Everyone getting a flu shot?

[closertofine]

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If you're in your clinical years, how stupid would it be to decide against getting a flu shot? I've only gotten one once, many years ago, and had a nasty viral-like reaction...I know it's not a live vaccine and so technically there is no way to get the flu from the vaccine. But coincidence or not, I got sick...and I've otherwise been lucky enough to get the flu only very rarely (then again, I haven't spent much time in the hospital until now).

So...ok, I should make myself go get the shot, right? 😕 😛 But I don't wanna!

 

[Janders]

Get it.

You won't get "sick"

You may feel crummy... take some anti-inflammatories before/after the vaccine.

Its not for your health, its for the sick/old/immunosuppressed patients you will be saying. You'd hate to transmit the flu to them!

 

[babyruth]

Flumist will also give you mucosal immunity which decreases your carrier status.

 

[Janders]

I believe mucomyst is contraindicated if you will be caring for anyone who is immunocompromised for about a week after taking it... might want to check on that before you get it.

 

[ElZorro]

you won't get sick....whatever. I know that you are not supposed to, but we all know many people who claim to have gotten sick. Well, add me to that list. I didn't think twice before getting the shot, and then was sick as a dog for three days. I mean puking my guts out, and it was definantly the immunization. I had a fierce immune reaction, even had sacroilitis for a few days. Just be aware you can get sick.

 

[SoCuteMD]

you won't get sick....whatever. I know that you are not supposed to, but we all know many people who claim to have gotten sick. Well, add me to that list. I didn't think twice before getting the shot, and then was sick as a dog for three days. I mean puking my guts out, and it was definantly the immunization. I had a fierce immune reaction, even had sacroilitis for a few days. Just be aware you can get sick.

I also got incredibly sick. The doctors decided I had an egg allergy, and my mom (who believed the docs) made me cut ALL eggs out of my diet. A year later I snuck some eggs off my mom's plate and we discovered that I was no longer allergic. I'm really inclined to think that it was just the flu shot.

 

[Richie Truxillo]

I already had the flu about a month ago. Yay me! That's my present from my internal med rotation. I still got my flu shot though. Sometimes I wonder if my strain (or its 3rd cousin) was lurking around in that syringe 😉

 

[deleted109597]

I also got incredibly sick. The doctors decided I had an egg allergy, and my mom (who believed the docs) made me cut ALL eggs out of my diet. A year later I snuck some eggs off my mom's plate and we discovered that I was no longer allergic. I'm really inclined to think that it was just the flu shot.

You may have had an interferon mediated reaction. But you certainly didn't get the flu, and if you hadn't gotten the shot, and had caught the strain that made you feel all crappy after a small inoculation, then you would have had the martian death flu. As in, being able to feel molecules of hydrogen hitting your eyeballs kind of pain.

Just take some Motrin, and exercise your deltoid after the shot and you will be fine.

 

[deleted109597]

Oh, and for other people, in case you didn't know, many places the pediatrics departments will require you to have the shot if you are going to be rotating through there during flu season.

 

[DOtobe]

You should get it. If you aren't afraid of needles get the shot. Everyone I've talked to who has gotten FluMist has gotten a lot of congestion/URI symptoms after it that made them miserable for a few days. I got my flu shot las week, and I am fine. The vast majority of people do not get sick with the flu shot.

 

[werd]

most hospital policies say that you should (have to?) get a flu shot if you see patients. 2 years ago when there was the shortage my whole ms1 class didn't get vaccines and like 25% of us got the flu. it was the first time i had the flu... it's pretty much like death descending upon you over the course of an afternoon. get a flu shot if you can.

(ps - if you do get the flu go score some tamiflu and some codeine, you'll wake up 3 days later feeling a lot better 🙄 )

 

[chocomorsel]

I don't believe in the flu shot. I was a nurse for six years before med school and in the whole time, I got the actual flu once and never once have I gotten the flu shot. I just don't believe in it. They vaccinate you based on what strains they think will be lurking around this year. The top 5 or something. What about the sixty-something other strains.
I remember talking to a doctor once about this when I was a nurse and he also didn't believe in them for the same reason. Oh well, if it's free, go for it if you want. But it can make you sick. Don't know if it's as sick as the real thing, but still. I take my chances and so far I haven't had a problem. Let's hope I'm not jinxing myself this year by posting this.

 

[burlypie]

I believe mucomyst is contraindicated if you will be caring for anyone who is immunocompromised for about a week after taking it... might want to check on that before you get it.

That would be FluMist...mucomyst is acetylcysteine, commonly given for acetaminophen overdose. Big difference 🙂

 

[sdn1977]

That would be FluMist...mucomyst is acetylcysteine, commonly given for acetaminophen overdose. Big difference 🙂

Thanks...I was waiting for someone to correct this. Flumist is a Live Virus Vaccine - it won't leave you immunocompromised - but live viruses tend to stimulate the immune system a bit more, so you might get more of a reaction. There is also the possibility you could get influenza from this since it is a live virus. (Mucomyst is also used as in respiratory therapy to loosen secretions as well as the oral indication you described).

The injectable influenza vaccine is a combination of 3 virus based on the CDC isolations of the various influenza outbreaks around the world. The vaccine this year is a mix of exactly the same 3 viral serotypes as last year, but since it only confers immunity for 6 months, we advise most folks to get it again. It is always 3 serotypes & is determined annually by about May of the year it is marketed. Altho the CDC uses the info from the US, most of the influenza occurs in other parts of the world & is brought here due to ease of air travel. It takes about 2 weeks for your immunity to peak after the injection, so if you are doing international travel (or any travel which requires you to breathe recirculated airplane air) allow enough time for the vaccine to stimulate your antibodies.

There is a huge push to get all healthcare workers & teachers in the US immunized to decrease the exposure ability of these individuals to more susceptible people - primarly the old & the young. As a young, healthy individual, you may not get tremendously sick from influenza - it may just make you feel miserable for 2-3 days. But, it is easily passed from you to that 80 yo you are rounding on with COPD, broken hip, CHF, diabetic in which a bout of influenza might just be enough to tip him over into pneumonia.

So...right now, you may have a choice, but as a previous poster mentioned, some schools & hospitals will require it as a condition of employment - like a TB screening in the fututre.

 

[metabolite]

ISo...ok, I should make myself go get the shot, right? 😕 😛 But I don't wanna!

I'm curious now. So, did you end up getting the shot? Still thinking?

 

[closertofine]

I'm curious now. So, did you end up getting the shot? Still thinking?

Yes, I did get it...and no major reaction...no "I told you so's," OK? 😛

 

[metabolite]

Yes, I did get it...and no major reaction...no "I told you so's," OK? 😛

On previous post I thought of sharing how I got sick with flu shot a few years ago, but did not since then (w/ annual flu shots)... held back my comment just in case. Glad that you are okay!