Question about flu shot

truern · Aug 19, 2004

The flu shot is not mandatory in my school, if that helps :)

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2004

The flu shot is not required for anything. I have only taken it twice, everytime I take it I get the worst case of the flu. :roll :roll

West · Aug 19, 2004

Well that is good to hear!! I did some research, I live in Canada, and a paramedic was suspended for not taking the flu shot in Ontario . I dont know what the regulations are like here in Alberta. Thanks for the replies!!!

Cheers, Erika

Shed13911 · Aug 19, 2004

I live in TX and I take the shot most years. I have some minor aching at the site but nothing more severe than that. My whole family gets the flu and I am well enough to care for them. Being in the hospital environment will build up your immune system eventually but it will take a while. Are you prepared to miss 10-14 days of school with the flu or would you rather have peace of mind with taking the shot? We have such a bad flu season here in TX that I will take it everytime I am offered it. Hope the info helps!!

West · Aug 19, 2004

It is not the reaction I am worried about but what else in the shot. Unless I have been informed wrong the flu shot you receive contains thimerosal-a mercury-laden preservative. Some scientists have attributed the growth in Alzheimer's disease and autism to mercury found in certain vaccines. I don't want to take the chance. I have luckly not had the flu in over 10 years. I would rather have the flu because I wouldn't have peace of mind taking the shot. Then again I am 30 and healthy... if I was high risk I might think differently and take it.

Paprikat · Aug 22, 2004

In my workplace, it is not mandatory, however, if there is an outbreak, you cannot work until it is all clear, they don't have to pay you. If you are diagnosed with the flu, apparently they don't have to pay you, either. I had the shot for the first time last year, not too happy about it, as I felt forced to do it because I cannot afford to take alot of time off without pay. It actually didn't bother me, except minor muscle ache after.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2004

Don't know about Canada, but in the US I've never heard of it being mandatory. HOWEVER, for students living in dorms it's highly reccommended - and now some schools are actually trying to get campus-housed students to get the meningitis vaccine as well. Also, once you start spending more time working or doing clinicals in the hospital, you're probably going to be exposed to many more germs than you're used to right now, especially during flu season. But if you're still against the vaccine, you do have the right to refuse.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 22, 2004

...the flu shot you receive contains thimerosal-a mercury-laden preservative.

It's in a lot of stuff. Do you wear contact lenses? It's in the soaking/disinfecting fluid... at least it was last time I looked.

About Alzheimer's, etc., the increased incidence is also due to our living long enough to develop it.

I've taken the flu vaccine every year it has been available to me, except the few years I didn't have insurance or the money--and one year I just procrastinated and missed it altogether.

Usually I don't feel it, I occasionally notice some warmth and perhaps a little firmness around the injection site for a couple of hours, but I've never had pain, and never had flu-like symptoms. (I'll admit here that two years ago I suggested to my DH that I was having a reaction because I wished to lie around and be comforted. It worked and I got "all better" pretty quick!)

I did have influenza one year. This was not the three or four days of wishing you would die. This was 3 weeks of fatigue so bad that I didn't get out of my chair except to pee and maybe get something to sip on. I barely had the energy to breathe. Some nausea, I think. Pain I don't recall, just absolutely no desire or ability to move around, do my ADL's or go to work. Not a good thing.

When they offer the shots, I am first in line. (No family history of Alzheimer's disease, so if I get it, maybe it was the thimerisol....)

fotografe · Aug 22, 2004

Unless I have been informed wrong the flu shot you receive contains thimerosal-a mercury-laden preservative.

I think thimerosal has been removed from almost everything over the last few years. Ask to see the bottle before you take it -- or get the flu mist instead. It really helps to get the vaccine in some form.

West · Aug 23, 2004

I do wear contacts! I wonder if all brands have it in their solution? I will have to research that out. Well I hope that thimerosal has been removed, that would be great. I didn't even know there was a flu mist. Thank you for the info I am more informed to make any choices in the future. Alzheimer's doesn't run in my familly, but fibromyalgia, CFS,& meiniere's disease, we seem to have bad immune systems. I am cautious about what I put in my body that might affect my immune system :)

madi1 · Aug 25, 2004

It seems that the "old" nurses "who have alot of info.." REFUSE to take it - you should read about it independantly ie it is only for 2/235 flu's and is not good deary - don't take it!