Any healthcare workers - flu shot question

[Marcia K]

Good afternoon everyone. I work in a long term care facility. In the past it wasn't required that everyone get a flu shot. Last year whoever didn't get a flu shot had to wear a mask if you came within 6 feet of the residents (even if you aren't a direct care giver.) I do not work directly with the residents but I like to speak with them, etc. I do not want to have to wear a mask nor do I want the flu shot so I'm at a crossroad. Our infection control nurse is really pushing them this year because the state will give some type of recognition to those facilities who have 90% or greater compliance. I guess my question is has anyone gotten the flu shot this year and not had any issues with it? I still don't think I'm going to get it but I'm just curious. Last year I knew more people who got the flu after having the vaccine than those who didn't get it. You're probably thinking just wear the mask, but that's the pits. It's uncomfortable and it messes up my hair. :-) Thanks for any input.

Marcia

[jlbattin]

After doing a search on here and reading of the bad experiences of folks who have taken it with MC, I talked with my doctor just the other day, and because of my sensitivities to eggs, I opted not to take it, and my doctor was in agreement. I work around kids all the time, and this will be my first year in forever that I haven't gotten one, but I clorox wipe down my room on a regular basis, and am diffusing an essential oil that works as an antiseptic and kills the germs in the air, and am keeping my hands clean.

I think I would choose to wear the mask, but that's just me.

[Blueberry]

I don't work in the health care industry, but took an interest in learning about the flu shot. Seems this time of year I hear from several others that lobby me that I should get the flu shot. I've passed on doing so most years due to finding articles indicting the flu shot not being very impressive at stopping the flu, and while rare having some downside. I've noticed also that those that get the flu shot tend to still develop a cold during the season at some point also.

There are different groups that rate the flu shots effectiveness, but the one I recall most is the "Cochrane Collaboration (a collective of international doctors and scientists supposedly dedicated to objective assessments of treatments by proper review of the evidence)" They found the flu shot on average might help 1 person out of 100. They noted a side effect, while rare, 1 in a million, to be Guillian-Barré syndrome.

"Flu vaccination is largely ineffective, despite what your Government may have you believe"

http://www.drbriffa.com/2010/11/25/flu- ... u-believe/

snippet from the article:

...Here’s a plain language summary of the study in the authors’ own words:

Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness which produce the same symptoms (fever, headache, aches and pains, cough and runny noses). Without laboratory tests, doctors cannot tell the two illnesses apart. Both last for days and rarely lead to death or serious illness. At best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses. Each year, the World Health Organization recommends which viral strains should be included in vaccinations for the forthcoming season.

Authors of this review assessed all trials that compared vaccinated people with unvaccinated people. The combined results of these trials showed that under ideal conditions (vaccine completely matching circulating viral configuration) 33 healthy adults need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms. In average conditions (partially matching vaccine) 100 people need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms. Vaccine use did not affect the number of people hospitalised or working days lost but caused one case of Guillian-Barré syndrome (a major neurological condition leading to paralysis) for every one million vaccinations. Fifteen of the 36 trials were funded by vaccine companies and four had no funding declaration. Our results may be an optimistic estimate because company-sponsored influenza vaccines trials tend to produce results favorable to their products and some of the evidence comes from trials carried out in ideal viral circulation and matching conditions and because the harms evidence base is limited.

I saw recently too that Dr. Humphries, a nephrologist, testified before the state of Maine's congress. Dr. Humphries quite her job at a hospital due to her belief that the flu shot was causing more harm to patients than was being reported. Her attempts to have the shots stopped, at least till patients were healthy and strong, were not successful. Her belief was that the hospital had financial interests to give the shots, which prevented them from stopping the practice.

"Testimony to the Maine Legislature, Suzanne Humphries MD"

http://drsuzanne.net/2015/05/testimony- ... phries-md/

Anyway, probably more information than wanted, but those are some of the reasons why I've not be getting the flu shot. I'm glad it is not a work requirement for me.

[Marcia K]

Hi, ladies. Thanks for your input. I am not going to get it. I'll wear the mask if I have to. All the while my co-workers who got the shot will be hacking & coughing while most years I get through the winter without so much as a sniffle. That's very interesting information, Blue. I fear for the day when our jobs will be threatened if we don't get it.

Marcia