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Hello all,
I am beginning my clinicals in January of 2011. I just received my physical today and was presented with the option of the Hepatitis B vaccine. I did some research and found some compelling evidence against taking the series. I would appreciate any and all thoughts on this subject.
Thank you.
My experience is that vaccines are a wonderful thing. I've gotten the series and have had NO side-effects. Because you will be at risk in clinical to being exposed to the Hep-B virus, I think that it is better to be safe than sorry.Ps. Most websites (if you found said evidence on a website) are very hoax-y and will look professionally done or say they have "research studies" but if you check their background, it's usually a bunch of conspiracy theorists!
I am so glad the worm finally turned on this. A year or two ago if this subject was posted, the thread would be absolutely dominated by nut jobs.
After completing the nonclinical portion of my refresher course, I found out that my titer to Hep B no longer existed due to the passage of time. I had to retake the series before I could advance to clinicals. This delayed my graduation from the course by six months. However, I feel it was well worth it as I am now covered again.
Just my 2cents worth.
:)
You may argue one way or enough that its unethical to force medical treatment on someone but as Nurses we all must hold ourselves to a higher standard of altruistic precautions even if it means a theoretically small increased risk to yourself. If you don't get your vaccines, your a selfish nurse and endangering your patients by way of the risk of asymptomatic transmission of infectious disease. Annual influenza vaccination is embarrassingly low among nurses, yet studies have shown 1/4 nurses show serological evidence of infection.
Quite browsing those conspiracy theory websites and get the facts.
Mark Crislip, doctor of infectious disease, puts out a lot of good expert information and opinion on vaccines, 100% free of conflicts-of-interest from pharmaceutical companies:
Scheduled vaccines:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=186
Flu vaccine:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2040
A really thorough breakdown of the REAL antigenic risk:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=289
And be sure to look at Dr. David Gorski's analysis of some of the biggest anti-vax hysteria:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=4431
Now make our profession proud and get your shots! :)
I'm going to tell you what my Nutrition instructor told us, It is so much more likely to get Hep B from a needle stick than HIV. that the virus to blood ratio is pretty large so its easier to contract from a needle stick. I've had my series and I've had no problems with it. I will be starting Nursing school in Jan 2011 and its not required but you do have to sign a waiver saying you understand and are willing to take the risk of not getting the vaccine. To each their own and it is your personal choice, but I would, if you already haven't read up on Hep B and see if thats worth not getting the vaccine. I've also had the Flu shot this year and had no side effects, not even a runny nose. Any drugs or vaccines you take or get can have adverse side-effects from mild to extreme so you just have to weigh the risk. Good luck to you in your Clinicals though we wont start ours until Febuary, we get a nice month dose of class and skills lab before Clinicals
I'm pleased to find a recent thread on this topic, and hoping someone can answer my question. I start clinicals Jan '11 and at my school, Hep B vaccine is optional. After consulting my physician, I will start the 3 shot Hep B series next week. I find it concerning that students at my school attend clinicals without receiving this vaccine (a waiver is required if opting out). I questioned my physician as to why it would be optional given how easy it is to come into contact with body fluids, and she couldn't come up with a reason why it is optional as she sees the benefit of having the vaccine outweighs any risk of a side effect.
Does anyone know of any logical reason why Hepatitis B vaccine could be considered optional at any school? I see a few posts that state it is optional at their school, but I'm curious to know the reasoning when we are required to provide proof of immunization/blood titers for so many other diseases.
Pyrai
25 Posts
My experience is that vaccines are a wonderful thing. I've gotten the series and have had NO side-effects. Because you will be at risk in clinical to being exposed to the Hep-B virus, I think that it is better to be safe than sorry.
Ps. Most websites (if you found said evidence on a website) are very hoax-y and will look professionally done or say they have "research studies" but if you check their background, it's usually a bunch of conspiracy theorists!