Should the H1N1 Vaccine be mandatory for Healthcare Professionals?

Nurses COVID

Published

  • Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

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  1. Should the H1N1 Vaccine be mandatory for Healthcare Professionals?

    • 1998
      Yes
    • 5012
      No

7,010 members have participated

Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

I have a question - isn't the H1N1 vaccine the exact same as the yearly flu shot, only with this specific strain? What's so different about it that it needs the years of clinical trials before it's deemed safe? I thought I heard one of the "experts" talking about it on the news and they said it was the same as the typical vaccine.

Please don't flame me, I'm being sincere with these questions :) My hospital required the yearly flu shot this year, as did my nursing program. There are quite a few people upset about that as well. I'm diabetic so I always get the annual one....but I'm on the fence about H1N1. Any info would be appreciated!

HeartsOpenWide, RN

1 Article; 2,889 Posts

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
So, you refuse your yearly TB test too?

The PPD is a (purified protein derivative) used to see if a person has been exposed to TB. Its not a vaccination.

Woodenpug, BSN

734 Posts

Specializes in MPCU.
The PPD is a (purified protein derivative) used to see if a person has been exposed to TB. Its not a vaccination.

It is something foreign to the body. So not a real straw man. anymore than that original statement was not a red herring.

We already have many mandatory vaccinations, and thus if employed.... guess what we have been forced to put something in our bodies.

I'm sure exceptions are made for allergic rx's. Since mandatory flu vaccinations are not be required for people with allergic reactions.

jdub3

61 Posts

Specializes in Orientation hahahaha.

Its a needle and its entering my body.

allnurses Guide

herring_RN, ASN, BSN

3,651 Posts

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

I am older than recommended but will take the H1N1 without adjuvant if offered.

I do NOT think it should be mandatory.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yes I'm too old too. My doc insists it will be just fine on my wounded heart and on the gap of lung that causes remarks from every radiologist that reads an AP/Lat CXR. *I* will maintain what is good for *my* body thank you very much.

D.R.A.

207 Posts

At this point, no, I don't think it should be mandatory. If your sick, don't come to work, and otherwise, practice standard precautions and, if necessary, wear a mask. Forcing people to take injections has always been a touchy subject for me for a host of reasons.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I had a reaction to the latex in the plug of the vial. So the next year it was CXR so I glow in the dark now. No more tb test. My dad's business partner died of it, and my grandfather actually had tb and I never picked up the bug.

goopsy

541 Posts

No one, not even my employer, has the right to tell me what to put into my body. PERIOD.

Ummm..OK. You're logic doesn't make sense. What about all those other vaccinations that you're required to have????????????

jrw03282009

139 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

I was told this week by my lead instructor that every student nurse had to get the regular flu shot. She said we had the option of not having the shot. If we decided that we did not want the vx then we would not be able to do clinical rounds at the hospital.

no clinicals=no certificate.

I took my steaming mad butt down to Wallgreens and complained to the pharmacist as he was giving my shot... poor guy :(

lamazeteacher

2,170 Posts

Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.

There must have been a problem getting HCWs to take the HepB series of vaccinations, as anyone who doesn't want to do that, signs a release saying they either had the series previously, or refuse to have it. The Employee Health Nurse can order (with consent of a new employee), a test for HbSAb. If the result is HbSAg +, he/she will have to work where the danger of exposing patients to their carrier state isn't a potential risk.

Since there's nowhere a HCW can work as such without exposing others to H1N1, when he/she's communicable (notice that I wrote "when", not "if"), she/he shouldn't work at all until the risk is over! If I for any reason couldn't take the vaccine without risking my life, I'd leave nursing until the risk of acquiring it is over; and I'd stay away from crowded indoor spaces.

Those who refuse to take the vaccine must be sure it could be lethal for them to take it. Therefore they should get as much information as they can, about the vaccine having been administered to many human volunteers during the research of it. I've read that online, and I'm convinced that a sufficient number of people have received the vaccine without ill effect, that I will take it. However, I believe HCWs have a right to refuse it, as mandatory administration of anything to employees is wrong - legally and morally. However employers can and should require anyone who hasn't taken the vaccine, to take an unpaid leave of absence.

The reason I feel so strongly about that, is because I'd hate to see nurses as "Typhoid Marys" exposing the public to a disease that has been shown to be lethal, when a vaccine is available to render them immune. If people with active Tb refuse (or are unreliable) to take their meds, the court can, and does restrict them to their homes, sending HH nurses in to give the meds by injection forceably, if need be. It would be a real pity if an insufficient number of HCWs made that necessary with nurses. However the length of time it takes the vaccine to render immunity, would make it unrealistic to do that. So the public will have to get the vaccine so that unvaccinated nurses won't spread H1N1 to them!

Now read about it, folks and believe what the CDC and WHO say about researching it sufficiently, before advising its use. It's shear paranoia to think that those agencies would intentionally mislead us and the public, for heaven's sake!!! I listened to a radio "talk show" this morning, which had a "neurosurgeon" speaking against vaccines in general, the one against H1N1 specifically, siting all the old and now unused substances that were in vaccines, such as formaldehyde. He talked about them having more than "a dose" of mercury in each dose of vaccine, while the program host gasped. Now is that idiotic? How much mercury is a dose, and why would it be considered that? :stone

feisty

97 Posts

Why is it okay to require health care workers and not require teachers, restaurant personnel, people riding the subway, school children, or anyone who comes into contact with large numbers of the general public on a daily basis to take the same shot? Maybe someone should be stationed at the entrance of every mall in the county and require that anyone entering show proof that they have been vaccinated. If they haven't then they must be vaccinated or go home. LOL Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? So does forcing health care worker to take a vaccine because the general public is paranoid. Please don't flame me....I am not serious about forcing others to take it. I do not believe that it should be required that anyone take the vaccine. People should be allowed to educate themselves and made an informed decision.

I understand that we work where there are sick people, but those sick people are normally walking around sharing their illness long before we see them.

People are afraid of H1N1 and the media is not helping. Instead of playing on peoples fears they should take the opportunity to educate them.

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