Have you guys received your flu shots yet?

rnmi2004 · Sep 2, 2004

Is it that time of year already??? Even though as a nurse I'm in a high risk area and it's recommended we get them and they are free, I still don't get them. Never have. I've had the 24 hour flu a couple of times, but have not been horribly ill from the flu............yet.
I certainly am not advocating that people don't get them. Just saying what I do.

The "24 hour flu" isn't truly the flu--it's more likely food poisoning. Flu shots protect you against what the "experts" hope/guess will be the most likely influenza strain--the real flu last 1-2 weeks.

For the last 4 years, the kids & I have received the flu vaccine & have fortunately not come down with it. I don't recall ever seeing it available this early in the season.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 2, 2004

Got mine in October last year. I assume I will do the same this year as well. I like that they emp. health nurse will come in on evening shift to do this, to help us out on night shift. I think it's a good idea to get the shot, whenever possible.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Sep 2, 2004

The "24 hour flu" isn't truly the flu--it's more likely food poisoning. Flu shots protect you against what the "experts" hope/guess will be the most likely influenza strain--the real flu last 1-2 weeks.
For the last 4 years, the kids & I have received the flu vaccine & have fortunately not come down with it. I don't recall ever seeing it available this early in the season.

I tend to agree with the above. My experience, and my allergist concurs, is that if you don't feel like a semi ran over you, backed up over you, and ran over you again - you had something else, not the flu.

peggleggRN · Sep 2, 2004

:rolleyes: I have never got a flu shot, not do I plan on it. I (knock on wood) never get sick.

I just called in sick TWICE LAST WEEK because half my residents are coughing and I got it from them....*COUGH*...:imbar *COUGH*
EDITED IN:
Speaking of flu shots, do they really work? I've gotten many flu shots before, but I always manage to get sick anyway. Go figure

veteranRN · Sep 2, 2004

After watching my husband and son in bed for 1 week with horrible muscle aches and fevers >102, I never miss a shot. I know I had the same reaction in 2001 with the swollen arm, etc and the employee health nurse said that was a somewhat common reaction that year. It seems each strain has some side effects and that is what the health dept. reports.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 2, 2004

I plan to get mine when they come out. I had a reddened arm once-I think '99 and they thought it might be from the rubber stopper in the vial. I do break out from latex gloves and I am allergic REALLY ALLERGIC to avocados. Anyway I've had no problems since then. I guess it could have been technique that caused the erythema.

Jo Dirt · Sep 2, 2004

Is it that time of year already??? Even though as a nurse I'm in a high risk area and it's recommended we get them and they are free, I still don't get them. Never have. I've had the 24 hour flu a couple of times, but have not been horribly ill from the flu............yet.
I certainly am not advocating that people don't get them. Just saying what I do.

I stay away from them (as a matter of fact, I stay away from all vaccines). I have had more than one person tell me the year they took a flu shot was the year they were sicker than they had ever been.

Katnip, RN · Sep 2, 2004

Micro 101: flu shots contain killed viruses. If you catch something, it isn't from the vaccine.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2004

The "24 hour flu" isn't truly the flu--it's more likely food poisoning. Flu shots protect you against what the "experts" hope/guess will be the most likely influenza strain--the real flu last 1-2 weeks.
For the last 4 years, the kids & I have received the flu vaccine & have fortunately not come down with it. I don't recall ever seeing it available this early in the season.

Agree that it probably wasn't the "flu". Just body aches and a fever of 102 and extreme fatigue. Passed in 24 hours. But no GI symptoms like food poisoning. But did feel like a truck ran over me.

So I stand corrected. In that case, I've never had the flu. Never have had the flu shot. Woot!

Nurse Ratched, RN · Sep 2, 2004

I am allergic REALLY ALLERGIC to avocados.

NO GUACAMOLE???

Shoot me now!

Jo Dirt · Sep 2, 2004

Micro 101: flu shots contain killed viruses. If you catch something, it isn't from the vaccine.

I wouldn't be so sure. There is a new theory that suggests that causing your body to create antibodies weakens your immune system. Not to mention the formaldehyde and mercury and other additives, and who knows if there are any long-term effects. It's just a personal choice, but I stay away from vaccines altogether. Maybe I am rolling the dice here, but aside from the vaccines I was given in childhood I haven't received a single one, not even a hepatitis shot (which contains plasma that has not been tested for diseases like HIV).

Farkinott, RN · Sep 2, 2004

I wouldn't be so sure. There is a new theory that suggests that causing your body to create antibodies weakens your immune system. Not to mention the formaldehyde and mercury and other additives, and who knows if there are any long-term effects. It's just a personal choice, but I stay away from vaccines altogether. Maybe I am rolling the dice here, but aside from the vaccines I was given in childhood I haven't received a single one, not even a hepatitis shot (which contains plasma that has not been tested for diseases like HIV).

As I am a nurse I have been immunised for everything that I am not already immune too! Hepatitis A and B are serious diseases which are easy to catch. It only takes one slip and you are down for a long time (weeks off work). Thankfully I had rubella, measles and chicken pox as a kid and was delighted to find out I had acquired immunity to mumps (my brother had it when young). I wouldn't want to catch it as an adult!

I don't bother with the fluvax though. The first time I had the flu was after the fluvax so I have given it a miss since. I am certain that the risk of adverse events from other vaccines are less than the risk of NOT vaccinating.

Of course it's down to personal choice. Just make sure it is an INFORMED choice!