Flu Shot issue

Okay...am I being unreasonable?

A very close friend of the family...almost like family.. is going into the hospital for several weeks. We will call her Katie.

Her doctor strongly recommended that everyone going to see her have a flu shot. He didn't say it was mandatory....

Katie tells everyone that if you don't get a flu shot that we do not go see her. She said it in a nice way.....

I am not in favor of flu shots because there is no gurantee that you aren't going to get the flu. I can have strain A but the flu shot could have been for strain B. Sometimes the side effects are worse than actually getting the flu.....

And she is going to be in the hospital with a billion other sick people, doctors, nurses, patients.....have all of these people had the flu shot....I work in healthcare and didn't get a flu shot does that mean I couldn't take care of him?

She is also going to a hospital in the City so it's not like I would see her everyday.

Should I just suck it up and get the shot...or stick to my guns and say okay I will see you when you get out.

Re: Flu Shot issue

I would get the shot

Message edited 1/21/2009 11:35:13 AM.

Re: Flu Shot issue

How many weeks is 'several weeks'? 2 weeks, 6 weeks, more?

I'd probably just call her on the phone if she was that concerned about it and I didn't want to get the shot.

I think its kind of unreasonable to require people to get the shot before visiting if the doctor doesnt say it's mandatory. I mean, how is she going to know you got it anyway? Do you need to provide a permission slip from your doctor?

Re: Flu Shot issue

Re: Flu Shot issue

Well if her doctor strongly recommended that people visiting it get it then I would either get it or wait until she comes home to visit. While I believe that if you strongly don't want to get the flu shot then you shouldn't but I also think that you should respect her doctor (and I assume if she mentioned it her wishes) and not visit if you don't get it. Most people in the medical field do get the flu shot and I'm assuming that they are probably requesting this b.c of a compromised immune system (so they wouldn't want you visiting if you have any signs of a cold or anything they probably wouldn't want you to visit either). When DH's grandfather was in the hospital he was in an area for those who were immune suppressed and you were asked to not visit if you were sick (this was the summer so flu wasn't an issue) and all going in and out had to wash hands first etc.

Re: Flu Shot issue

Re: Flu Shot issue

I am with your friend on this one. Her doctor commented on the flu shot for a reason. To lie would be to break her trust. And yes th eshot is not 100%. She is not telling you you have to get a shot. She is just asking you not to endanger her health further. Most if not all nurses, doctors and staff in the hospital get flu shots every season to protect themselves and the patients.

Re: Flu Shot issue

when a close friend of the family demanded everyone get a flu shot because she had a baby..i didnt get one why would i.i never get one and plus she didnt get one so i didnt get one and none of family members got one.

Message edited 1/23/2009 7:24:46 PM.