Swine flu vacc being MANDATORY for HC workers.

[Pedersen]

Ill wash my hands and everything else like a good girl and take my chances.

I normally don't care about the swine flu, and feel that the whole fear of it has been blown way out of proportion. However, this statement really ticks me off.

If you're a health care worker, then you are not just taking your chances, you are taking the chances of every single patient you come in contact with, of which a significant percentage already have a compromised immune system. I would not be at all surprised to find out that more than 90% of the people visiting doctors are already dealing with symptoms of some issue, which generally means that their immune system is already fighting something in their bodies.

And now, from a simple Google search, I find that an individual can be both contagious and asymptomatic for a day before actually developing symptoms themselves.

As a result, a more accurate way of phrasing your statement is to say "I'll wash my hands and take my chances, along with risking the health of all immune system compromised patients I will see over the course of a given day while I would be contagious and unaware of such."

If you don't want to take the vaccination, fine. I don't necessarily object to that. But at least be completely truthful in your statements about what chances you are taking, because the risks are not solely your own.

As for the argument of "But, what about other people who deal with the public? Why aren't you spanking them for saying the same thing?", the answer is simple: For every other profession, the percentage of people that you interact with that has a compromised immune system is considerably and consistently lower. For that, I would not be surprised to find the number at the opposite end of the spectrum, at less than 25% (and that is higher than I actually believe it to be). This means that they have considerably less risk of passing the disease on if they actually have it.

Again, be honest about the risks you are taking with yours and your patients' lives. You aren't just taking chances with your own.

[BroomJockey]

Im not saying that at all. Im just saying those that want it, get it. If you dont, leave 'em alone.

Pedersen's about covered it. But I'll put it bluntly. You don't get the shot, you could kill someone and never know it. Live with that on your conscience. I couldn't.

[Amina516]

I guess we'll all have to agree to disagree. I dont see it as either Broomjockey or Pedersen sees it. Im sorry if i upset you Perdersen. I dont want to seem crass. I just dont think we're seeing things the same. Of course i care about my patients, but I will not be forced into what i feel is a fast tracked vaccine.
Universal percautions and good hygiene are the BASIS of good care. Google that.

ALOT of disease can be prevented by handwashing and common sense.

im sorry, but I gotta stick to my guns.

Pedersen's about covered it. But I'll put it bluntly. You don't get the shot, you could kill someone and never know it. Live with that on your conscience. I couldn't.

See, my first reaction to this is to be a smart ass and of course, make a smart assed remark..but I dont want you to think that i dont GET what youre saying. I do.

I do a number of things on a daily basis that could potentially kill people now and later. My conscience is CLEAR b/c i know i am acting to the best of my ability every single day I am at work and acting with common sense when Im not. Im in my current profession because I want to help people. Flu shot or not, ill do my best and pray that when I go home in the morning, everyone who started out there is still alive and that Ill see them when i come back (Or theyre discharged home alive.)

Im not sure what else to say here. Im not heartless. I may be a little stubborn but i feel its for a good reason.

I think the H1N1 vacc is a mostly product of mass panic and just not for me.

Hindsight is 20/20 though. There may be a time when I regret what Ive said or not getting the vacc..though I dont see that happening. If that time comes, Ill let you know.

[Depot Denizen]

They make everyone get hepatitis, measles, tetanus and more, eventually they probably will have these be common but right now they have to do this thing called prioritizing.

+1

To attend college in the US students are required to have a set of vaccinations. It's mandatory. If you don't have them, no classes for you. With the cleanliness of most college students, this is a good thing.

Yes, there is always a chance of a bad reaction to a vaccine. In healthcare, the benefits often outweigh the risks.

[AdminAssistant]

To attend college in the US students are required to have a set of vaccinations. It's mandatory. If you don't have them, no classes for you. With the cleanliness of most college students, this is a good thing.

That has more to do with cramped living conditions, like dorm rooms or cramming as many people into a rental house as possible, than personal hygiene.

[Depot Denizen]

That has more to do with cramped living conditions, like dorm rooms or cramming as many people into a rental house as possible, than personal hygiene.

I lived in the dorms for four years. Some dorms were better than others, but personal hygiene had a lot to do with it. Imagine being in a room filled with 50 sniffling, sneezing students who don't bother to cover their mouths. Having two people in an 8x10 room was cramped, but not unhygienic.

[Dreamstalker]

When I was living in a dorm, one year pinkeye spread like wildfire. The nurse was puzzled until I offered up that I had seen girls sharing mascara...it's a solid bet that that's how it started and spread. Myself and the RA were the only two on the floor who didn't wear makeup...the only two who didn't catch it.

Sharing things like makeup/soap/etc in dorm situations can work wonders as far as spreading germs goes.

[Flyndaran]

Every woman using makeup shared mascara brushes? I'm a guy, and I find that nearly on par with sharing a toothbrush, as in horrifically disgusting.

[Adoyle90815]

When I was living in a dorm, one year pinkeye spread like wildfire. The nurse was puzzled until I offered up that I had seen girls sharing mascara...it's a solid bet that that's how it started and spread. Myself and the RA were the only two on the floor who didn't wear makeup...the only two who didn't catch it.

Sharing things like makeup/soap/etc in dorm situations can work wonders as far as spreading germs goes.

I didn't live in the dorms, but when I was in college, there was a meningitis outbreak in my junior year.

[HYHYBT]

Every woman using makeup shared mascara brushes? I'm a guy, and I find that nearly on par with sharing a toothbrush, as in horrifically disgusting.

Worse, really: the mouth is used to taking in nasty germs and can mostly handle them.

[Depot Denizen]

Mmm, pinkeye.

[gremcint]

Mmm, pinkeye.

officially the weirdest comment I've ever read here.

you set the standard for wtf.

[Dreamstalker]

Worse, really: the mouth is used to taking in nasty germs and can mostly handle them.

Hence why human bites can be worse than animal bites. I heard somewhere that oral bacteria evolved to kill pretty much anything else; there was a case on Dr. G: Medical Examiner once about just that (man with periodontal disease aspirated some of said bacteria into his lungs, which then proceeded to wreak havoc).

As for why the silly freshmen in my dorm felt the need to share makeup, I have no idea.

[Depot Denizen]

officially the weirdest comment I've ever read here.

you set the standard for wtf.

Normality is overrated. I'll take that as a compliment.

[Flyndaran]

Hence why human bites can be worse than animal bites. I heard somewhere that oral bacteria evolved to kill pretty much anything else; there was a case on Dr. G: Medical Examiner once about just that (man with periodontal disease aspirated some of said bacteria into his lungs, which then proceeded to wreak havoc).
....

Bacteria evolved into a parasitic or symbiotic state with regards to humanity is only safe where it's "supposed to go". That's why normal intestinal E. coli is so dangerous when ingested... or asperating just about anything. Lungs are sensitive. I had an allergic reaction that after I asperated turned into bacterial infection plus bronchitis for a month or two.

But we digress.

Health care workers need to understand that their job is so important that certain liberties need to be taken with their liberties when dealing with pandemics....even if I consider our reaction to swine flu a bit of an overreaction.