2020-2021 influenza vaccine

[JVBT]

Hello -- I am looking for information on this year's (2020-2021) influenza vaccine. I will go to the CDC web site, but I also wanted to check in with allnurses to hear from nurses on their own experiences and what they've learned as well as their thoughts on giving it to their families, whether or not colleagues have gotten it and giving it to patients. I am interested in the notion of whether or not should be mandatory, and will explore the discussion on allnurses that has already taken place - which is to say in this thread I hope not to generate a discussion on that right now! Just want to hear what nurses are learning and experiencing in their own words about this years flu vaccine. Thanks!

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I got it in August, just like I do every year. I have no issues with the flu shot and recommend it to everyone. 

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Flu shot-safe-will not give you the flu-effective 50% on average-better than nothing. Have heard it is best to time late sept-early October for best results for the whole season but my child brought it home late sept last year and it almost landed me in the hospital so I may be doing it a bit earlier from now on. However, child is now in my bubble land on the computer for school so we shall see. PCP doesn’t have it available yet and she’s under 18 so will have to get with him. Not going to the urgent care center that we sometimes used prior-it has an outside COVID19 tent I don’t want to be within shouting distance of...but always get myself and family the flu shot.

As for the possible COVID19 shot-I would prefer to see more known vaccinated people without poor outcomes first but would most likely get it once I feel it is safe when/if released. Biggest fear of safe is how effective is it-and will it give people a false sense of security if they don’t have regular tiger checks for effectiveness? Some people don’t realize that many vaccines require boosters and some people just do not seroconversion to immunity after vaccines are given- I’ve seen this with MMR and varicella-but I still recommend them if your tiger is negative.

 

 

[michaelb, BSN, RN]

we tried mandatory vaccine and our nurses union got in the way0- very near sighted

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

On 9/15/2020 at 9:31 AM, JVBT said:

I got mine last week.

What time of year did you get the 2019-2020 flu? Are you sure it wasn't Covid? Where I work, there were four cases of pneumonia, before it was officially accepted that Covid had arrived in our city.

I know how miserable a flu can be. I'm fairly sure I had H1N1 flu in Dec of 2009, maybe I then got pneumonia, I don't know. I was very sick before the holidays but recuperated by the time I needed to travel. At that time, I wasn't a nurse, it wasn't even on my horizon and the decision of whether to get vaccinated or not was totally random - whether the sun was out, whether a co-worker in the next cubicle mentioned mercury in the solutions, etc., whether a nurse showed up at work to vaccinate us. Very arbitrary!

Pretty sure it wasn't Covid, unless I had it concurrently. I had a positive Influenza A swab. It was in early February that I got sick.

I will not accept the Covid-19 vaccine if it hasn't been properly vetted utilizing known scientific method. I'll just keep masking and see how things play out and if it proves safe, I will get it then.

[JVBT, ASN]

10 hours ago, Nurse SMS said:

I will not accept the Covid-19 vaccine if it hasn't been properly vetted utilizing known scientific method. I'll just keep masking and see how things play out and if it proves safe, I will get it then.

I bet this is how the majority of nurses feel, but I could be wrong. I'm certainly not going to be the first in line, not by a long shot!

[OldEMTNurse, LPN, EMT-I]

I had my new Flu injection the beginning of this month, because since I have several risk factors, I know I need all the protection I can get. I know it helps me stay healthier.

 

[Bandaide, ASN]

I will get my flu shot in mid-October. I had Covid in March, and I feel like if I got the flu, it might just finish me off. I take my husband and we get our shots at the same time - it makes it easier to be sure that he gets it. We go get dinner after and has become a fall couples thing for us. I had H1N1 in 2009, and spent a few days wishing I would die and get it over with, so I'll do what I can to try to avoid that if I can.

[JVBT, ASN]

22 hours ago, Bandaide said:

I will get my flu shot in mid-October. I had Covid in March, and I feel like if I got the flu, it might just finish me off. I take my husband and we get our shots at the same time - it makes it easier to be sure that he gets it. We go get dinner after and has become a fall couples thing for us. I had H1N1 in 2009, and spent a few days wishing I would die and get it over with, so I'll do what I can to try to avoid that if I can.

I think I also had H1N1 in '09. At the time, I didn't put two and two together (thankfully) - was not a nurse then - but I've since done so, and I felt so miserable and like I was dying that that's what I think it was. So sorry you had Covid in the Spring, but glad you're now better enough to check in here. BON appetit! and remember to be careful with that meal!

[pluckyduck, MSN, NP]

My employer mandates it, unless there is a medical exemption/documentation (and it usually has to be pretty legit—like anaphylaxis, for example). Otherwise, if you’re not immunized by December 1 you’ll be terminated. 
 

I get my flu shot every year regardless. My husband and father are diabetic and I would hate to get sick and give them the flu. I also made sure they received their pneumococcal vaccines due to their diabetic risk. Plus, this year of all years, it’s another tool in our belt to help minimize the flu on top of the ongoing pandemic.