Mandatory Flu shots

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sooooo...what are your thoughts of mandatory Flu shots for health care workers? we got the ultimatum....get the shot or get the ax. So I got my first ever flu shot yesterday. just sitting arround waiting to get sick now!!!!!

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Yes.. and No - we will be dealing with them and very soon! They will be manufacturing H1N1 vaccine, right here in USA..

Take a look.. http://www.reuters.com/article/internal_ReutersNewsRoom_ExclusivesAndWins_MOLT/idUSTRE5746VY20090805

It is not a given that Baxter will be licensed here. Sure, it could happen, but the question we should be asking is why did the US choose not to buy egg based vaccine from Baxter when they could have? They chose other companies instead.

Your article is referring to the new cell based technology. It is true that this is probably the future of all vaccines as it is much quicker.

The swine flu vaccine, to be sold under the brand name Celvapan, is made using Baxter's cell culture process, which is designed to be faster than traditional vaccine production methods, where virus samples must be put into specially raised chicken eggs to grow.

Baxter has supply contracts with five countries, including the U.K., Ireland and New Zealand, but not the United States, said spokeswoman Deborah Spak.

The fact is that the US has not licensed any cell based vaccines to be used here from any company yet.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/PCAST_H1N1_Report.pdf

From Page 60:

Cell-based vaccines, in which viruses are grown in cultured cells rather than eggs. This method obviates the need for large quantities of embryonated eggs and potentially permits increased levels of production beyond those currently achievable. The method, however, does not substantially shorten the timeline between identification of the virus strains to be included in the vaccine and the vaccine’s availability. This approach is currently being used by several companies to produce candidate 2009-H1N1 vaccines, but such cell-based vaccines have not yet achieved licensure in the United States.

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Regarding mandatory flu shots, I'd have to say that I'd prefer these shots not be mandatory, and specifically, I'd rather not have my employment be dependent upon receiving such shots.

Personally, I have a family member who recently, just this past week, received the flu shot, and has now developed neurological symptoms. The symptoms began as eye twitches, then they noticed one side of their face appeared to be drooping with unilateral facial paralysis. The first doctor diagnosed Bell's palsy. 24 hours after the initial doctor's visit, my family member began noticing tingling in her extremities, and bilateral facial paralysis (drooping).

This began Monday. By Friday, the doctors are beginning to speculate that the initial diagnosis may not be correct.

My family member had no pre-exisiting conditions. She ran 5 miles a week, and was healthy as a horse. She's very concerned at this time. The only change in her lifestyle, has been the flu shot.

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Specializes in NICU, PEDS, M/S, DOU, ICU, REHAB.
It is not a given that Baxter will be licensed here. Sure, it could happen, but the question we should be asking is why did the US choose not to buy egg based vaccine from Baxter when they could have? They chose other companies instead.

Your article is referring to the new cell based technology. It is true that this is probably the future of all vaccines as it is much quicker.

The fact is that the US has not licensed any cell based vaccines to be used here from any company yet.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/PCAST_H1N1_Report.pdf

From Page 60:

Yes, but if you read the article they are attempting to expedite and rush through the process to get a US contract.

The following is not based on anything but my own opinion- but...

Remember, the Government chooses their contracts through the "bidding" process.

Sometimes it's a matter of who offers the cheapest price.. That's why Walmart has been so successful- try finding anything there that's been made in America...

If I had time I'd include facts, but I just don't have time tonight..

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A hospital in mid Mich will make you wear a surg mask for 7 months each year even in the halls or at the desk. That's crap. If a nurse isn't using standard precautions, she is more apt to catch something than vise versa. And what about the visitors? Are they banned without proof of poke? Read up on the ACLU support of NY nurses. Research the Facts on flu shots. Being a nurse shouldn't mean you are obligated to bend over to everyone's whim. Fight this for the right to choose, or what's next?

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A hospital in mid Mich will make you wear a surg mask for 7 months each year even in the halls or at the desk. That's crap. If a nurse isn't using standard precautions, she is more apt to catch something than vise versa. And what about the visitors? Are they banned without proof of poke? Read up on the ACLU support of NY nurses. Research the Facts on flu shots. Being a nurse shouldn't mean you are obligated to bend over to everyone's whim. Fight this for the right to choose, or what's next?

As this is your first post here, I would offer some advice.

It is better to post on a current thread such as Nurse: 'I was fired for refusing flu shot' rather than dredging up an old thread to make a comment.

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