A couple of years ago, I guesstimated that I have given over 10,000 flu shots in my career. My one-day record is about 200 injections. With 38 years in nursing, it wasn’t hard. I’ve been given the moniker of “The Velvet Needle” by returning patients and have proudly overheard some folks in line say, “I want her.  She’s a good shot!” I know it’s not the most high tech thing a nurse can do, but I love to hear it! Over the years I’ve seen some pretty amusing stuff. It’s funny and sad at the same time to see a hoard of seniors banging on a door an hour and a half before a flu clinic is going to start. Then when the doors finally open, watching them pulling up their sleeves while racing ahead to be first in line. Despite my earnest effort to assure them that there is enough vaccine, a frantic race still ensues. I shake my head in amazement at their effort!

Grouchy folks get angry when you tell them that they have to take their arm out of their multiple layers of sleeves. “Just give me the damn shot!” they exclaim. There are the very, very thin patients who have an almost non-existent deltoid muscle. Hitting the bone isn’t good technique J. There are the very large patients. Deep down, you know that you’d need a needle that’s 6 inches long to get the vaccine anywhere near a muscle.

Here are some flu questions I’ve heard over the years:
“Why do I need to get this every year?” (From Irritated Sorts)
“Is it OK to get a shot if I have the sniffles?” (From Worried Sorts)
“What’s the recipe for this year’s vaccine?”  (From Traveling Sorts)

And some flu comments:
“This shot made me sick last year.  BUT my doctor told me to get it again.” (From Compliant Sorts)
“I hate needles.” (From Tattooed Sorts)
“I love eggs!” (From Rotund Sorts)

I don’t understand why some healthcare workers resent and resist getting a flu shot. You would think that they would understand the concepts of ‘herd immunity’ and their obligation to protect their patients. I get pretty irked with people who love to spread nightmare stories ‘they heard about.’ I recently heard callers on a local talk radio station talk about a conspiracy theory that the government is duping everyone into getting vaccinated. “Left-wing liberals are trying to take over my body!” or “This flu stuff is just a way to line the pockets of the big pharmaceutical companies and to give big government something to do!” Yikes!!

The CDC has announced this week that flu cases are widespread in 47 states. Are you sick of hearing about the flu? Well it’s better than being sick with the flu. So get a flu shot if you haven’t had one. And if you’ve already had one, good for you!

Debra Bertrand, CHAMP Facilitator