Ugh! This was NO fun!!!

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Our IF nurse brought a vial of flu vax to the ER for our staff today. A coworker and I injected each other, and within minutes both of us had reactions....she got a rash around the site and I was lightheaded, flushed, and nauseous. And both of us had weird aches in our arms, different from the "I just got a shot" ache. The boss pulled the vial and is going to turn it back into IF tomorrow, but for now that's all that's to be done. I ended up signing in for the documentation.

Years and years ago I took the flu vax once and got the flu. Never took it again until I got pregnant three years ago and was made to take it. I didn't have a problem then so I took it after that, and now I'm rethinking that one.......

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Specializes in med-surg,sa,breast & cervical ca.

Strange, one of the Docs I work with c/o feeling lightheaded & nauseas within a few hr.s of getting her's too..1st time reaction for her. I'm not taking it. Hope you feel better, makes you wonder about the manufacturers controls, I hope the IF nurse f/u on this.

Ms.P

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

which manufacturer?

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

i also felt lightheaded and weak within a few minutes of getting it last year. it went away but freaked me out a little, and i am not going to get it again this year.

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which manufacturer?

Not sure, I already turned the vial in. It was FluZone.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I got more aches from this years...but they were short lived and passed in hours. Some of the other nurses got head aches, muscle aches, and just felt yucky for a while.

I had a nurse say "the flu shot doesn't give you the flu, you all are babies!". I reminded her that whenever you put an antigen in your body your body will react! Each body reacts differently, doesn't matter if it is a dead component of a virus/bacteria...the immune system kicks in, cracks the code to neutralize it (and remembers the code...hello the whole reason behind vaccines!), and it is the actual immune repsonse that can make you achy and give you a HA!

Sheesh! LOL!

But yeah...this one made me a bit more achy than in previous years.

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Update: I feel fine today. The IF nurse is filling out adverse reaction forms on both of us, and my manager is filling out QRRs. The work comp nurse, however, is telling me that she doesn't think this is comp. Huh??? Because I "elected" to take the vax. I told her that when there was a shortage a few years ago and the hospital finally got some, that the ER was at the top of the list because we are frontline, and that we are strongly encouraged to take it. It was given to me because of recommendation, was given on premises, on work time, by an employee. That's not comp??? The doc, my manager, and the IF nurse said they would try to help if comp denies it.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I swear by the flu vacine and haven't missed getting one in 20 years. But I think I'll wait awhile this year and see if there is something going on with it. Got it really late the last couple of years anyway because of shortages. Keep us posted.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

A cursory google search showed me that Fluzone is the flu shot for children. If I were given this, I'd have to look at my dose and find out the children's dose. Hmm. Of course there's probably something I don't know here.

Edited: never mind about that! I just went to Medscape and found that fluzone is available for adults as well as children.

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A cursory google search showed me that Fluzone is the flu shot for children. If I were given this, I'd have to look at my dose and find out the children's dose. Hmm. Of course there's probably something I don't know here.

Edited: never mind about that! I just went to Medscape and found that fluzone is available for adults as well as children.

Good, 'cause the vial specifically stated NOT for use in children!!

Apparently there is a new law...not policy, LAW...passed for this year that states pregnant women and children under 3 cannot receive the vax with preservative in it, because it's mercury-based.

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Just got mine on Tues morning and this is Thurs night and I still have a lump the size of a quarter where the shot was given. one good thing is that it only hurts when I press in on it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

I guess I always take the flu shot, so that I can honestly tell the patients that it is a good idea. The old folk need all the reassurance they can get!

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