Flu shot ??

[09RN]

How amny people are going to get their flu shot? Anyone already got it? Our teacher has preached to our class about getting one. I have never had one nor have I ever had the flu. One classmate told us that her Dr wont give them till Oct. Then I heard that one of the teachers at school ( classroom across from mine..plus I go in there every day as I have many friends in that class) she has the flu, both strains A and B . Should I try to find someone to give me that shot this next week? Are there any side effects from getting it? Thanks :)

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I think it's always wise to research a medication before getting it.

I personally prefer not to get the flu shot. Yes, there are side effects and risks as with any medication. There is also the flu mist which I might consider but I haven't done any research on it.

I have had the flu three in my life (I'm 33). I've had the shot once in Oct and had the flu (diagnosed) in January (and the strain I had was in the shot) and I ended up with pneumonia from that round of the flu. A lot of the studies done have shown the flu shot to not be very effective. I personally don't have a lot of faith in that vaccine, but other people swear by it. You need to make your own decision and take into account your own health, allergies to anything in the vax, etc. No one else can tell you what to do.

[Achoo!, LPN]

I have gotten it for many years, and I will get it this year too. Even if you do get a different flu strain not included in the vaccine, your symptoms typically aren't as bad. Definately do your research!

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

I've gotten it while in nursing school and then when I first started working as a nurse. I've never had a bad reaction.

"The flu" is a respiratory illness . .. most of us have had a version of it.

steph

[Music in My Heart]

I've been getting a flu shot every year since 1990. I've never experienced any side effects at all beyond a bit of tenderness at the injection site for a few hours.

I'm a big fan of vaccines - I've been shot up with just about everything you can think of. I want my immune system to have every advantage it can get.

Let's hear it for secondary immune responses and memory B cells :yelclap::yelclap:

[llg, PhD, RN]

I always get a flu shot and will again this year. I do it to help prevent the influenza virus from spreading throughout the community. Yes, some people will get the flu even if they get the vaccine. But the more people who get the vaccine, the fewer cases of flu there will be within the community as a whole. And some of the people who get the flu die from it.

So, I do it to protect the kids in the cancer clinic across the hall from my office -- to protect the elderly people is come into contact with in the grocery store -- to protect somebody's child, grandparent, immunosuppressed love one, etc. -- even though whether I get the flu or not might not matter much in my life.

Yes, my arm will be sore for a couple of days and I will probably feel achy for a day or two -- but those are minor inconveniences compared to the widespread suffering caused by a major flu epidemic.

[Music in My Heart]

I always get a flu shot and will again this year. I do it to help prevent the influenza virus from spreading throughout the community. Yes, some people will get the flu even if they get the vaccine. But the more people who get the vaccine, the fewer cases of flu there will be within the community as a whole. And some of the people who get the flu die from it.

So, I do it to protect the kids in the cancer clinic across the hall from my office -- to protect the elderly people is come into contact with in the grocery store -- to protect somebody's child, grandparent, immunosuppressed love one, etc. -- even though whether I get the flu or not might not matter much in my life.

Yes, my arm will be sore for a couple of days and I will probably feel achy for a day or two -- but those are minor inconveniences compared to the widespread suffering caused by a major flu epidemic.

Well put, llg. I'll admit to being selfish in my own vaccinations (thinking only of myself and my family). I hadn't even thought about "herd immunity" and the vulnerable folks all around me.

[caliotter3]

Been pretty faithful about getting my flu shot for years. The year of the shortage, got turned away at a pharmacy that told me they only gave them to the elderly and didn't care that I'm a healthcare worker. Twice have gone to public clinic put on by Maxim. Won't go there anymore, because they hire people off the street, and unfortunately I got one of those lulu nurses that didn't know what she was doing. Required to go back to another provider, so never again, from a public clinic (at least not Maxim).

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Get the flu shot every year-have for sometime. Seems like I get less URI's overall since I've been getting it. Placebo effect? Whatever, it works for me!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Have received it for years and will again this year as well.

[akanini, MSN, RN]

I used to get it every year in college and then stopped. I'm so sorry I did. I just got one last Friday and soooooooooo glad I did.

[southernbelle08]

I will be getting one as soon as my doctor's office offers it.