H1N1 season and not taking the vaccine

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Specializes in tele, MICU.

Hi, I work in a busy MICU and have recently been seeing more H1N1 positive patients. I chose not to take the vaccine this years as I have never taken the vaccine before. I am getting concerned since I keep getting asked if I have been is so so's room and if I have had the H1N1 vaccine. It seems that our patients are found positive for H1N1 after they have been on our unit for a few days and have not been on droplet precautions.

For those who have not taken the flu vaccines are any of you getting sick after being exposed to H1N1? Are any you concerned about getting sick? Have you heard of any other nurses getting sick after being exposed and if so how sick?

I am starting to "freak out" a little. :eek:

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Specializes in lots of different areas.

Curious as to why you didn't get the vaccine? I haven't seen nurses or staff getting sick, but we use maximum precaution to protect ourselves against it. I do worry about catching something, especially after taking care of so many sick patients. What a nightmare to be a patient in the Roto-prone, on the vent, pressors, etc.

Protect yourself!

signed, ICU nurse

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Specializes in ABMT.

On our unit, so far this year, all of our confirmed H1N1 cases were in unvaccinated people. In other words, we haven't had one case of confirmed H1N1 in a person who HAD gotten the vaccine. What do you think is holding you back from getting the vaccine?

Please please please consider getting it--I really like this teaching sheet:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/Pink_9Excuses_v1c.pdf

best of health to you!

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In our hospital if you didn't get the flu vaccine you have to wear a mask in any patient care area. They said it was mandatory 6 feet within a patient, but now they've cracked down and said if you can see a patient you should be wearing a mask.

A mask every day I work for months plus risk getting very ill, or get a shot that will help in preventing something and I don't have to wear a mask? Tough call there.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

My facility is the same as Dano's. If you don't get the vaccine you have to wear a mask. Did you not get the flu shot this year? H1N1 was included in this season's shot and not two separate shots like last year.

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Specializes in tele, MICU.

Thanks for the info. I just considered myself young and healthy. I never really have gotten sick and I felt I did not need the vaccines. I got one several years ago.

At my hospital, once a patient is being ruled out or is positive for the flu they are placed on droplet precautions and we have to wear a mask to enter the room.

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Specializes in SICU.
I just considered myself young and healthy. I never really have gotten sick and I felt I did not need the vaccines.

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=9864

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I understand that you are not worried about yourself, but what about your patients? You could be infected and contagious with the flu virus before you have any symptoms. It's your own business if you don't care about getting sick, but the population of people you work with--very old or very young, sick, immuno-compromised--have little defense against the germs you would spread to them. I am glad that the health department in my city requires healthcare workers to be vaccinated or else wear masks when at work.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

My 44 year old friend (that I have known since elementary school) just died yesterday. She had been having flu-like symptoms and had no other health problems.

Highly suspicious for influenza but waiting for the autopsy report.

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Specializes in ICU.

Welcome to ICU nursing! Yes, early in the flu season we had 2 staff people that got sick before a patient was diagnosed (they didn't yet get the flu shot). Actually we're seeing more influenza in patients that did have the flu shot this year than any other year.....guess they didn't pick well when compiling this years shot combination. It happens.

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Specializes in SICU.

I think the decision whether or not to receive the flu shot is a personal decision and you should do your own research before deciding whether or not to receive it. Getting the flu shot is no guarantee that you will not get the flu as it does not cover all variations of the flu. That is just one of the many reasons I opted out of receiving the vaccine. After conducting my own research I have read expert opinions that range from getting the vaccine will kill you to everyone who breathes should be vaccinated. Based on what I have read there is just not enough evidence to prove that I am any more of a risk to my pts or family by not being vaccinated for flu, than I am on a regular basis. I have been exposed twice that I know of to H1N1, once to meningitis, and how many times to you go back to work to find that your patient is now suddenly in isolation for c-diff, acinetobactor, MRSA, etc. That is all stuff that you as a nurse carry into every room everyday. We take alot of risks everyday from undiagnosed patients and unfortunately so do our patients.

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