Posted on 09/29/2009 5:55:46 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Health care institutions, concerned that less than half their workers got flu shots in previous years, are moving for the first time to make the shots mandatory in the face of an expected swine flu pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures for the 2007-08 flu season, the most recent available, show that just 45.4 percent of U.S. health care workers ages 19 to 64 were immunized against seasonal flu that year. Three British surveys released in recent weeks suggest the same pattern with the novel H1N1 virus, commonly known as the "swine flu" virus.
But Dr. Tom Talbot, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said "there has been a big wave this year" of mandatory vaccination rules, ranging from small doctors' offices to large medical care and hospital systems.
"A lot of people are leaning [toward mandatory vaccinations], pointing to it as a safety issue, akin to a surgeon refusing to do a scrub before surgery," he said.
"I think H1N1 has prompted it," he said, adding that rules for seasonal flu are in place and likely will be for H1N1 when the vaccine becomes available. He said that voluntary systems need resources to exhort workers into complying, making a mandatory policy cheaper and quicker.
The New York State Health Department, in what is thought to be the first statewide ruling of its kind, now requires all hospital, hospice and home health care workers to get both a seasonal and H1N1 flu shot. Those who defy the requirement without a religious or medical reason put their jobs at risk.
Policies for H1N1 are generally still being formulated, spokesmen at several hospitals, health care systems and professional groups nationwide told The Washington Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Yes, I do. I get it every year and administer it to hundreds of my own patients a year. It is easy for the poster that has been bashing me to go on in theory about the safety of the vaccine, but after over two decades of medicine; I have seen many mistakes of science come and go. Having a patient you know and care about suffer the consequences of therapy you yourself have ordered is horrible stress to bear. It is one thing to talk in theory, it is another to know personally the outcomes of your prior actions.
Long winded I know, but feel safe getting the seasonal vaccine.
Two of my four daughters have had it as well. Several of my Obstetrics pateints tested positive in the last month. It is not much more than a bad head cold in this humble country doctors opinion. Glad your princess is well too.
Made in China....the country that brought us melamine and lead coated toys....Riiiiiigggggghhhhhttt!
Excerpted from Bloomberg...another lefty site!
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a_xObcaSxF2o
Mixing Oil, Water
The adjuvants are mixes of oil and water that — by stimulating the immune system — offer a way to boost the body’s response to antigen. Adjuvants, whose effectiveness vary by flu strain, may boost the strength of the antigen as much as 10- fold, as was the case with a bird flu vaccine approved in Europe, said Treanor, of the University of Rochester. By adding an adjuvant the same amount of antigen can be used to treat more people, he said.
“Until GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis can show me it won’t harm a rat or guinea pig, I think it’s a bad idea to give it to humans,” Vicky Debold, a registered nurse with a Ph.D. in public health, who is a member of the FDA’s advisory committee for reviewing vaccines, said July 27 in an interview.
I was at OTS at Lackland AFB in 1976. We had to get flu shots. I was flat on my back with the flu for five days. Sickest I had ever been.
Adjuvant free vaccine is available.
How is the term “health care workers” being used in terms of those protesting? My guess is that it’s Nurses Unions, not just “health care workers”.
Where I work, most nurses in my area get vaccinated, so I don’t see nurses/health workers “always” saying it’s no big deal yet not getting vaccinated. However, I’m sure there are places where this does happen.
Makes sense to me. My dad had a 1976 Ford pickup that had a lot of transmission problems. Therefore, I will not even consider buying a 2009 Ford pickup, because 33 years ago, they had problems, and therefore, are highly likely to have the same problems. (not really; I’m using this to illustrate the fact that comparing a vaccine of today to one that was manufactured 33 years ago is asinine).
As for your friend, if she’s willing to lose her job rather than take the shot, why doesn’t she stand up for her principles and quit? Far more honorable than lying (in addition, she may be putting her nursing license in jeopardy if she lies for this reason).
After thinking it over, I agree with this. I work for a health system that is strongly encouraging flu shots, and giving a sticker to each employee getting the shot. If someone doesn't have a sticker, they must wear a mask from October to March. So in effect, it's not forced, as the employee has a choice.
First,you say “many years ago”. What about now? “Many years ago”, flu shots were only given to high risk patients and health care workers. There was no “push” for everyone to be vaccinated.
Also, I find it hard to believe and extremely unlikely that NO physician got a flu shot.
Then you would advise to get the seasonal flu vaccine and skip the H1N1 vaccine? Are you an MD?
Yes, I would get the seasonal flu if you desire. I plan to skip the H1N1 until it is a bit more tested. I have several courses of Tamiflu at home for the family that I paid my copay for and did not take samples. There is no rush to be first to try this vaccine.
My theory on new medicines is alot like my theory on life. Don’t be the first out of the landing craft and onto the beach. All the guns are aimed at you. Don’t be the last out of the craft, ‘cause by then the mortars have got the range. Run with the herd and zig-zag alot.
Take care,
WW
Thank you very much
Just out of curiosity, what is your occupation?
You have “several courses of Tamiflu” at home. Are you in a high risk category that indicates taking Tamiflu?
Biochemistry / molecular biology research. Although I’m not a primary investigator; I assist those that have grants.
Good point about my friend - ironically, she’s extremely liberal and we navigate the world very differently. She is able to justify many things that I am not okay with, nonetheless, we are friends and I pray for her and her whole family.
Yes, I have asthma and chronic bronchitis from Histoplasmosis as a teen working in my Dad’s hay barn. I also have one young child in the home, so a pediatric course of therapy is on hand as well. Besides being the country doc, was also the county health authority for years and sat through endless committee meetings after 9/11 on bio-terrorism plans. I keep a course of Cipro on hand too. That’s in addition to 10,000 rounds of ammo, food stocks, and water purification equipment. We live in a pass-through county for hurricaine evacaution and are on our own if the big storm hits the Texas coast again.
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