H1N1 vaccine, yes or no?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 14, 2010

Moved to the Pandemic Flu forum

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2010

It hasn;t been offered to me but if it becomes available I'll get it in a heartbeat. Besides, my DON will chase me down with a syringe.

dannyc12 · Jan 14, 2010

I still haven't gotten this vaccine, I just don't think they know enough about long term effects, so I'm a little leary...does anyone understand this, or can someone shed insight?

Sure, ask yourself a few questions:

1. How many of your classmates have siblings that died of polio?

2. How many have disabilities from polio?

3. How many children do you know that died of smallpox?

Now ask yourself, "Why do I know not a single person who died or was disabled from polio or smallpox?"

Think about the answer.

Now go get your flu vaccine.

THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 20, 2010

My hospital made is mandatory, get the shot or get punished.

I was actually very neutral, if you wanted the shot go for it, if not, your health decisions, your call. When they came out saying you HAD to get it, I gladly encouraged everyone to refuse. Most people knuckled under, but quite a few of us said go ahead, punish us, we dare you! I still work for them, at least until something better comes along, and no, I never rolled my sleeves up, for H1N1 or the seasonal. As usual, I haven't gotten sick either.

My advice? Don't give into the hype, refuse the shot if you aren't 100% sure about it. Of those who took it, quite a few felt ill afterwards, one even says she hasn't felt good at all sicne taking it, and it has been 2 months.

Your healthcare, your call. My 2 cents says refuse it.

aura_of_laura · Jan 29, 2010

I haven't gotten either the H1N1 or seasonal vaccine, though not for lack of interest. I used every drop of my facilities' vaccine supply on our high-risk patients and employees. Seasonal vaccine has been especially scarce. Since I don't do too much direct patient care, I'm actually one of the lowest priority - kind of ironic o_0

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2010

Well, we got it in last week, I handed the DON my consent, and she literally came down the hall with the shot in her hand after me.

indigo girl · Jan 30, 2010

Well, we got it in last week, I handed the DON my consent, and she literally came down the hall with the shot in her hand after me.

A good idea for those in LTC facilities to get the vax even though we are hearing of few cases of swine flu right now in the US. It is still around, and we don't know if there will be another wave coming. Historically speaking, we can expect another to come as there are still many susceptible hosts who never got the virus or the vax.

Swine flu can occur in any and all locations. It appears to be hitting the elderly patients in other countries now although, in healthcare facilities, it is the staff that seem to be more at risk of becoming infected. However, the elderly have more health issues so if they do catch it, they may have more severe outcomes.

Reading of the following outbreaks in LTC facilities, I note that they used the "Tamiflu Blanket" approach for staff and patients exposed, just like they do in Asia when bird flu occurs in a village, (oseltamivir prophylaxis) which was smart.The other point of interest is staff members working while sick. This is a continual problem. I do understand why. Healthcare is the most unforgiving of staff callouts of any industry, and this is the result. I keep hoping that this will change, but I doubt that it will.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5903a3.htm?s_cid=mm5903a3_e

Outbreaks of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Among Long-Term--Care Facility Residents --- Three States, 2009
...During October and November 2009, CDC received reports of 2009 H1N1 outbreaks in LTCFs in Colorado, Maine, and New York. This report summarizes the three outbreaks, which involved facilities primarily housing older patients. These outbreaks illustrate that, despite the lower risk for infection with 2009 H1N1 among persons aged ≥65 years compared with seasonal influenza, 2009 H1N1 outbreaks still can occur in LTCFs. These outbreaks also underscore the importance of respiratory illness surveillance and recommended infection-control procedures in LTCFs. All health-care personnel should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1. LTCF residents should receive seasonal influenza vaccination, and should be vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 after assessment of vaccine availability at the local level indicates that demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met (3).
Colorado. Beginning on October 14, 2009, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment assisted with the control of an outbreak of influenza-like illness (ILI)* in a 39-bed LTCF. During October 12--14, 2009, 11 residents (age range: 76--106 years) developed ILI (resident attack rate = 28%). Among the 11 residents, four tested positive by rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT), and three of these were positive by real-time reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) for 2009 H1N1. All of the ill residents lived in the same care unit. One of the 11 residents was hospitalized because of his ILI symptoms; no deaths occurred. Among 25 staff members at the facility, 10 reported experiencing ILI (staff attack rate = 40%); one worked while ill on October 10, which was 2 days before the onset of ILI in residents. Interventions implemented by the facility on October 14 included use of droplet precautions (4) and oseltamivir treatment for all residents with ILI, oseltamivir prophylaxis for all other residents and all staff members, restriction of exposed residents to their care unit, ill visitor restriction, and vaccination of staff members with 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccine had been offered to all residents and staff members before the outbreak, but 2009 H1N1 vaccine was not available at that time. No new ILI cases occurred after October 14.
Maine. On November 12, 2009, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an investigation of a 2009 H1N1--related death in a patient from a 125-bed LTCF with 175 staff members. The patient was an ambulatory man aged 72 years who became ill on November 9, 2009, and died on November 10 of respiratory failure; 2009 H1N1 infection was confirmed by rRT-PCR. Absenteeism among health-care personnel at the facility had increased from a baseline average of two employee absences per day to seven employee absences per day in the week before the patient's illness, and to 11 employee absences per day the week of the patient's illness onset; eight staff members reported ILI symptoms (staff attack rate = 5%). No residents or staff members had been vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza. Because of concerns that more influenza infections might develop among residents, on November 13 the facility was closed to new admissions and visitors. Hand hygiene and cough etiquette were reinforced, droplet precautions were instituted for the care of infected residents, ill staff members were excluded from work, resident movement among the three wings of the facility was restricted, and oseltamivir prophylaxis was offered to all residents and staff members. All 125 residents and 159 of 175 staff members (91%) accepted the 2-week prophylaxis regimen. Six other residents (aged 72--89 years) developed ILI and were tested during November 13--17 (resident attack rate = 6%); two of these residents tested positive for 2009 H1N1 infection by rRT-PCR. Vaccination for 2009 H1N1 was not administered. No additional persons with ILI were identified after November 17.
New York. Starting on October 28, 2009, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) assisted a 368-bed LTCF that had an outbreak of ILI among residents and staff members. From October 26 through November 6, a total of 41 of 368 residents (resident attack rate = 11%) and 135 of 615 staff members (staff attack rate = 22%) developed ILI. The first resident became ill on October 27. Ill residents were aged 66--96 years; none were hospitalized, and none died. A phlebotomist with onset of ILI on October 26 had worked on that day, drawing blood from 39 residents on all nine units in the facility. A nasopharyngeal swab collected from the phlebotomist tested positive for influenza A by RIDT and was later confirmed by rRT-PCR to be 2009 H1N1. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from six ill residents; one tested positive for 2009 H1N1 by rRT-PCR, and one tested positive for influenza A by culture.
Beginning on October 26, oseltamivir treatment was prescribed for all ill residents, and oseltamivir prophylaxis was offered to all unaffected residents and staff members. Enhanced surveillance for ILI was implemented, including contacting all absent employees to identify the reason for their absence. Staff members and visitors received education on standard precautions and droplet precautions and were excluded from the facility if ill. Children aged