AIBU re Flu Jab for healthcare professionals

[Libitina]

My Trust is now asking all managers to provide a list of who has had the jab and who hasn't in their department? They have also stated that if we have not had the jab and then contract flu, we will be invited to speak to the chief nurse of the Trust. They offer prize draws as an incentive, use peer pressure to get people to comply and blackmail by stating the sequin payment the Trust will get for a specific percentage of staff being innoculated will "pay for X amount of nurses" that I know we will never actually see.


AIBU to tell them to mind their own business?

[LucyLambstealer]

Slightlyperturbed - the 1918 outbreak predominately affected the younger adults/teenagers, it was a really similar strain to previous strains that had been circulating the couple of decades before so the older generation at the time had been exposed to similar strains and had partial immunity to it. The younger generation didn't so where much more vulnerable. It also was a very virulent strain (which is not actually very helpful as a virus which is why Ebola isn't rampaging around the world, you don't want your victims dying before they've even had the chance to infect anyone else.) It made a lot if young people immune systems go completely nuts and killed them that way rather than via respiratory complications/pneumonia/etc. Swine flu was very similar to the 1918 strain as well but less virulent so again the older generation had some partial immunity to it which meant the outbreak wasn't as bad as it could have been (as it's usually the older generation that are most at risk)

[whitehorsesdonotlie]

I had the flu jab 2 weeks ago. I had no symptoms/soreness/anything. Nor did my 10yo ds.

[RavingRoo]

I think the flu jab should be mandatory for NHS professionals who have patient interaction. Flu can kill.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I think the flu jab should be mandatory for NHS professionals


Last year I had the flu jab as I usually do ( I have some side effects some years , some worse than others)

Last years, I drove myself and DH to work (I drop him off) .
As an aside I suffer from (but manage to control) IBS (under Gastro Consultant)
I didn't get to work, I quite literally shit myself en route

I had 3-4 days of hideous spasms. I took all my gut calming /anti bloating meds but I wasn't eating so had to resort to laxatives to try and get my gut shifting. As any IBS sufferer will tell you the required muscles get a tad lazy so being constipated is bloody hard work.
I had less pain in labour.
I am expected to have to Flu Jab this year. I was adviced (I'm not sure if this was serious or joking though) to have the jab before a weekend/ leave. So that I can spasm away to my hearts content without impairing my Cinical Duties.

So you'll excuse me if I pass and stick your mandatorys

[CPtart]

If the flu jab should be mandatory for HCP, then it should be for all eligible/vulnerable groups able to have it of any age and whatever their opinion. After all, the vaccine exists primarily for their benefit.

[Chrisinthemorning]

I am a HCP (dentist) and I have it, I have to pay for it too. I have had proper flu once and I was so ill, I would rather avoid that. I was off for 2 weeks (Uni) and as I'm self employed I would rather avoid that too.

[Allthewaves]

And i thought the stickers being a 'flu fighter' was ott

[Skarossinkplunger]

I have a massive needle phobia and don't have injections. My workplace offer it and I decline.

[mirime]

@CPtart you chose to be a HCP, they didn't choose to be elderly or vulnerable. If an elderly person won't go and have a flu jab, what do we do? Physically force them out the door?

To be honest I wouldn't want someone with your attitude taking care of my elderly relatives.

[bumbleymummy]

YANBU. Mandatory nothing.

[RavingRoo]

@70isaLimitNotaTarget - you shat yourself because of IBS. Not because of the flu job. I have severe IBS too and get the flu jab regularly - there is no link between the two.

[Nizuc]

Why would HCP's whose job it is to help others NOT get the jab? It's irresponsible.

"Let me look at your leg....what 's that? You live alone and just had your 90th birthday!.....There you are my dear, I've bandaged your weeping leg, oh and given you flu."

I'm surprised it's not mandatory for ALL STAFF on the cancer/respiratory wards.

And I think those staff who 'refuse' to have for no other reason shouldn't get sick pay when they come down with the flu. And they should wear face masks and a big badge advertising they are a refuser.


On a personal note, I've had the jab. I work with HCP's for an NHS provider as admin in a non clinical setting. I didn't know about CQUIN but it explains why admin have been allowed to have it! However, it prevents me taking sick leave and passing it onto colleagues.

[Bratsandtwats]

I read this earlier this week
www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/12/nhs-urges-14m-staff-flu-jab-reduce-risk-epidemic?CMP=share_btn_fb
NHS bosses are writing to all 1.4 million staff to say they must have the winter flu jab as soon as possible to reduce the risk of them infecting patients who might die.Those who decline the jab will have to tell the NHS trust that employs them why, and it will have to record their reasons, as part of a bid to drive up what the NHS admits are “disappointing” staff take-up rates.

[bumbleymummy]

RavingRoo, just because you haven't had a bad reaction to your flu jab doesn't mean that nobody else has.

[GilligansKitchenIsland]

Aware that this thread is a year old but the issues are still relevant, aren't they?
I'm an HCP and haven't had the flu jab for the last 2 years after having a reaction to it in 2014 that made me unwell for about 4 months. I'm unsure if I'll get it this year; all the headlines are warning us to brace ourselves for a particularly nasty strain. If I was to get it, it would only be to protect myself, not my patients, as the evidence suggests that it has little to no effect on transmission of flu from HCPs to patients:
www.cochrane.org/CD005187/ARI_influenza-vaccination-healthcare-workers-who-care-people-aged-60-or-older-living-long-term-care
This review only looked at the elderly in residential care - I haven't been able to find any studies on other populations. But given the weight the NHS usually gives to Cochrane reviews I suspect their main motivation for pushing the vaccine is to reduce staff sick days.

[Jb291]

I'm an NHS front line HCP working in A&E. I always have the jab as soon as it is available. Not only am I protecting myself from flu and my friends and family but the very vulnerable patients in my department and on the wards. I really do not understand why anyone working in the NHS would refuse to get the jab.

[RavingRoo]

@bumbleymummy - it’s all junk science. There is no scientific link between ibs and the flu jab or indeed most vaccinations. The poster was lying to proove their point. The flu jab saves more people than it harms and if you won’t or can’t take it then you shouldn’t have a healthcare related job. A

[bumbleymummy]

RavingRoo, she wasn't saying that the flu jab caused her IBS. She's saying that it triggered a bout of it. As a sufferer yourself, surely you know that different people have different triggers and just because it doesn't trigger yours doesn't mean that it can't be a trigger for other people.

[bumbleymummy]

Fluarix tetra actually lists diarrhoea as one of the common side effects in its information leaflet.

"Gastrointestinal disorders

Common: gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or abdominal pain)"

[mrbob]

The flu vaccine was 40% effective this year. The people at work who have been off with flu and the patients I have seen have all, in fact had the vaccine. So apologies if I don't put a huge amount of trust in it. I am very pro vaccine generally but I think telling people they HAVE to have vaccine that doesn't actually work very well is a bit cheeky...

[Toddlerteaplease]

We got a mugshot soup sachet, if we had ours at work. I had mine at the GP it made sure it went on record at work. We get £500 if we meet the target number of people vaccinated.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

RavingRoo you can fuck right off accusing me of lying

Bumble thanks for the info, I was looking at similar for this year.

Raving I've had flu vaccines for years. I've had confirmed IBS (Diverticulitis if thats relevant) for over 3 years.

I had the FluJab one evening and bear in mind the flu jab changes and my IBS which I usually control very well, flared up and I had unbearable symptoms for the best part of a week.

So yes, I know my body.
And yes I know the flu jab last year had horrendous side effect for me, so this year I am going in armed with information.
Just because you are fine doesn't mean I am fine.
Anecdotes don't equal date

Shall I just jack in a career spanning nearly 30 years in the NHS then ?

[Straycatblue]

For those who have had any side effects from Flu vaccination , not just serious side effects, please report via the The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency online yellow card scheme. Side effects of any medication, not just vaccinations are often undereported.

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/the-yellow-card-scheme/

[Straycatblue]

Sorry, this link will take you direct to the reporting page I think

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

[PregnantBridesmaid]

YAB totally U.

Have you read about the concerns about this years upcoming flu epidemic? Have you read about the impact flu has had in Australia/Asia earlier this year?

In light of these concerns, I think it is irresponsible for front line health professionals to decline the flu vaccine.