flu shot required

[lalalalexi]

I am currently in an LPN-RN program and today I received an email telling me that the program now requires us to get flu shots. The program has always required flu shots for all students by January 1st but now they are telling us that due to the "unusual circumstances" this year, we are now required to get a shot by October 1st and then again in January. They also said that if a H1N1 vaccine is developed, we will "absolutely" be required to get that as well. I'm a little mad because this is potentially going to mean I have to get vaccinated 4 times this year! (The H1N1 vaccine might be a series of two shots). I am healthy and in my 20s and have never in my life gotten a flu shot and can't recall ever getting the flu. I kind of grumbled about having to get the one vaccine by January but now I'm kind of upset that I will forced to get multiple shots. I know that some people say it's worth it and just do it and stop complaining, but I can't help the way I feel. I don't like being forced to do anything, especially when it comes to my body. I know I probably can't "get out of it", and if we don't get the vaccines we can't go to clinical which means I'd fail. I'm just wondering what others think about this. Anyone else being required to get vaccines?

[VM85]

NO you dont become immune to the flu, even if you have already had it. It is a different strain every flu season- so they say- so if you get vaccinated one year it doesnt mean your good for the next- they do some tweaking to the vaccine and make it to what the trends say and what they think will be the strain for the next year. If you have been dx with the flu, then I wouldnt think it was mandatory to get it this year, but if you are unsure then Id get it. It may be a good idea to ask for one anyways as i have heard(but Im not 100% not positve- Im sure you could google it!) that there are multiple strains in the vaccaination(from the trends like I have said before) so if it does mutate you will hopefully be covered

I feel it is your body and your decision. I like the egg allergy if it comes down to it. I get vaccinated- HOWEVER i will not get the H1N1 vaccine until there has been sufficient studies and research. And if that means i cant go to work when i am feeling blah- well then i will just stay home and relax- which is why I get sick days-- and which is which you should be doing anyways when you arent feeling good, so signing a piece of paper saying that I cant come into work if i am showing SXS or not feeling well is fine- Its somethin im gonna do whther i sign that paper or not.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

It is against the law to require you to take any form of medication.

You have the same rights as any patient and your employer should provide you with a waiver.

At our hospital, many of us MIGHT take the regular seasonal flu shot but the vast majority of us have decided that we are not going to take the H1N1 shot when it's available because of it's association with Gullian Barre in clinical trials and very, very few trials on children...no way is my children getting that shot.