Flu shot or not?

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 3, 2006

ya never know-why not get it? the flu would really suck.

i got mine yesterday, and now my arm hurts like heck!!! but hey, better than getting the flu. i was pretty pissy from having a cold recently, i'd hate to get the flu

CHATSDALE · Nov 3, 2006

also presented myself to be a pincushion yesterday..i seldom get sick but when i do it is a doozy

personal choice

mom23RN · Nov 3, 2006

I had influenze about 3 years ago. My oldest was 2 1/2 and I was nursing a 6 week old baby. :uhoh3: I have to say that if you ever get influenza you will never want it again. Give me the 12 hour pukes ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. Oh... did I mention that my 2 1/2 year old had it as well? It was horrific. I have a completely sympathetic hubby who took NO time off work either to help me.

All that being said, I still don't get the flu shot. :smokin: I swore I would get it the next year but that has come and gone now.

It's really up to you but personally I just don't like them. I know... I know... you'd think I would have learned my lesson... but nope. :trout:

Good luck. I hope you stay healthy this year!!!

onehusbandsevenkids · Nov 3, 2006

Hmmm... have you ever done real research on vax?

If you're comfortable with vax, then get it.

If you question vax, I would question it, and take measures to fully support your immune system, ect. But thats just me.

For what its worth, I'm mostly anti-vax. (and no I dont care to start a debate...way too much work to do to get sucked into spending lots of time on a debate here)

My stepdad gets the flu shot every year and every year he gets the flu. Same with my MIL. I did get the flu shot two seasons ago at school under peer pressure and I didnt get sick.

Sandi0302 · Nov 4, 2006

I gave myself one last year because I was pregnant, and this year I will be getting (or giving myself) another one because I was recently diagnosed with asthma

Midwest4me · Nov 4, 2006

I highly recommend it! I suffered terribly many years ago when I came down with the flu(I'd neglected to get the shot). I've not made that mistake again. Two days' worth of arm discomfort is SO MUCH better than aweek in bed witht he flu.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2006

I have received a flu shot 12 of my past 14 years of being an RN-the only time I had the flu was the 2 years I didn't get the shot and of course before I was a Nurse.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 4, 2006

I never miss getting a flu shot---I've got asthma, and the flu has been known to put me in the hospital. No thanks, I haven't got time for all that!

As an ALF nurse, I'm rather militant about protecting my residents from flu.........what would be a week or two of misery for a young or middle-aged person, is a potential killer for the frail elderly. So I very strongly encourage my staff to get flu shots, and of course we make sure all the residents have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

Now, I would never "force" anyone to get the flu vaccine, but I do see it as something of a social responsibility whenever one is caring for elderly and immunocompromised patients. From what I understand, in years past only about half the residents and maybe 10% of the staff where I work got flu shots; this year, 90% of the residents and 80% of staff have been vaccinated. There's a few hardcore folks who proudly boast that they've never gotten a flu shot and never get the flu, and I think they're full of it, but I really can't MAKE them do it. I just give 'em all my little speech about how terrible they would feel if they brought flu into the facility and somebody died from it.........what's that about "guilting" people into doing something they don't want to do? Who, me?

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 4, 2006

Wellll, I think we'll get the shot. I went out to the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm) and that pretty much swayed me in favor of the shot. So, I guess we'll file this one under "my body, my choice" which seems to be everybody's opinion.

Thanks!

sandys · Nov 4, 2006

Good choice. My family had the flu two years in a row right at Christmas. The kids were 1, 2 and 3 the first year and my husband and I could not take care of them (until they got it and slowed down that is). I had a fever so high that I was almost blacking out, seeing stars and what not. It was absolutely truly miserable. I don't know why any living person would put themselves through that when there is a way to prevent it. Not to mention the kids all got it and then it turned into ear infections and my daughter got pneumonia and was extremely ill. No way to spend Christmas, or any other time of the year if you ask me!

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2006

I never miss getting a flu shot---I've got asthma, and the flu has been known to put me in the hospital. No thanks, I haven't got time for all that!
As an ALF nurse, I'm rather militant about protecting my residents from flu.........what would be a week or two of misery for a young or middle-aged person, is a potential killer for the frail elderly. So I very strongly encourage my staff to get flu shots, and of course we make sure all the residents have the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Now, I would never "force" anyone to get the flu vaccine, but I do see it as something of a social responsibility whenever one is caring for elderly and immunocompromised patients. From what I understand, in years past only about half the residents and maybe 10% of the staff where I work got flu shots; this year, 90% of the residents and 80% of staff have been vaccinated. There's a few hardcore folks who proudly boast that they've never gotten a flu shot and never get the flu, and I think they're full of it, but I really can't MAKE them do it. I just give 'em all my little speech about how terrible they would feel if they brought flu into the facility and somebody died from it.........what's that about "guilting" people into doing something they don't want to do? Who, me?

at any time, any one of your staff could carry in ANYTHING in and transfer it to a resident, from adenovirus to simple rotovirus from a child at home. even a simple cold could kill a frail elderly person.

i can't imagine making staff feeling guilty if someone "died" from a germ of any kind that any one had at any given time.

you should be more concerned with housekeeping's responsibility to keep things clean and disinfected and reminding your staff that in the end, the best way to prevent the spread of any infection is proper handwashing!