Flu shots

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The hospitals that my school assign us to for do clinicals at are making it an requirement that we receive the H1N1 and seasonal flu shots. I never had either and I never had the flu. I am really against getting the vaccines esp. the H1N1 because it is so new. This new flu emerged in April 2009, therefor I feel the vaccine have not been out long enough. This is just me and how I feel. Is this at every school?:uhoh3:

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No, this is not required at every school or hospital.

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Is there a form you can sign that states you refuse the shot?

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
I am really against getting the vaccines esp. the H1N1 because it is so new. This new flu emerged in April 2009, therefor I feel the vaccine have not been out long enough.

By saying this you show that you don't know anything about flu shots, seasonal or H1N1. The seasonal shot is reformulated every year, with three strains picked based on the best guesses of leading epidemiologists almost a year in advance (because there's such a long lead-time in making the shot). This means that there is no one tried and tested set of strains for the shot. However, the means of making the vaccine once the strains are selected is the same, year in and year out. The H1N1 strain emerged after the three strains were picked, which is why there was an additional shot this year. While it's a different strain, it is manufactured the exact same way.

I'd go on to explain why anti-vaccination fear-mongering is stupid, but you apparently haven't paid enough attention in class for any of what I'd say to stick.

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You are right I am a new nursing student, and don't know much about the flu shots we haven't reached that area as of yet. But a little word of advice post your facts and not your negative opinions its unprofessional.

Thanks.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Those requirements are up to the clinical site. At ours, it required the seasonal flu shot but if you refuse that, you can wear a mask instead. No one opted for the mask though, because can you imagine wearing that 12 hours straight? What a PITA! I agree with TheSquire that you should research more about these shots. Get to the scientific facts and not opinions or theories on them because you're going to have to deal with this issue for the time you're in nursing.

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Wow, "TheSquire" your post is really condescending. Instead of just giving your opinion on the matter, knowing nothing at all about the op, you throw in cheap shots and insults.

"I'd go on to explain why anti-vaccination fear-mongering is stupid, but you apparently haven't paid enough attention in class for any of what I'd say to stick."

There are plenty of well educated people that are against these vaccines for good reason. I've had doctors and nurses tell me straight up that they wouldn't get the vaccine nor would they let their children get it. It's not stupid to question a vaccine that was thrown together in a few months with little time for sufficient research on its side effects. Especially when history shows that many people have died and/or been injured from vaccines for the "big swine flu scare" back in the 1970's along with other instances. The ignorant thing to do would be to just trust everything the big drug companies and fear mongers about the "swine flu pandemic" tell us to do without asking questions first.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
Wow, "TheSquire" your post is really condescending. Instead of just giving your opinion on the matter, knowing nothing at all about the op, you throw in cheap shots and insults.

Says the person who resorts to an argument from authority.

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Can you ask if you can wear a mask? I don't like the flu shots either.

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we were told, at the hospital i am volunteering at, that of we declined the vaccines, we would need to wear a mask for flu season and would not be allowed to work in peds, because it would scare the kids... wth. i didn't want these vaccines either but i did get them. i, like you have never had the flu or flu vaccines and i would rather not have a bunch of crap injected into my body unnecessarily. how irritating! >:|

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Funny how different places have different policies, I volunteer at a hospital and work with babies and it was only an option.

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Wow, "TheSquire" your post is really condescending. Instead of just giving your opinion on the matter, knowing nothing at all about the op, you throw in cheap shots and insults.

"I'd go on to explain why anti-vaccination fear-mongering is stupid, but you apparently haven't paid enough attention in class for any of what I'd say to stick."

There are plenty of well educated people that are against these vaccines for good reason. I've had doctors and nurses tell me straight up that they wouldn't get the vaccine nor would they let their children get it. It's not stupid to question a vaccine that was thrown together in a few months with little time for sufficient research on its side effects. Especially when history shows that many people have died and/or been injured from vaccines for the "big swine flu scare" back in the 1970's along with other instances. The ignorant thing to do would be to just trust everything the big drug companies and fear mongers about the "swine flu pandemic" tell us to do without asking questions first.

There are educated people who believe many erroneous things, it doesn't make them correct. There is no evidence that the H1N1 vaccine is anything but safe. If you have reason to believe it's unsafe, please provide a cite of the evidence that demonstrates that.

Whether you liked Sqire's tone or not....the information was correct. This is NOT a new vaccine. This is the same vaccine that is given as a seasonal flu shot every year...well for forever. The only difference is that instead of three strains of the virus, there's one. That is truly the only difference....even the drug sheet that comes with the vaccine from the manufacturer said the same thing.

The problem with the Swine Flu vaccine (BTW--the novel H1N1 that is out not is not a Swine flu) back in the 70's was that there was a contaminant in the vaccine (a problem that could happen with any drug, not just vaccines). The 2009 H1N1 shot has nothing to do with that vaccine; we've learned a lot about making vaccines since then.

Oh and our clinical sites required us to have both the seasonal and H1N1 shots. We of course could decline to have the shots, but then we would not be allowed to attend clincals at that facility (hospitals are doing nursing schools a favor by allowing students at their sites, we're there at their pleasure....so comply with their policies or go somewhere else....of course there's no where else to go in this area).

To the OP: get the shots, you'll be protecting your future patients.

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