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.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Well, regardless of the supposed evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, the debate continues. It is not fair to call a parent selfish who feels well informed on the issue and simply wants to protect their own children. I think those who believe in vaccines should vaccinate and those who don't should have the freedom of refusal. There are risks on both sides to BOTH sets of children. Let's not start calling each other names.

Not supposed evidence. Actual evidence. It is not a debate, as the evidence has been made clear to all but those who refuse to accept the data. However, I don't have an interest in that discussion at this time and it's for another thread anyway.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Sure, why not? Somebody is making us quit.

No, it's a choice. Either conform to the rules or accept the consequences. No one is forcing you to quit. But those who refuse to accept the conditions of the employers or schools are being held accountable FOR their choices.

[imjustme123]

Arguably, some simply cannot. Certainly anyone who has worked as a nurse for even a short amount of time has come across patients who give you lots of reasons, often an impressive variety of reasons, as to why they aren't going to comply with their course of treatment--medication schedules--smoking cessation---diabetic diet--followups---etc. Doesn't make them valid reasons, just their reasons.

But you told this to another nurse, on a nursing forum.

[imjustme123]

No, it's a choice. Either conform to the rules or accept the consequences. No one is forcing you to quit. But those who refuse to accept the conditions of the employers or schools are being held accountable FOR their choices.

First they came for the socialists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me,

and there was no one left to speak for me.

Go ahead and be silent.

[IGiveTheShots]

Well, regardless of the supposed evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, the debate continues. It is not fair to call a parent selfish who feels well informed on the issue and simply wants to protect their own children. I think those who believe in vaccines should vaccinate and those who don't should have the freedom of refusal. There are risks on both sides to BOTH sets of children. Let's not start calling each other names.

Are you a nurse? I know NO nurse that still believes the worlds most successful hoax ever.

[imjustme123]

Are you a nurse? I know NO nurse that still believes the worlds most successful hoax ever.

What I said in my post was about parent's beliefs. Regardless, I doubt if any nurse would admit it if she did believe autism came from vaccines because she would be tarred and feathered.

[IGiveTheShots]

I wouldn't necessarily say she'd be tarred and feathered, more like questioned, like I just questioned you.

And I agree, the debate still exists. But it only exists because of lack of education. First of all, the "study" by Andrew Wakefield that was later debunked several times and then completely in 2011 stated that MMR caused autism, not the flu shot.

And yes, you will feel crummy after you get the shot. Its live attenuated - you're supposed to have a few aches and pains. Better than being bedridden for 10 days and spreading a terrifying - and often deadly - communicable disease.

[geminiBSN75]

Only the nasal spray is live. Not the vaccine.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

But you told this to another nurse, on a nursing forum.

And context is everything.

[IGiveTheShots]

excuse me, true. but inactive vaccines cause similar s/s.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Quote

from imjustme123:

First they came for the

socialists

,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the

trade unionists

,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the

Jews

,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me,

and there was no one left to speak for me.

"Go ahead and be silent."

You are seriously equating the intentions and meaning of this famous quote with whether a facility should be able to require employees or students on their premises to have a flu vaccination as a condition of willful employment??

Bizarre. And offensive.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Only the nasal spray is live. Not the vaccine.

Just a quick point of clarification: the nasal spray (FluMist) is live, but it is also a vaccine.

The killed virus is found in the injectable vax.

There are live vaccines that are injectible (MMR, varicella), but Flumist comes as a nasal spray.