What is your opinion on getting the flu shot?

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 Medical, Oncology, Telemetry.

My job also requires that employees have the annual flu shot. This year, we each get to put stickers on our badges (showing our pride??) when we get the vaccine. A bunch of my coworkers got severe reactions from the multi-dose vials… fever, redness, pain, body aches. Interesting. Think its from the preservative. Anyway, I'm staying from that type at the very least.

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I have never gotten the flu EVER. I haven't been sick in the past two years including regular colds. I took this flu shot this past October to not fuss with my nursing school but I really hope they stop mandating these shots. There is no conclusive evidence these shots work to decrease the spread of the flu and what ever happened to trusting the good old immune system. I believe In letting your body to its Job on its own until it can thus conventional medicine. I'm 22 never get headaches or anything. I haven't taken an Advil in over 5 years. Kind of sad il be forced to take these shots as a nurse. :(

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Nope. There is no evidence that it reduces our risk of being carriers and the flu vaccine was only 54% effective in previous years (2012, I think), per the WHO.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

What do I think about getting the flu shot?

Grit teeth.

Get shot.

Shut up about it.

It IS mandatory where I work. You can choose not to get it, but then you can be terminated. I grit my teeth, get the shot and shut up about it.

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Specializes in Tele, Medsurg, Stepdown.
Nope. There is no evidence that it reduces our risk of being carriers and the flu vaccine was only 54% effective in previous years (2012, I think), per the WHO.

I'm not a math genius but I'm pretty sure 54% > 0%. Also as healthcare providers we have the moral obligation to do everything possible to protect those we provide care for, not to mention our own families.

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I get it to protect my family, my patients, and myself. People are always so worked up about the "toxins" in. How about the toxins in the food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe, or the cigarettes some smoke.. Give me a break. Take the shot and move on.

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Do I "want" the flu shot? Not particularly. Do I take it? Yes.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Influenza is toxic. My own experience w/ it is, the two times I have NOT gotten the shot in the past 16 years, I've gotten the flu and been down for2 weeks. And I passed it to my infant.

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To anyone who wants a reason not to take the shot, please use the search function and read through the scientific evidence presented in favor of the vaccine. There is so much misinformation, hype, and conspiracy theory out there.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

I start giving out flu vaccines to staff on Friday at work...will get mine then.

Toxic flu H1N1 hospitalizes nurse for months -54 days on ECMO

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Hi, thanks for your response. For one the evidence that it actually prevents the flu is very very weak. This is backed up by studies that are not well publicized. Also, all of these have mercury in them which is a well known toxin/carcinogen.

No one claims there is a fool-proof strategy to prevent the flu on this planet, but there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that the flu vaccine is the best means of preventing the flu or at least making the flu less severe if you do get it. It is thimerosal in some of the flu vaccines, which is actually ethylmercury, a benign form of mercury that does not accumulate in the body like the kind found in fish, etc.. Mercury is in the air we breathe, the soil we walk on, & even breast milk. Question your resources. Did a random anti-vaccine mom with a degree in English start that website, or did someone legitimately qualified to inform the public on scientific matters? I suspect that if these "studies" are not well-publicized, they may not be legitimate.

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