Quick question about spreading virus after vaccination..

[Frootloop]

If you've been vaccinated for the flu or whatever, can you still spread the virus to others who are unvaccinated if you come in contact with someone who is currently ill with said virus?

That probably didn't make sense, did it?

For example..
Sally is a nurse who was vaccinated for H1N1 weeks ago (totally pretending here), her current patients, Patient A and Patient B are not vaccinated. Patient A is hospitalized for H1N1. Patient B is hospitalized for something unrelated, but is very immunocompromised. Can Sally still spread the virus from Patient A to Patient B by simply working with both if she does not follow proper procedures for hygiene?
This goes for anyone, really. If my DH were to get vaccinated, but comes in contact with someone at work with H1N1, could he still bring it home to me or the kids who were unvaccinated?

I'm asking because I am in NY state, where the medical workers have been mandated to receive the H1N1 vaccine and there is currently an argument on another website going on about the scenario I posted above. Some are saying that *Sally*, even though she IS vaccinated, can still spread the virus from one patient to another if she doesn't follow procedure. Others are saying that once you are vaccinated for anything (not taking live vaccines into account), it's impossible for you to carry and still spread the virus.

Sorry this is so long-winded!! Hopefully it made sense lol!!

ETA - Do you have a source I could read and pass along to others?

[frugalmama]

I don't have a source, but it's only common sense that if Sally doesn't follow good hygiene for a health care worker the virus can be passed from Patient A to Patient B.

otherwise it's like saying "well I've got mud on my hands that I just got working outside in the garden, but I washed them this morning so there is no way mud can get on these clean clothes I'm hanging on the line." Doesn't work. You're going to get mud on the clothes. And you are going to pass the virus if you don't follow good hygiene.

Probably not the greatest analogy.

[Frootloop]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

I don't have a source, but it's only common sense that if Sally doesn't follow good hygiene for a health care worker the virus can be passed from Patient A to Patient B.

otherwise it's like saying "well I've got mud on my hands that I just got working outside in the garden, but I washed them this morning so there is no way mud can get on these clean clothes I'm hanging on the line." Doesn't work. You're going to get mud on the clothes. And you are going to pass the virus if you don't follow good hygiene.

Probably not the greatest analogy.

Thank you. That's what I and many others thought, but there are people calling us educated and accusing us of spreading false information who are arguing that once you're vaccinated, you're unable to spread the virus anymore since the vaccination that you recieved basically kills the germs dead before you CAN spread it. I didn't think that was accurate, but for some reason, I'm not able to find a source to give them. Me and google just aren't getting along well this morning!

Btw, this is part of the argument that some people are using in regard to all NYS medical personnel (actually, they'd like all personnel who come in contact with patients) being mandated to recieve the flu vaccines. I guess they assume that if all were vaccinated against it, no one in hospitals could spread it to other patients.

[gardenmom]

If patient A sneezes on you, and any droplets of moisture with influenza virus in them remain on your person, you could spread them to your next patient, period. Hygiene is way more important than a flu shot!

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/work.htm

"Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for a long time (some can live for 2 hours or more) on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables"

I believe that it takes 14-21 days after the flu vax just to see an immune response that is measurable in a lab. Vaccine doesn't kill virus. It only stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies to a specific virus

Here's a nice piece at About.com that explains how the flu vaccine works and/or doesn't work, in straightforward terms: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthi.../aa011604a.htm

I have to admit that it scares me a little to think that health care workers need this explained to them, ugh.

[Frootloop]

Thank you so much!!

[amnesiac]

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