Is your place of employment offering you the flu vaccine?

[RN~in~CT]

The hospital that I work at is not immunizing any of the nurses, and I am quite surprised by this. I understand that severity of the shortage, but arent healthcare workers in the high risk category?

I can see it now, once the influenza pts start getting hospitalized, it will spread like crazy.

[nurseygrrl, LPN]

All of our residents got their flu shots. My unit was first to be immunized in the building because of their HIV status. All employees are being vaccinated as well. I don't get the flu shot...so someone can have mine! :chuckle

[Jenn_RN]

All staff with direct patient contact will get flu shots. People with limited contact (admitting, env health) will not.

[Katnip, RN]

I got my flu shot. Only staff and volunteers involved in direct patient care will get them. We don't give them to patients. At least not in the ED.

Some states, and Washington D.C. are bringing criminal charges, fines, and jail time to docs and others who administer the vaccine to anyone who is not in the high risk category.

For those of you who need it, have you tried your county health department?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I escaped the flu until I was 52. Now I have a qualifying medical problem. Pulmonary fibrosis. We stood in line for 1 1/2 hrs to get the flu shot. They were quite specific who they let in. Fortunately Medicare paid. I think it was almost twice as expensive for my husband this year from last. This was at an assisted living facility in the next town.

[SmilingBluEyes]

WHERE are you guys getting vaccine? Here, NO ONE is getting any.

[Quailfeather]

Our facility usually provides free flu shots for all staff, but they just sent out a bulletin that there is no vaccine available this year...so no shots for us. I work in the ER, so I guess I will make sure that I take my vitamins and try to stay rested (yeah, right). The other day I was browsing through a uniform catalog (Scrubbs, I think) and I noticed that you can get matching accessories for their uniforms. They offer hair ties, stethoscope covers, surgical hats, and even earrings. Perhaps they should consider offering matching face masks. It seems we may need them. :uhoh21:

[James Huffman]

From the CDC website. Those in direct care positions are QUALIFIED to get the vaccine. The question is whether a local area will have it or not.

I'm following the vaccine progress on my blog; the shortage is really bad in many areas of the country.

Jim Huffman, RN

Priority Groups for Influenza Vaccination

The following priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine this season are considered to be of equal importance and are:

* all children aged 6-23 months;

* adults aged 65 years and older;

* persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;

* all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;

* residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;

* children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;

* health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and

* out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged

[TMoscatelli]

all of our res. received the flu shot right away, as far as employees go we got whatever was left which wasnt much

[Shotzie]

I don't think there is any legal action that can be taken against someone who is not in the high risk group taking a flu shot.

There are no laws against it, I think CNN said it best when they said

"It's a responsibility and citizenship issue"

I just wouldn't want to be the healthy 30 year old person standing in line trying to get a shot when people who have real medical needs are in line behind them.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

All direct care workers will get flu shots at my facility if they want them. I dont get one myself.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

All direct care workers get them at my place. Patients getting them are limited to those admitted with pneumonia/lung related diagnoses and immune deficiencies. Everyone else is on their own!

[soleilRN]

Yes, the hospital I work at is a Children's hospital; and they went around offering the flu shot to all employee's with patient care contact. They aren't doing it anymore now; it was a two day thing.