Pray for me! It's FLU SHOT SEASON!

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Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.

Here in Ontario we have a global flu shot program. In other words, the flu shot is available to everyone regardless of whether or not the person is high risk. A lot of people get the flu shot.....I mean A LOT of people get the flu shot.

Last Wednesday (today is Friday) the flu shots arrived. We only got 1/5 of our order.....1000 doses...the rest is coming in a couple of weeks. (yes, I only ordered 5000 doses as well as 8000 syringes, I know, I'll need more by January) I work in a family practice with 2 full time and 4 part time FPs as well as a full time walk-in clinic. The powers that be don't want to run a flu shot clinic....they want the patients to come to either the walk-in or make an appointment with their docs. That means that a good majority of flu shots that will come in will be done by me. I'm already running like an idot doing my regular work, you should see me now! (and flu shot season isn't officially in full gear....ie most people don't know they're available yet....:rolleyes: )

So, please pray for me.....I have a feeling I'm going to earn some really nice gray hairs in the next couple of months! :p

On the up side (or is that the down side?) I got my flu shot on Wednesday and promptly reacted to it! A big red itchy hive grew up around the injection site and only a timely dose of Reactine saved the day. The hive is still there and it's still itchy and it HURTS. {pout}

Flu shot anyone?

Laura

:o Ihad a flu shot only once I was sick for 3 weeks after. My family Doc said it was a reaction.

I'm not allergic to eggs. But am allergic to most of my environment, dust trees grass etc.

My question is flu shot is mandatory where I work. Will this happen again?? Doc doesn't think so

What did I react to???

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Got mine last week. Been giving them like crazy at my work too (like you, on top of regular duties.) It's busy, but I keep trying to convince myself we are saving ourselves work later in fewer people with the flu :).

Empathy coming your way, Laura :kiss.

Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
Originally posted by sixes

:o Ihad a flu shot only once I was sick for 3 weeks after. My family Doc said it was a reaction.

I'm not allergic to eggs. But am allergic to most of my environment, dust trees grass etc.

My question is flu shot is mandatory where I work. Will this happen again?? Doc doesn't think so

What did I react to???

You know what I'm discovering? Most docs really don't know much about the flu shot. I worked with a pediatrician for 5 years before starting here. He knew a lot about the flu shot, and I learned a lot too. I'm now finding that I know more about flu shots than the docs I work with now. :rolleyes:

With that said, the flu shot will not give you the flu. It can't because it's a killed virus and not a live one. You can react to it with some fever and malaise, but that's just your immune response to the vaccine. You can have a mild, localized allergic reaction which can last several days, which is what I'm having. You can also have a major anaphylactic reaction too but as you know that's usually immediate.

Although the flu shot is not 100% safe (no vaccine is) chances are that the reason you were sick for three weeks after your vaccine had more to do with coincidence than the actual vaccine. Remember, flu shots are given just when cold and flu season is peaking and a lot of people are going around with a lot of little bugs. More than likely you were in the process of getting something and you happened to get the flu shot at the same time.

Laura

Laura

Thank you for your response makes sence but I'm still leery about having another one.

It is manadatory at my work so I guess I'll have to take one

I have a raging cold right now

Hopefully it will be gone before the vaccines hit the office

HaHa Ha

Jody

Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

We start our flu shots in a week (to patients that is). I've never gotten one before, but as I now work in a large clinic with a huge older population I decided to get one. So far so good-arm is a little sore, but no hives yet. :)

I'm told to expect 100's of people a day standing outside waiting for the shot-we set up outside!

H.

Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
Originally posted by featherzRN

I'm told to expect 100's of people a day standing outside waiting for the shot-we set up outside!

H.

Three years ago I worked with the local health department in their public flu shot clinics. We used to set up in school gyms and the lineup usually went clear outside. Many people waited for over an hour for the flu shot and there were usually about a dozen nurses working together giving them. It was a daunting task too. I used to give hundreds of vaccines per shift and quite frankly dreamed about syringes at night! :eek:

Laura

hey Laura

I remembered to pray for you as well as myself as I have also been busy shooting away and trying to keep people healthy..I tell them the goal in life .. "healthy, wealthy and wise"

I will try to help them with the healthy and they are responsible for the wealthy and wise.. usually gets a smile as I inject.

So, do you have prefillled syringes? I can not imagine drawing up 1.000 flu shots?

Is there an abundance of vaccine in Canada? We have been able to get stock easlily this year.

Have you seeen any cases of the flu?

I have not seen any true flu here in TN..yet

Have a great week Laura

Joy and Smiles * Darla**;) :chuckle ;)

Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
Originally posted by darla80

So, do you have prefillled syringes? I can not imagine drawing up 1.000 flu shots?

Is there an abundance of vaccine in Canada? We have been able to get stock easlily this year.

Have you seeen any cases of the flu?

I have not seen any true flu here in TN..yet

Have a great week Laura

Joy and Smiles * Darla**;) :chuckle ;)

To be honest, because we have both a family practice and a walk-in clinic going at the same time, I find that it's far easier for me to prefill the syringes myself and keep them in the fridge. I fill about 1/2 dozen at a time and restock as they run out. I give 90% of the vaccines there so it works well. I know that technically we can't do that, but we're way to busy to stand there and draw up each vaccine individually. Besides, if I leave it up to the docs, we will end up with open bottles of serum all over the place...including in the exam rooms getting warm. This way I have control over what is being given.

We're not having any trouble with the stock this year. In fact, we didn't last year either.

And Thank God.....no flu yet. Just lots and lots of colds. :) We're also being extra careful this year. I live about 45 minutes west of Toronto where the SARS outbreak was big. I don't believe it's gone for good.....it will be back and the flu shot will help to differentiate between SARS and the flu.

Have a great week too!

Laura

This is why you need to work with a NP.

I am a nice guy and give most of my own flu shots.

Now Doc... thats another story.

Dave

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