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.

[JDZ344]

the fu shot can make you FEEL ill. But I will still continue to get it because on the balance of it, a few days of mild illness beats out the flu every time.

[JDZ344]

I believe in too many conspiracies to get ANY kind of vaccine. I hope a future job I may have doesn't require everyone to get them.

I'm not even sure what to say to this! My Grandmother, who survived epidemics of all sorts in the 1930s and 1940s would surely disagree with you, though...

[DemonWings]

Could it have been a severe allergic reaction? Not necessarily to the egg component of the vaccine (which is safe to give to pts with a history of egg allergy) but the vaccine itself?

Do they have an egg free version of the flu shot now? I am just curious because my oldest daughter is allergic to egg and we tried the vaccine only to have her break out in hives shortly after, and she developed a nodule where the vaccine was given (in the thigh) that bruised up and took about a month and a half to go away.

The rest of us get the vaccine and rarely get sick, she gets sick more often. I would love to know if there was an alternative.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

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.

I have never had anything more than a sore arm after ANY of the many vaccines I have received.

However, I do believe that some people experience "flu-like symptoms" after receiving the flu vaccine. It makes complete sense to me that when injecting the pathogen into your body to elicit an immune response, you might actually experience sensations associated with the immune system's activity.

No, it does not mean you have the flu. It simply means your immune system is working hard to develop the antibodies to the flu, and you're feeling that process at work.

The severity of those symptoms will vary from person to person, with some people like myself feeling nothing out of the ordinary, to the other end of the spectrum where the person feels "deathly ill".

I think if you're one of those people who responds to the flu vaccine in that way, you should have a right to decline vaccination. In other words, I feel that "the shot makes me sick" *is* a legitimate reason to avoid getting the shot. I think it's completely understandable that if you end up in bed for three days utterly miserable every time you get the vaccine, that you might want to opt out.

I really believe in listening to your body. If something is uncomfortable or some food/substance/environmental factor affects you adversely, then you should pay attention to that.

Having said that, I do think it's important for people to understand that they didn't get the flu from the vaccine, but rather, that they're simply feeling their immune system at work.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Do they have an egg free version of the flu shot now? I am just curious because my oldest daughter is allergic to egg and we tried the vaccine only to have her break out in hives shortly after, and she developed a nodule where the vaccine was given (in the thigh) that bruised up and took about a month and a half to go away.

The rest of us get the vaccine and rarely get sick, she gets sick more often. I would love to know if there was an alternative.

The recommendation for those who have egg allergies but only have the hive reaction is to GET the vaccination--and treat the hives side-effect. There is no "egg free" version, per se, but the reaction she had isn't considered a reason to not have the shot. You'd just treat the side effect. The bruising was likely how the shot was given, combined with your daughter's general sensitivity to injections, I'd say. That said....why did she have it in her thigh? Go for the deltoid next time.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

As I have said in other threads regarding the flu vac, I was totally against having one. Believed in my body's own ability to heal itself. Was uncomfortable that it was not a guarntee, merely a guess of what flu was going to be that year. Mutating viruses, the whole 9. I hardly take Tylenol, nevermind a shot. Then I got the flu. Thought my end had come. For a couple of weeks. I will NEVER not get the vac again. Wouldn't wish the flu on my worst enemy. Take the 3 days curled up in a ball and multiply by 4 or 5. Nasty stuff.

And I have not had a reaction to the shot at all in the last few years I have been getting them. Nor thankfully, have I had that nasty flu again.

On another subject, part of the reason of the reoccurence of some of the childhood diseases previously erradicated is a parent's resistence to get their children vaccinated. Based on some theories that they can cause lasting damage. It is your child that is unvaccinated who can end up with God forbid--whopping cough, measles, etc. There's data on both sides should one want to find it, however, I hate to see a child sometimes critically ill when in fact it is a preventable disease. There are reams of information on it, however, how many parents are not vaccinating their children when they themselves were fully vaccinated as children? My daughter was NOT at all into getting a menengitis vac prior to college. At all. It was a requirement for the dorm, so she chose to do it. I explained to her that she never, ever had a vac reaction in her life. Now thank goodness, she is so happy she made that informed decision.

[DemonWings]

The recommendation for those who have egg allergies but only have the hive reaction is to GET the vaccination--and treat the hives side-effect. There is no "egg free" version, per se, but the reaction she had isn't considered a reason to not have the shot. You'd just treat the side effect. The bruising was likely how the shot was given, combined with your daughter's general sensitivity to injections, I'd say. That said....why did she have it in her thigh? Go for the deltoid next time.

Im not sure why she got it in the thigh, she was 3 or 4 so I assume that the deltoid would have been appropriate. I agree that the bruise is likely just from the injection and her system being so sensitive to everything. Her egg allergy is one of many, she often has weird reactions that we have no clue what the source is. Thanks for the info, since that initial reaction her pediatrician has just never offered it again. I will probably give her some benadryl before this time and see how that goes.

Edit: How could I possibly forget, the reason that the pediatrician did not offer it again was due to the swelling of the tongue and not the hives, now that I think about it, she may be one of those who just doesnt tolerate the vaccine. She had a strictly hives reaction to her MMR vaccine.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Im not sure why she got it in the thigh, she was 3 or 4 so I assume that the deltoid would have been appropriate. I agree that the bruise is likely just from the injection and her system being so sensitive to everything. Her egg allergy is one of many, she often has weird reactions that we have no clue what the source is. Thanks for the info, since that initial reaction her pediatrician has just never offered it again. I will probably give her some benadryl before this time and see how that goes.

Edit: How could I possibly forget, the reason that the pediatrician did not offer it again was due to the swelling of the tongue and not the hives, now that I think about it, she may be one of those who just doesnt tolerate the vaccine. She had a strictly hives reaction to her MMR vaccine.

Ah, slightly different scenario. It's contraindicated if the allergic reaction is described as being respiratory in nature, or severe swelling...my guess is he wasn't about to risk that tongue swell becoming a potential airway blockage.

[Guest343211]

I personally still think the vaccine helps. Three days bed bound is still so much better than two weeks or more, or hospitalization. However, the flu vaccine is optional and people should have a right to decide for themselves.

In some institutions, it's not optional; it's mandatory for employment. The children's hospitals are big on this.

Again, I have mixed feelings on the whole thing. I don't think any of us, even admidst the literature really know all that needs to be known.

I have read a study that says that generally those that are healthy and take good care fo themselves aren't necessarily protected b/c they received the vaccine. It is simply the reality that they are in good general health or take good care of themselves anyway.

IDK. I really don't think there is enough convincing research either way. So the only way to approach this thing is with each individual on a case-by-case basis.

[Guest343211]

I have never had anything more than a sore arm after ANY of the many vaccines I have received.

However, I do believe that some people experience "flu-like symptoms" after receiving the flu vaccine. It makes complete sense to me that when injecting the pathogen into your body to elicit an immune response, you might actually experience sensations associated with the immune system's activity.

No, it does not mean you have the flu. It simply means your immune system is working hard to develop the antibodies to the flu, and you're feeling that process at work.

The severity of those symptoms will vary from person to person, with some people like myself feeling nothing out of the ordinary, to the other end of the spectrum where the person feels "deathly ill".

I think if you're one of those people who responds to the flu vaccine in that way, you should have a right to decline vaccination. In other words, I feel that "the shot makes me sick" *is* a legitimate reason to avoid getting the shot. I think it's completely understandable that if you end up in bed for three days utterly miserable every time you get the vaccine, that you might want to opt out.

I really believe in listening to your body. If something is uncomfortable or some food/substance/environmental factor affects you adversely, then you should pay attention to that.

Having said that, I do think it's important for people to understand that they didn't get the flu from the vaccine, but rather, that they're simply feeling their immune system at work.

I would agree with this. The shot making people feel sick is their immune system and body reacting to it and/or certain other proteins or agents in it.

I really wish there was so much fuzziness around it from a research standpoint.

[hawksrn2014]

In my opinion, those that choose not to vaccinate their children are being selfish. After the epidemic of pertussis that's going on where I live (Washington state), I hope more parents realize they need to grow up. It's not fair for my kids to get sick because of your refusal.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

In my opinion, those that choose not to vaccinate their children are being selfish. After the epidemic of pertussis that's going on where I live (Washington state), I hope more parents realize they need to grow up. It's not fair for my kids to get sick because of your refusal.

Uh, here we go. I hoped to avoid a big debate on vaccinations in general, but it appears to be on (FWIW, while I would avoid the term 'selfish,' I generally do agree with this post).