Last Tuesday my pharmacy held a flu clinic at $25 a shot. It was a very hectic and crazy day. At the end of it I just wanted to run away. Today we are holding another clinic and it will be the final one.
There has been some pressure from some other pharmacy staff to get the shot done. I know my boss and his wife (both pharmacists working in the dispensary) both feel very strongly about getting the shot done.
While some people have decided to get it (free for RX staff) others have decided not to. I am not going to get the shot. I keep getting asked about it but I'm standing firm. I never get flu shots done. I don't really like the idea of it. Growing up my parents didn't seem to care either way and my doctor has never felt that strongly about it. I like that about my doctor. He gives me the information and then lets me make my own decisions on everything which I think is great.
While I have heard some good points about getting the shot done I'm still not doing it. To be honest I'm more into holistic healing and natural alternatives. While I see both sides of the spectrum I am very cautious about what goes into my body. I don't even use anything when I have a headache. I'm a firm believer in drinking a big glass of water instead.
I know that if I change my mind I can probably get it done free still through the health clinic because I have asthma. So the option is still there. I just refuse to be talked into it when I wasn't going to do it in the first place. It's kind of awkward debating it at work but it's not going to make me change my mind.
So what about you? Are you getting a flu shot this year?
12 comments:
See, I was fine with your decision until you mentioned asthma. I have asthma that suddenly (re)appeared as an adult (as a kid I only wheezed when I ran or slept over at a house with a cat) and it was very serious for a while. I used to wake up at 3 or 4 am *every* night and need Ventolin *immediately*, plus when I used cleaners or was in a humid environment or out in the cold, etc.
I've gotten better over the years, in part because of a nutritional supplement I took for several years, and now use Ventolin once or twice per year at the most but I'm still really susceptible to having colds, flu, etc. really mess up my lungs.
I've also had pneumonia 3 times in my life, most recently when my 5 year old was 1 (and she had it too).
I always get the flu shot and I had the pneumococcal as well (which is once only or once per decade, depending on what you read).
I sort of forgot about it, and now I have to see if I missed the free clinics at the community centre. Thanks for the reminder and, just think about it, okay? I want you to be well and healthy, particularly if you're working at a pharmacy and interacting with all those sickies! It means you're exposed more than most people.
I definitely am, it has kept me protected every year since I started getting them. We also get them for free in Ontario, so it's easy.
This weekend I got an extremely vicious strain of the flu--of course it's because I haven't gotten my shot yet!
I never want to go through that again, so I am definitely protecting myself. If you can prevent illness and protect yourself, why wouldn't you, is my way of thinking.
I agree, I think that flu shots are completely unnecessary unless you have a significant chance of dying from it, like for people with aids or the very very elderly. Otherwise, there's no need.
Shevy - I do not use any inhalers. I've mostly grown out of it. I don't even have an inhaler that I keep on hand for emergencies anymore (ventolin). Sometimes during hay fever season if I get wheezing I might invest in one but I'm confident I will be fine.
I have asthma too, but have mostly outgrown it. (for some reason I still get a slight weeze when I visit my parents, maybe their house has something in it)
And I have Ventolin on hand just in case, but haven't had to use it in years. Either way I get the flu shot because it's free and it's worked for me before. I don't think it hurts me, and why not be safer?
My grandpa had "accute arthritis" reaction this year and has been misterable for 3 weeks though...
Do what makes you feel best.
knock on wood
I havent gotten the flu in a real long time. I have horrible allergies but that is it.
I am thinking though this year its time i do get that flu shot b/c my sis is an elementary school teacher and she is sick all the time. I do not want to catch anything from her.
We shall see but it really can not hurt.
im curious as to why ppl had to pay?? You live in canada right..I thought it was free for everyone. I work in a pharmacy as well and ours is free. I also do not get the flu shot, I was never the type to get the sicknesses that are going around, plus I feel like my immune system has built up being around sick ppl all day, LOL
HK - People can get it through a health clinic for no charge if they they qualify. We are a pharmacy offering a service. We invest in the product and the staffing to put on the clinic so I guess that's why the charge.
HK - Haha. I totally agree about the immunity build up from working in this type of environment. My previous time working in pharmacy I was never ill besides stress from the job. I always believed it was because I was exposed to so many things that I built up a small tolerance over time.
I'm in my mid 30s and have never gotten a flu shot. Around here, nobody my age (or under the age of 50) gets it really. My aunt, in her mid 60s, has gotten the shot every year for about 5 years and she still gets very sick each winter. Why she bothers I don't know!!
Dolly you're still so young, I say you'll be fine without it :-)
you dont live in ontario do you?
No, I'm in BC.
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