Flu shot for nursing school

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So... I didn't get the flu shot for 2016 and it's a requirement for nursing school which starts this august. Will that be a problem? I'm freaking out because no one is answering the phone in my school's nursing department >.

i have no problem getting the flu shot. I don't know why I didn't get it last year......

My school says you need to wear a mask during clinical if you didn't get a flu shot. I know you said you heard back from your school but I just wanted to add this in case anyone else is in the same situation.

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I heard some schools allow students to wear mask if they don't agree with getting flu shots at all. Not sure if my school does the same. Thank you for this info! @LPN1118

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

You just have to have it before starting clinicals, probably several weeks into the program. Don't sweat it- you're fine.

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I heard some schools allow students to wear mask if they don't agree with getting flu shots at all...

It's not what the school allows, it's what the facilities require. And whether the student "agree" with the glu vaccination, or not is irrelevant. In my area all of the hospitals require it. Failure to comply will result in termination. Regarding students, if they can't provide documentation of receipt of the current season glu vaccination, they will not be allowed on site. As for exenptions, my facility only allows medical exemptions that have been approved by hospital epidemiology. Personal or religious exemptions are no longer accepted.

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Specializes in PMHNP-BC.
@chare thank you! I was worried they will not allow me to start unless I get it. But clinicals don't start until September so hopefully I'll be fine. Thank you again!

From what I know you only need to have the shot about 2 weeks before you step onto a clinical site. Acutally, people who got the shot from the previous cycle had to retake it AFTER we started our program (August start date also) so that it was effective for the current predicited strains.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I'm just scared they wouldn't let me in the program if I didn't have it the past year

What would be done if you were allergic to the flu shot? In most places the alternative to the mandatory flu shot is to wear a surgical mask within 6 feet of the patients.

But, if shots are available the end of Aug & school starts in Aug, I think you could get 1 then & be ok. Talk to them when you can but I'm sure there is a work-around for you.

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Last year I received the FluBlok vaccine through my work. Its egg free and safe if you have allergies

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