Forced to get flu shot or wear a mask

[nurse0614]

Recently I heard our hospital will be forcing everyone to get a flu shot or they will have to wear a mask for their entire shift. I have had a reaction to it and usually just boost my immune system during flu season and this works well. I was told that even if we have had a reaction in the past and still don't get it, we wear a mask. This does not sit well with many of us at the hospital. Was wondering if others have experienced this and what they did.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Studies of concentration camps (WW II in Europe) showed that when epidemics of contagious diseases,i.e., measles, swept through the camps the inmates survived better than the relatively well fed, well clothed, guards!

You do realize that in the 1930s and 1940s, and especially in concentration camps, it's far more likely that the inmates had already been exposed to those diseases while imprisoned, and the guards had not.

You also realize that in the 1930s and 1940s many Jews - the primary inmate population - lived in ghettos in close conditions with other people (having been forced there by the Nazis) and had likely been exposed to those diseases before being incarcerated, and the guards had not.

My mother had measles as a child in the 1930s. When my brothers got it in the 1950s, still prior to vaccination, she didn't catch it again. Neither did my father, who also had it in the 1930s. They also didn't "re-catch" mumps a couple of years later. (That, however, almost killed one of my brothers, and doctors said at the LEAST he'd likely end up sterile. That's how bad he had it.)

Roll on, wonders of modern medicine....

[rhine1121]

In my hospital, it is mandatory unless you are allergic to it and you have to provide a medical exemption from your primary care stating the reason why.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I get a flu shot every year and every year I have a reaction to it.

My body reacts by keeping me from getting sick with the flu, I don't have to use up my sick time being sick with flu, so I think it's a great reaction lol!

I'm hoping that last sentence was satirical.

Because you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. (As pointed out by Chare- I misread your sentence. I'm sorry about that).

Just sayin'

[chare]

I'm hoping that last sentence was satirical.

Because you cannot get the flu from the flu shot.

Just sayin'

I might be wrong, but I think you need to reread the quoted post.

[nursemcsleepy, BSN, RN]

Two years in a row I've gotten the flu shot and STILL gotten the flu. The year before last it ended with a few days in the hospital thanks to a good flu-asthma-pneumonia combo.

But you know what, I'm still going to keep getting the flu shot, because the benefits outweigh the risks. And the shot doesn't cause the flu anyway.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I might be wrong, but I think you need to reread the quoted post.

You are right!

I was wrong!

Blaming it on my headache and fatigue.

Sorry! But thanks for pointing it out.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

"Why are you putting so much emphasis on the H?"

Bahaha I thought the same thing when I first read it "HWHEAL.yay Stewie!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I get a flu shot every year and every year I have a reaction to it.

My body reacts by keeping me from getting sick with the flu, I don't have to use up my sick time being sick with flu, so I think it's a great reaction lol!

Extra Pickles wins the internet!!

[Extra Pickles]

I might be wrong, but I think you need to reread the quoted post.

see what I get for being tongue in cheek lol!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

see what I get for being tongue in cheek lol!

No, my fault for not reading more carefully. Thanks! I love tongue-in-cheek and satire.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Essentially, OP you have 3 options:

1) get the flu shot

2) wear a mask

3) quit

[Qing]

You know if its mandatory might as well get it unless you have a bad reaction or medical condition that prevents you from taking it. Yes they can enforce wearing the mask during the flu season and it is not comfortable.