get the trivalent seasonal flu shot this year. I'm against this vaccine as I never had problems until I started taking the flu shots. Now that I am in nursing school it is required (well, strongly recommended, but that means if you don't have it and an outbreak of any kind occurs, I'll be required to discontinue my clinical rotation and will basically have to repeat a whole year).

Are you not from Canada? I highly doubt they have the ability to pull you from clinical, they may just move you elsewhere or require you to wear a mask. If you have any doubts, you should not yield to these stupid pressure tactics, get the facts first. If anything, they tend to take advantage of the students, but rarely push their luck with staff knowing they have no basis.

Was just talking to the nurse educator at one of my hospitals today... she refuses the flu shot each year and signs on the waiver "personal reasons" instead of medical or religious. This year the OH nurse had the stones to ask her what the personal reason was. She replied "that's none of your business." The end. The OH nurse was not permitted to pursue it any further. Stand up for your rights, man.

Specializes in Oncology.

Ottawa, If they decide to make the flu vaccine mandatory at the hospital where I work, I hope that we will be able to refuse for "personal reasons" as well. I don't know if things are different here in the states than they are in Canada. I can only hope so. I would hate to be going through what CoolPeach is just from a stupid shot that I didn't even need in the first place and only received because I aquiesced to the hospital's demands.

Specializes in ICU.
Just got back from the Dr., and I do NOT have shingles which is good.

I am having a severe allergic reaction. The Dr said there are hives all over my back, back of my arms, neck, scalp. In addition, there are areas that have taken on a sunburned shiny tight appearance (those are the areas which feel burnt).

I got a high dose steroid injection, and a Medrol dose pack. If I am not better by Thursday I go back to the Dr. She gave me note for work for tomorrow, and Wednesday if I am not better. (At this point I feel horrible, was running a temp at the Dr's office, and can't even wear a bra). So we will see how it goes.

Oh holy hell. That stinks. I hope you get it all figured out and get feeling better SOON!

Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

Chiggy, I feel your frustration. There were several lawsuits stemming from forced vaccination attempts in NY state last year, one campaign was suspended by the judge until further review but I never followed up on the end result.

During the mass hysteria the media perpetuated last year over the H1N1, the Premier of Ontario cautiously attempted to enforce mandatory vacs for nurses to make himself look politically correct, instead he looked the fool when lobbyists unceremoniously shot it down citing breeches in the constitution. We never heard about it again.

Nurses are instrumental as part of the process for influencing change in protocol and policy making, but advocating successfully requires numbers, more supporters means more power. Meanwhile, make your voice known. I wish you the best.

Specializes in Oncology.

Ottawa, I'm terrified that this mandatory flu vaccination thing will be coming to our hospital next, since it seems it's already in place at several other facilities from reading the posts on this thread. It's not just one single shot that scares me, it's the precedent that we set when we go along with it and the subsequent shots that will come every year afterwards if we first allow them. I don't hold out much faith that many nurses will raise a ruckus enough to stop it, especially at the hospital where I work. Most of them are sheeple and will more than likely fear for their jobs and just go along with the program. I am very concerned about this though. This whole thread has been very disturbing to me, that's why I chimed in on this topic, when usually, I just quietly read and observe. It's scary to me that so many nurses on here have commented that it's no big deal but don't see that it is a slow, insideous erosion of our basis freedom and rights that is at stake here.

Specializes in Renal; NICU.

Interesting that I am reading this now in the throes of the very same symptoms!!! I had the injection Thirsday afternoon, stung a little going in and not painful now; However, I have had a sore throat, runny nose since last night and today, feverish and fatigued...just a lousy feeling!

I did take the combo shot.

I work tomorrow and will wear a mask, as I work in NICU. No call in for this!

By the way, anyone @ my place who does not take the injection has to wear a mask within 6ft of pt. contact, the entire flu season, including the docs!! It was this way last year and the people wore masks!

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Took the Medrol for three days, and the symptoms got worse. Went back to the Dr. on Thursday, and they took me off the Medrol, and put me on Cefdinir antibiotic, and drew a CBC. CBC came back Friday and my WBC count was 14,000 a bit high, but nothing to get excited about. Everything else including esinophils (allergic reactions) were within range. Mind you that I had been taking steroids for 3 days, and had a mega steroid injection that could have suppressed the esionophils.

Rash is now worse with areas on back, neck, chest, rib area, stomach, hips, buttocks, arms (pretty much everywhere). Temp at the Dr was 101.2. Rash appears as a sunburned like area with tiny itchy dots in it. It also burns, and I have shooting burning sensation in areas similar to when I had Shingles a few years ago. Supposed to go back to Dr on Monday for a recheck (with the hopes the antibiotic would make it all better.)

Coolpeach are you certain they gave you the flu shot and not a different vaccine? I have been involved with flu clinics for years and this does not sound like flu vaccine related illness. There are many vaccines that can cause a rash though. Do you have any previous history of allergy? Any recent exposure to kids who might have shared some lovely viral illness with you? This fever sounds like an unrelated illness to me- an abscess would be localized, steroids would have zapped an allergic reaction, and plain old immune reaction would be gone by now.

No reports of any unusual reactions from my hospital and we do thousands of flu shots every year at the hospital and public clinics. My own flu shot was uneventful- slight soreness at the injection site for 24 hours. I did not premedicate with acetaminophen though- that usually prevents my arm from getting sore!

I don't want people to worry about these things unneccesarily. The vaccine is inactivated and unless you have an allergy to chicken or eggs there is really no reason to avoid it. You are at much higher risk from the flu and as we all know the flu does indeed kill young people. If you are working in a hospital with sick people or in a nursing home with elderly you are at extremely high risk for both contracting and spreading the flu.

Just as the military has to get more vaccines than the general public we are all at a much higher risk than the average person. Vaccine technology has improved since the 70s. How many serious reactions or problems have we seen from the flu vaccine? One or two in a million.

Overuse of Tamiflu for those stubborn fools who refuse to get the vaccine will eventually render it completely useless just as many antibiotics are no longer effective against much of anything. So I say if you refuse the shot and get the flu, you should stay home and suffer it out and take your chances instead of begging your doctor for Tamiflu to get you better. You certainly have earned it by creating needless worry about flu vaccines and possibly spreading your illness to others.

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