Flu shot issue

Nurses COVID

Published

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?

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

Your hospital CANNOT require you to get the flu shot, this would be against your civil rights. Signing a consent form indicates you are agreeing to it, and an employer cannot force you to sign it... otherwise, what would be the point of getting consent?

The worst they can do is take you off the schedule should a major outbreak occur, which would result in loss of wages on your part but that is worst case scenario.

Oh I forgot... take some Benadryl for those hives, and report all reactions to your OH nurse.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

"More hospitals require flu shot for workers"

The above is just one of the many headlines if you Google. Many hospitals are Requiring the flu shot as a condition of continued employment now. I believe there is even a lawsuit pending right now, but I don't remember what state or hospital.

At my hospital you must either get the shot or provide a letter from a Dr. stating you have a medical reason not to get it, or a letter from your religious clergy stating a religious reason.

That being said I didn't really have a problem with getting the shot as I have never had a problem with having it previously, and have gotten it every year. This year is the first problem I have had.

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Your hospital CANNOT require you to get the flu shot, this would be against your civil rights. Signing a consent form indicates you are agreeing to it, and an employer cannot force you to sign it... otherwise, what would be the point of getting consent?

The worst they can do is take you off the schedule should a major outbreak occur, which would result in loss of wages on your part but that is worst case scenario.

Oh I forgot... take some Benadryl for those hives, and report all reactions to your OH nurse.

Civil rights? Really? A bit melodramatic aren't we? Can you please tell me which constitutional amendment deals with flu shots?

Oh and most states have vaccination requirements for health care workers. There are also exemptions (depending on the state, there are medical, religious and philosophical exemptions) that individuals can exercise to those requirements. It doesn't mean they're not required, and it infringes no ones civil rights.

The way some folks speak on this issue, you'd think they were randomly grabbing people off the street, putting them in restraints and vaccinating them :uhoh3:

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I got a roaring headache after the shot, but not for long. I gave the shot to a coworker and I thought at first I did it wrong because she said it hurt like h-double-hockey-sticks, and a week later she STILL has pain and tenderness at the site. Now I'm wondering if it's a reaction to the shot.....I was feeling like a terrible nurse who couldn't give injections...maybe it's not me! :)

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

I received the combo flu/H1N1 5 days ago. It didn't hurt at all when injected and I've had no soreness at all in my arm.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Just got back from the Dr, and he said it is a reaction to the flu shot. The hives have now almost gone, but I have pain similar to when I had shingles about 5 years ago along a Dermatome on the left side of my back.

He said there have been reports of people getting shingles after the flu shot, but not enough is known. He stated "This flu shot is knew, and we just don't know what can happen yet". Good to know.

So will I get full blow shingles? Will I get better today or will it get worse before it gets better? Don't know ....just have to watch and wait.

He did say that I can no longer get the H1N1 flu shot because I am apparently allergic to it.

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Just fyi, I am participating in a flu shot research study. GlaxoSmithKline is planning to add a 4th component to the 3 component vaccine they currently distribute and it is in the final phase of testing before being put on the market. I think they somewhat "expect" the type of reaction you had to occur in a certain percentage of people who receive the shots because the diary I have to keep for 10 days asks questions about all of the symptoms you experienced. Not saying it's common, but statistically a certain percentage of recipients are going to react, right? I also wonder about the shingles and whether or not it was a factor in your reaction because during my pre-participation interview and my husband's they asked both of us whether or not we had ever had shingles. Fascinating stuff - sorry - I know it's not fun and probably very frightening from your perspective, but fascinating as to why the body reacts the way it does. Maybe I have a future in immunology LOL. Hope you feel better soon!

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Just got back from the Dr, and he said it is a reaction to the flu shot. The hives have now almost gone, but I have pain similar to when I had shingles about 5 years ago along a Dermatome on the left side of my back.

He said there have been reports of people getting shingles after the flu shot, but not enough is known. He stated "This flu shot is knew, and we just don't know what can happen yet". Good to know.

So will I get full blow shingles? Will I get better today or will it get worse before it gets better? Don't know ....just have to watch and wait.

He did say that I can no longer get the H1N1 flu shot because I am apparently allergic to it.

Isn't there usually an H1N1 strain in the seasonal flu vaccine? There was last year, it just wasn't the novel strain that was a problem last year.

Also, isn't shingles varicella?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Your hospital CANNOT require you to get the flu shot, this would be against your civil rights.

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.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Isn't there usually an H1N1 strain in the seasonal flu vaccine? There was last year, it just wasn't the novel strain that was a problem last year.

Also, isn't shingles varicella?

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.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
He did say that I can no longer get the H1N1 flu shot because I am apparently allergic to it.

How does he know it was the H1N1 component that caused the reaction and not some other component of the shot? The H1N1 component is no different from the other components of the vaccine except that it is a different strain of influenza -- and the strains within the seasonal shot are changed every year.

To me, his conclusion that it was the H1N1 component makes no logical sense -- unless there is more information that you did not include in your previous posts.

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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.

Yes, except for reasons protected under EEOC, ADA, FMLA, and workers' compensation. Termination for any of those reasons would be legally actionable. At will also protects the employee's right to leave at will. It's supposed to be a way for either party to end the employment relationship without the imbroglio of a lawsuit in places where there is no contract of employment governing termination.

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