What is your opinion on getting the flu shot?

Specialties Holistic

Published

  1. Do you want the flu shot?

    • 18
      Yes
    • 17
      No
    • 1
      Not sure

15 members have participated

Hi, I have gotten the flu shot every year for the past seven years I have been a nurse. I have decided that I have heard enough to convince me to not take it from now on. It is not mandatory at my facility but they push it very strongly. In other words, I have to think of a very good excuse for not taking it. I want to hear your thoughts and opinions on this and what I should do. Thanks!

Specializes in Hospice.

I've been in the medical field for 20+ years, I've never received the vaccine and have never had the flu. Maybe I have a great immune system, even when my kids would get the flu I never got it or maybe it's because I'm OCD about hand hygiene.

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Ask for the preservative free vaccine

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Specializes in Functional Medicine, Holistic Nutrition.

Even "preservative-free" flu shots are full of toxins. Thimersol is not the only concern. Check out this link to learn what is really in a flu vaccine: Vaccine Ingredients Calculator

As far as effectiveness of the flu shot, there have been no conclusive studies that show the flu shot is effective at preventing the flu or complications from the flu. Look up the Cochrane reviews on flu vaccinations. Studies that do demonstrate effectiveness are suspect because the research is conducted by the pharmaceutical companies, which obviously have a vested interest in selling flu vaccines. From the Cochrane review: "Studies funded from public sources were significantly less likely to report conclusions favorable to the vaccines. The review showed that reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin but there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies. The content and conclusions of this review should be interpreted in light of this finding."

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I take it every year and I took it long before I was a nurse. I would not want to go a year without having the shot.

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Well said Elvish!

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Specializes in Med-Surg., Oncology, Observational Units.

Hi, thanks Healthy Nurse for your response. Couldn't have said it better myself. You said what I wanted to say but did not know how to say it. Here I am on the Holistic Nursing forum and just about everyone thinks I am crazy for not being excited about my organization forcing me to take the flu vaccine. You would think this question was asked on General Nursing discussion or something. Thanks to everyone for leaving your feedback. I now have some ideas for less toxic alternatives of the flu vaccine.

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Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.
I get a flu shot every year. Not just to protect myself (I'm over 50 and at high risk d/t diabetes and asthma) but to protect my patients/residents and the rest of my family.

As far as whether it's effective or not, well....I haven't had the flu since 1992.

last year for nursing school was my first year to get the flu shot since (grade/high) school which is well over 20 yrs ago. I stopped getting them as a teen. I haven't had the flu since grade/high school, or that I can even remember.

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Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

I wish i had the option to not get it :banghead:

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I don't get vaccinated. It's a personal choice not to put a live virus in my body. A body knows how to fight infections and your immune system gets stronger each time it wins. I don't put others at risk due to the nature of my career. If I worked in Peds/ER/ ICU or something I would probably change my tune for my patients sake. But as of right now I do not partake in the annual flu vac.

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The last time I got a flu shot many years ago I got sick for 2 days. I do not have paperwork proving I got sick for 2 days. Fortunately, at my facility I get to choose whether I want a flu shot or not. No thanks. I think everyone should decide for themselves as to whether they want to take the flu shot or not.

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I believe it is pointless. By the time we get vaccinated for the season needed the flu has mutated into different version so the vaccine becomes needles waste of extra chemicals that are bad for your body... I got so sick last time I got one for 2 weeks... I don't know I wish we discover a better way to boost our immune system or else my body gonna progress an allergy towards it...

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

It's personal. To each their own. It is required at my job so I do.

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