The time has come for flu shots if you want them, and i notice some hospital staff get them and others don't. Some swear by them every year, and some feel better off w/o them. Do you get them? Or do you feel better off w/o it? There is much information out there, but what I don't know is my own immune.sys.
Each year during the Winter I usually get a "common cold" that will force me to feel weak with usual symptoms. Everyone knows getting a cold is nasty for the week or two it takes to run it's course. I know it's caused by a virus that gets in my nose and tries to take over my adnoids, but my body mounts a response/antibody.
Will getting a flu shot prevent a common cold, or just a specific strain of "adnoid viruses." (hong kong flu?) Are all flu shots the same across the country?
Some people have said they actually sick from the shot. Some say they take asprins the day before they get the shot to head off aches associated with a low level fever.
If anyone would like to give their experiences with the annual flu shot, or would like to share info about it in general, I thank you.
I'm not getting a flu shot because I am healthy, and I heard it can't prevent the common cold, only a specific strain. Only if it will help to prevent a common cold will I go for it.
There are way too many variables to consider when we get ill. I don't even know if sending a culture to "the lab" can difinitatively ID whether you have a hardcore virus or not.
Then there is the old wives tale, "starve a fever and feed a cold." Or something like that. I guess trying to say what you should do if you have a fever or a nasal congestion, to encourage or discourage PO liquid and food.
If a person had signs and symptoms of flu, how long do they usually wait before they go to the lab. I don;t mean to think about this too much :-)
I've never had it, but I'm thinking about it this year because I got sick last year. I've never had a real bad wicked flu, and thus I've always passed on the shot.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Mario...
HOW THE HECK ARE YOU?
I will answer this simply.
I always get my flu shot.
Always.
no adverse effects and I am truly lucky to be healthy as heck every year. I get ONE bad cold and "get it over with" usually in September and that is IT! For me is it simple...I want to protect myself and my family, my coworkers and my patients any way I can and being immunized is one way I can do this...it's the responsible thing as far as I am concerned.
I give out the flu shots every year for our staff and volunteers. This is what I have been told: You cannot get sick from the flu shot. It is probably just coincidence. I have heard if you are sick, you should not get the flu shot until you are better, it could make you feel worse. I have also heard that if you have never had a flu shot, you're 1st one might give you suttle side effects because your body is not used to it(?). I get one every year. As for the pneumonia shot, this is what I have been informed to: You should not have more than 2 in a lifetime, and they should be at least 10 years apart. The hep-B shots I give as well. From what I understand, they aren't really sure how long they last, but think they last at least 10 years if not more.
I get the flu shot because I really get sick when I get the flu. Then I usually get bronchitis for like a full 2 months. My arm gets a little sore. A few years ago I got a rash around the injection site but other folks did too. I get mine through the health department for 8 to 10 bucks. Sometimes the grocery store has nurses come in and you can get them for like 20. When I worked in the schools I got one for free and so did family members. The biggest problem here is they save the first round for the older citizens and people who have special needs. So sometimes I can't get my injection right away. But I am getting older so soon I might be able to get it sooner. Of course doctors offices have them but they charge alot more. I say get one.
I got my flu shot last week. I have taken it for the past few years. I also got a pneumovax last yr, thought it was good for only 5 years, I'll have to research that.
I work in an urgent care clinic. We received our supply of the injectable vaccine last week. This week we are to receive a supply of the FluMist intranasal vaccine because one of the Dr's in our clinic thought we should offer it, too. I wasn't going to get a flu shot until I read that those who get the FluMist could shed the virus through sneezing, etc. If I'm gong to be spraying live vaccines all day I figure I had better get the flu shot prior to our receiving the FluMist in our clinic. Is it true that those who receive the nasal vaccine can spread the virus for awhile after receiving it? If so I would think it imperitive that all of us giving the spray vaccine take the flu shot.
Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
Originally posted by gicnurse
I work in an urgent care clinic. We received our supply of the injectable vaccine last week. This week we are to receive a supply of the FluMist intranasal vaccine because one of the Dr's in our clinic thought we should offer it, too. I wasn't going to get a flu shot until I read that those who get the FluMist could shed the virus through sneezing, etc. If I'm gong to be spraying live vaccines all day I figure I had better get the flu shot prior to our receiving the FluMist in our clinic. Is it true that those who receive the nasal vaccine can spread the virus for awhile after receiving it? If so I would think it imperitive that all of us giving the spray vaccine take the flu shot.
FluMist? I've never heard of that one before. Is it new?
I have had only one flu shot, and then went on to develop the worse case of the flu I ever had..So, needless to say, even though that may have been a fluke, I never have had another flu shot, nor do I intend to...
Many contraindications to use, Laura, so you may not see it.
Nurse Ratched,
I went to the site you gave and did some reading. It seems that I probably won't be in danger of getting the flu from administering this product since the virus replicates in the nasopharynx of the recipient and it is within the three weeks following administration that the recipient could shed the virus. Warnings include avoiding close contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days after receiving the vaccine. You are right...many contraindications to its use.
I get flu shot each year because I have been severly ill due to flu in the past and do not want repeat. Never had problem with vaccine. Medication is aimed at prevailing germ (check out http://www.cdc.gov) and cold virus is not the same. If you can afford to miss a week or more of work and don't mind feeling like death warmed over, then chance it. NOT ME
mario_ragucci
1,041 Posts
There are way too many variables to consider when we get ill. I don't even know if sending a culture to "the lab" can difinitatively ID whether you have a hardcore virus or not.
Then there is the old wives tale, "starve a fever and feed a cold." Or something like that. I guess trying to say what you should do if you have a fever or a nasal congestion, to encourage or discourage PO liquid and food.
If a person had signs and symptoms of flu, how long do they usually wait before they go to the lab. I don;t mean to think about this too much :-)