Will You Take the H1N1 Vaccine?

Here is an interesting article pertaining to the legalities of health care facilities REQUIRING their employees to obtain H1N1 flu immunizations in order to keep their jobs:

http://www.mlo-online.com/features/2009_november/1109_liab_lab.aspx

It points out that anyone who has some type of objection to such a policy should determine whether it is required by the individual facility or by the state (i.e. New York). Employees who are members of a union (not the case in North Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia, which are so-called "right-to-work") states may also be able to sidestep mandatory vaccination policies.

Thanks, Jonathan.  I am feeling much better. I did seek medical attention when the symptoms did not subside by day 4 and it became difficult to breathe. I opted  not to pursue further testing of  flu like symptoms, largely because treatment would not change based on a diagnosis of flu A/B or H1N1, several  days after symptoms began.

The doctor did find pneumonia-which is not all that uncommon in these sort of situations. Hence the wheezing and dfifficulty breathing.

I did supportive treatment for the flu-like symptoms, was prescribed antibiotics for the pneumonia and albuterol to facilitate breathing.

So was it the flu?  Was the timing just coincidental? Who knows? This experience just emphasizes the difficulty coming to a firm differential diagnosis and that treatment will often be empiric  anyway.

I wont be taking the shot for sure. I have been lucky to avoid the flu for years and I hope with diet, exercise and healthy habits like handwashing I will be able to avoid it this year as well. As a healthcare professional I too say you cannot get the flu from the vaccine, but I have to tell you  the worst flu-like symptoms I have ever had in my life was 5 years ago when I got my (last) flu shot. I was sick for a good 4-5 days.

I also have a friend whose daughter got Guaillain Barre syndrome and they seem pretty sure it was from shots.

I hope you feel better soon.