The flu shot making people sick

[psu_213]

It's not my intention to start a debate on the flu shot, but I'm afraid it's going to happen in this thread. Oh well, here we go....

I work in the ER. About 6 nurses were talking last evening about the flu shot. The vaccination is highly encouraged at out hospital, but not required. 4 of the nurses said they would not get it and all four INSISTED that flu shots make them deathly ill. One nurse even said that when she worked in oncology, she was required to get the flu shot and then "spent the next 3 days curled up in bed." The next year, when required to get the shot, an oncology doctor told her the shot would not make her sick, but she told the doc "yeah right, I spent 3 days in bed with a high fever...there is no way you are making me take that again."

I don't want a debate about someone's right to refuse the flu shot; however, I was stunned by the level of ignorance by these nurses. There are reasons to not get the shot, but saying "the shot makes me sick" is not one of them.

OK, so that was a rant....just try and resist the urge to argue for or against required flu shots.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

All these health care providers and no one is mentioning the risky additives in the flue shot that are likely to make people sick who already have immune system problems (common).

Actually, that is not true. There is very few contraindications for flu shots or vaccines in general. There is only one additive in the flu vaccine that you aren't naturally exposed to or naturally produce yourself in far greater quantities than are in the flu vaccine or any other vaccine.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

The medical establishment has hit rock bottom when they treat patients as if they have absolutely no say in their medication schedule. you should have worked this out with them before trying to shove it down their throat.

"refuse to comply with schedule"

This is unacceptable. I've never continued getting service from an establishment that treated me this way. I assume its because hospitals make so much money off the sick, they now think they are god. And they have a slew of drones to back them up. I understand loyalty to your employer, I understand complying with their practices, but to allow them to take power where it was't given, I find it disgusting.

Recommendations that are given to patients are based on research usually in the form literature reviews and/or meta-analysis. It is still the patients choice if they choose to follow Dr. Google's advice and not actual peer-reviewed research.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Honestly I have never has a bad reaction to a flu shot mild elevation temp but that to be expected. Maybe a sore arm but that's more about the technique of the person giving the shot. I am pretty picky about who I let stick needles in me unless it's an emergency. That being said some people do feel really sick after the shot it's all about how one perceives discomfort. I have fibro and walk around with pain most people would be floored by........

Hppy

[BostonFNP, APRN]

That being said some people do feel really sick after the shot it's all about how one perceives discomfort.

If they feel that way after a blunted immune reaction from the vaccine then they would really feel awful with the actual illness!

[Farawyn]

If they feel that way after a blunted immune reaction from the vaccine then they would really feel awful with the actual illness!

I have taken to yeling at people about this. Yelling. I blame this thread.

[NarekDenja]

I'll start off by saying I'm not a nurse nor am I trying to become one but came to this thread trying to do some research. This is my experience with the flu shot.

For 4 years in a row I've got the flu shot and every time shortly after it I have become ill. Every time I have come down with a fever, I've become lethargic to the point I can barely move. I also become extremely tired and sleep most of the day for a few days while also having muscle aches and pains. One of those times I was in the hospital when I got the shot and I was put on watch because of my symptoms. This is something I've told my doctor about. I'm wondering if I'm allergic to something in the shot.

I do realize that the shot doesn't have any active cultures in it but this isn't a coincidence for me as its happened every time. I just got a shot 2 days ago and the same thing is starting to happen again. This is the fifth time I have got one.

Can someone be allergic to it? Do those symptoms have to show up minutes to hours after the shot? I want to protect my body from the flu but I don't want to have this happen every time I get a shot.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I'll start off by saying I'm not a nurse nor am I trying to become one but came to this thread trying to do some research. This is my experience with the flu shot.

For 4 years in a row I've got the flu shot and every time shortly after it I have become ill. Every time I have come down with a fever, I've become lethargic to the point I can barely move. I also become extremely tired and sleep most of the day for a few days while also having muscle aches and pains. One of those times I was in the hospital when I got the shot and I was put on watch because of my symptoms. This is something I've told my doctor about. I'm wondering if I'm allergic to something in the shot.

I do realize that the shot doesn't have any active cultures in it but this isn't a coincidence for me as its happened every time. I just got a shot 2 days ago and the same thing is starting to happen again. This is the fifth time I have got one.

Can someone be allergic to it? Do those symptoms have to show up minutes to hours after the shot? I want to protect my body from the flu but I don't want to have this happen every time I get a shot.

It's normal to get aches, pains and mild fever after an immunization. That is because the immunization is causing the immune system to react to the vaccine and to recognize the proteins that make up that strain of the influenza/immunization.

A true allergy is an IgE mediated reaction that if severe enough usually causes rash, hives, and difficulty breathing.

This is just a general overview since it is against TOS to give personal medical advice on here.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

When people tell me they feel crummy for a couple days after getting a flu shot (and a lot of people do), I always say, "Fantastic! That means your immune system is responding to the flu vaccine exactly like it's supposed to!"

[ozoneranger]

Unless you realize that everyone with the flu is given antivirals & antivirals make people nauseous.

[ozoneranger]

From the CDC:

CDC cracks down on communications with reporters - Axios

And this:

Flu Vaccination & Possible Safety Signal Error processing SSI file

Frank DeStefano? He was one of the CDC scientists who destroyed data on the 2004 MMR/autism link.

There's something odd going on here.