The Swine Flu Shot a Waste of Time!

[KnottedYet]

You shouldn't get two doses of Flu Mist on the same day - because its live attenuated virus (In injectable flu vaccines the virus is flat out dead. Flu mist is deactivated virus, but is still alive. No- it won't give you the flu, but it can cause some mild symptoms). Otherwise its perfectly safe to get many vaccinations at the same time. Normal season flu vaccine always carries several strains.

My clinic's communicable diseases docs say we have to wait 30 days between mists. Which is a bummer for me, because I've had the real-deal flu three times and it really hits me hard. One of my patients had swine flu a couple weeks ago, and said he's not been that sick in at least 10 years. I have to wait another 2 weeks before I can get the swine flu mist, and believe me I will get that vaccine! Flu is no fun for me, and I really don't want to be incubating the bugger and pass it on to any of my patients! (or my kid, or my parents, or my friends, or the folks on my bus, or my neighbors, or...)

[Eden]

My clinic's communicable diseases docs say we have to wait 30 days between mists. Which is a bummer for me, because I've had the real-deal flu three times and it really hits me hard.

You can still get injectable vaccine - Our employee health service was giving Flu Mist for H1N1 and regular injectable (dead) seasonal flu vaccines on the same day. Just not another dose of of live attenuated virus.

They've even gone as far as to not allow Flu Mist for people who work with *really* vulnerable populations - so you're not allowed live vaccines at all if you work with patients who have compromised immune systems. I think rehab and people who work with bone marrow transplant kids were included in that. I think they had a very small supply of injectable H1N1 for those folks.

[katluvr]

I have been reading this thread with interest and waiting to "butt" in.
I am a healthcare provider. I no longer provide direct care to patients.
I do not plan to get the flu shot. I have not in the past, even when providing direct patient care. It is my personal preference.
I also feel that I am leaving that dose to someone whom may need/want it.

I am not worried about getting it or passing it. (Partly in that I don't have direct interactions with patients or the communinity in large).

I wash my hands. I try to touch very little. I avoid hugging people (and all that kissing on the check). I recently flew and seemed to survive. So there are ways to protect yourself if you chose not to get the vaccine. I do not think I am putting others at risk of my spreading the virus. Maybe that is selfish of me. Now if I had another job, family or community interactions it may be different.

K

[Eden]

In the end it is certainly your choice. Until I started working at a children's hospital I had neither ever had the flu vaccine or the flu and felt very much like you. As I had never had the flu I always figured that it was better for me to leave that dose for someone who really needed it, as it always seems to be in such short supply.

At this job I do feel very obligated to protect the patients, even if my chances of even getting the flu are pretty low.

I do however feel that if you choose not to get a vaccine (not just flu, but any vaccine) you should be aware of exactly what you are doing. Just because you are not part of a vulnerable population doesn't mean that you won't be part of the larger problem *if* you do get sick.

Really - read the article in Wired, its very well written.

[katluvr]

Eden,
I get "Wired".
I did read it.
And I support vaccines. I am a pediatric critical care nurse and ARNP.
IMO the Flu vaccine is a bit different. And if I still did direct care with the kiddo's my thought framework maybe be different that it is today.
I feel for those that are feeling pressured to have the season and H1N1 vaccines. I am fortunate not to be pressured.
Do I support my parents (in their 70's) to get it...Absolutely!

As with many things, there are many sides to this story. Many "truths" and "myths" out there.

K

[indigoiis]

A 12 year old girl died in RI this week from H1N1. She was apparently healthy in all respects - soccer player, normal weight and height... didn't feel well last Friday and was dead by Monday.

It has certainly changed my thinking about the whole thing... it scares the poop out of me to think a healthy person with no other issues can die from it. I have a sixteen year old daughter and I just can't imagine what that mother is feeling right now. We are doing everything (handwashing, etc.) to prevent getting it but both of us are in areas where we can be exposed every day. We also take the bus. It's freaking me out just a little!

[Eden]

Eden,
I get "Wired".
I did read it.
And I support vaccines. I am a pediatric critical care nurse and ARNP.
IMO the Flu vaccine is a bit different. And if I still did direct care with the kiddo's my thought framework maybe be different that it is today.
I feel for those that are feeling pressured to have the season and H1N1 vaccines. I am fortunate not to be pressured.
Do I support my parents (in their 70's) to get it...Absolutely!

As with many things, there are many sides to this story. Many "truths" and "myths" out there.

K

If i didn't work with kids I might be more inclined to skip it - but then I've never had the flu.....

If I were like some posters and I had the flu each year (or even some years) - even if I didn't get very ill, I'd definitely get the vaccine, even without the sick kids factor. My point is only that it is not all about *you* - that anyone who does get the flu probably passes it on and someone on down the line may have a very bad outcome. Even if you get a mild case, even if being sick for a few weeks doesn't affect you that much, it could be very different for the next guy.

The risks to me are minimal - I've never had a bad reaction to a vaccine. I've never had Guillaume-Barre and I don't have an allergy to eggs or feathers. I think it is my responsibility to protect the community when I'm given the opportunity. Could it be that I won't ever get the flu or pass it on even if not vaccinated? Maybe so, but why take that chance.

I also think that we've been so successful at eradicating and treating some diseases that we've become complacent about how dangerous that they can be. Flu epidemics in the past killed millions. Just because we have it under control right now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. If we become complacent about prevention we could have a new epidemic on our hands. There have already been resurgences of diseases that were nearly gone - like measles and whooping cough.