My hospital has instituted a new policy that you are required to have a flu vaccine. If FOR ANY REASON you cannot or will not get one, you must wear a mask from now until they deem the end of flu season. 2 years ago after getting my flu vaccine from employee health, I got a huge localized reaction, red raised hard bump, and had a fever for several days. I was going to start antibiotics, but the fever broke before I got them filled. They assumed it was a site infection, but never really know for sure, so I never got one last year since employee health has me listed as "bad reaction". So they refuse to give me a vaccine and are requiring me to wear a mask for the next several months. This seems rather unfair.
What do you think about being forced to get vaccines?
With previous bad reactions, should you be excused form the mask wearing?
I already struggle with getting the hard of hearing to hear me speak, since I have an accent, and Im a sweater.
Boohoo. Was thinking of getting the one they shoot up your nose, but my pcp thinks I shouldnt since we never knew what caused my reaction.
We literally just had a thread (that continues to grow) over this exact same question. It has derailed a bit, but there is great information related to flu vaccinations.
We literally just had a thread (that continues to grow) over this exact same question. It has derailed a bit, but there is great information related to flu vaccinations.
I thought some of the previous years' posts were beyond stupid, but that one takes the cake. How do these morons find us?
I know some people (who feared an allergic reaction) who have arranged to get their flu vaccine in their allergist's office or in an ED so that proper help would be readily available in an emergency. Perhaps you and your doctor could make some special arrangement that you would be comfortable with.
My hospital has instituted a new policy that you are required to have a flu vaccine. If FOR ANY REASON you cannot or will not get one, you must wear a mask from now until they deem the end of flu season. 2 years ago after getting my flu vaccine from employee health, I got a huge localized reaction, red raised hard bump, and had a fever for several days. I was going to start antibiotics, but the fever broke before I got them filled. They assumed it was a site infection, but never really know for sure, so I never got one last year since employee health has me listed as "bad reaction". So they refuse to give me a vaccine and are requiring me to wear a mask for the next several months. This seems rather unfair.
What do you think about being forced to get vaccines?
With previous bad reactions, should you be excused form the mask wearing?
I already struggle with getting the hard of hearing to hear me speak, since I have an accent, and Im a sweater.
Boohoo. Was thinking of getting the one they shoot up your nose, but my pcp thinks I shouldnt since we never knew what caused my reaction.
1). No one is forcing you to be vaccinated. You are welcome to find alternative employment. Or wear the mask.
2). Even with previous bad reactions, you carry an obligation to protect your patients and co-workers from potential contamination. While you can't help your body's reaction, I can't help my desire to protect my patients and myself from influenza. Wear the mask.
3). Hate to say this, but difficult communication due to your accent does not negate the absolute need to protect your patients. Wear the mask.
4). Don't hate to say this: your perspective is completely skewed toward your own comfort. "Im a sweater." [sic]
Totally not applicable. Your comfort does not trump your patients' and co-workers' safety. Wear the mask.
FWIW, most institutions would not fire someone who has medical contraindications against a vaccine, but yes, they might well insist on a mask. As stated above, whether or not you agree with it, it is not usually done as a punitive measure.
I kind of disagree. I don't think it is meant as an outright punishment, but I do think it is more of a scarlet letter than an actual protective measure.
that said, I do support compulsory vaccination for health care workers. In your case, OP, the intradermal vaccine uses a smaller dose so it might be less likely to cause a reaction. Or could you do the intranasal and then avoid your high risk pt population for the following week? Stay home or take an alternate assignment?
I thought some of the previous years' posts were beyond stupid, but that one takes the cake. How do these morons find us?
By using Google. A few keywords from the crackpot's lexicon, and Whalla! They found us. Much like they will find this thread too, by searching for the very very bad word 'vaccine'.
This is what will probably happen, but my pcp thinks I should not get ANY vaccine because we dont know what caused my reaction. However, it seems MOST LIKLEY that my reaction was a site infection although it was an odd presentation. I work in surgery so I come in contact with a lot of at risk patients you mentioned as far as getting the live vaccine.
If a regular flu vaccine caused my reaction, how is the intradermal going to be safer? I mean if the vaccine itself was the problem? Is the vaccine itself any different?
You work in surgery and you're concerned that you will have to wear a mask?
If you work with a lot of at-risk patients, do you think it's okay to risk giving them the flu by not wearing a mask?
What if a patient exposes you to the flu? No mask, good enough exposure, and you can miss another week of work--while wishing you'd worn that mask and feeling like you want to die.
By using Google. A few keywords from the crackpot's lexicon, and Whalla! They found us. Much like they will find this thread too, by searching for the very very bad word 'vaccine'.
"voilà " is prounounced "Vwa-la."
Sorry, it's not you, it's me. A personal problem, I know.
If you work with a lot of at-risk patients, do you think it's okay to risk giving them the flu by not wearing a mask?
What if a patient exposes you to the flu? No mask, good enough exposure, and you can miss another week of work--while wishing you'd worn that mask and feeling like you want to die.
This is an uncalled for response and completely senseless. I don't think she would come to work and expose her pt's to the flu if she had it, first of all. We don't go around as carriers of the flu all the time, and I'm sure if she had been exposed she would be extra cautious and would wear a mask.
cracklingkraken, ASN, RN
1,855 Posts
We literally just had a thread (that continues to grow) over this exact same question. It has derailed a bit, but there is great information related to flu vaccinations.