Fighting mandate regarding flu vaccines

Nurses COVID

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I am a last year FNP student....and my university just sent an email mandating both the Influenza and H1N1 vaccines. The state attorney--of the Dept of Public Health does not mandate this for healthcare workers--so it seems a State Univ would follow suit. Any suggestions on fighting this mandate?

Roser13--Our area has not had a hard time with the H1N1-it truly has been a minimal version of the flu--.. No-I don't think you should fight something because you can. BUT--you should fight when you feel your personal health is in jeapoardy. In addition, there are valid concerns that this virus has already mutated... so this vaccine could be for nothing.

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good luck with the school blessedx3, I support you all the way.

kindest regards

dishes

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. THis program is online--with clinicals done in your hometown--a couple of times on campus. So-clinicals are all over the country-East to West--It isn't that particular places require the vaccine--as there are too many facilities to consider. Only the healthcare students are being mandated. I have some neurologic issues--and just do NOT want to assume any more risk of Guillian-Barre than I need to. To penalize me-via administrative withdrawal--is a violation of First amendment rights. We will see where I get with the school. You may see an Alabama revolt as you did with the New York nurses.. Thanks again.

My hospital is one that is requiring vaccinations. However, we are making exceptions for some people with medical conditions that make the vaccine more risky than for the general population. Perhaps you can get a waiver if you provide sufficient documentation of your neurologic condition and concerns.

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I agree blessedx3, you should fight when your personal health is at risk and llg is correct a medical waiver will be respected and will provide you exemption from vaccinations.

dishes

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So, to folks who work in clinical areas and aren't planning on getting the H1N1 (or are fighting a mandate). I'm curious (truly, I don't understand and would love to hear different perspectives) if you've received the other vaccinations that are generally required for nursing school (and work in an acute care facility)?

I've heard some say that they consider H1N1 a "new and untested" vaccine. But, that doesn't really make a lot of sense to me as the shot itself is the same as the seasonal flu shot for the past umpteen years...the only difference is that it only has one strain instead of three.

Also, do you believe the vaccine should be mandated for anyone? How about ICU or NICU nurses, or folks who work in group homes with developmentally delayed adults with multiple comorbidities?

Where does the healthy, and educated healthcare professional's individual rights to decide about a vaccine end and the possible medically fragile, patients rights to receive care from someone who has taken all reasonable precautions to keep them safe begin?

Thanks in advance!

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I don't understand how much more dangerous the H1N1 vaccine is compared to the yearly flu shot. Given that this is becoming a serious issue in hospitals isn't it worth the risk to take the shot? The more HCW that are vaccinated the less likely they will transmit the virus.

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Specializes in CTICU.
To penalize me-via administrative withdrawal--is a violation of First amendment rights.

I ask this in all seriousness - I am not a US citizen and perhaps I misunderstand - but how exactly would that violate your First Amendment rights? Isn't that the right to free speech and free exercise of religion? As I understand it, you do not have religious objection to the vaccination, but medical/philosophical.

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I ask this in all seriousness - I am not a US citizen and perhaps I misunderstand - but how exactly would that violate your First Amendment rights? Isn't that the right to free speech and free exercise of religion? As I understand it, you do not have religious objection to the vaccination, but medical/philosophical.

I'm anxious to see this answer myself.

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Specializes in ED.

That depends what type of school you go to. It sounds like a private school, which makes things more difficult. The first place you should start is talking to the administration to get a waiver for you medical condition. You could also try to organize students to mass-protest the vaccine, after all, you are the ones paying tuition. In some states, the state has laws that govern even private school immunizations. It's possible to find something to help you in your state statutes, depending on how oppressive your state is. You might also have a contractual right with the school, depending on your initial enrollment agreement. At last resort, you could try to ask a local attorney.

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The problem with mandating any kind of medical treatment is this...Where does it stop?

Let's assume that the argument about the 'greater public good' is correct. Ok then, why stop at vaccination? Thousands of people each year die while waiting on an organ transplant list, while at the same time hundreds of thousands are buried with perfectly good organs inside them. Why not mandate that any useable organs be removed prior to burial/cremation? Certainly the argument could be made that the public good is being served, of what use are organs to a dead person, and here is "Little Billy" who will certainly die if he doesn't get a new liver in the next week or so...

And if that could come to pass, what could the next step be? You are young and healthy, and happen to be a perfect match for someone who needs a kidney...You can live quite well with one, can we take the other one? Again, think of the greater good. If we have already established that you do NOT have the ultimate right to your own bodily integrity, and that the State can force you to undergo procedures against your will if they deem it to be in the public interest, then the answer is clear.

Or how about the whole abortion issue? Yikes, don't even want to go there! Some will say, "Oh, that's just ridiculous, something like that would NEVER happen!" Just pick up a good general history book and see for yourselves that stuff like that can indeed happen. The funny thing is, these things are alloowed to happen because people are convinced that they are for the greater good, and they happen in increments. You don't shoot from point A to point Z in one step, it's always little baby steps until you get to where you never thought you'd be...

The issue is much bigger than swine flu folks. Don't be so absorbed by the one that you are blinded to the other.

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

Someone else asked "are teachers being mandated to take the vaccine?" -that is a good point-they are around the most vulnerable for 8 hours a day-whereas we may be in a room with a pt only a few minutes at a time (of course not always-can be much longer)...why are we targeted? I mean schools ALSO have very immunocompromised children. I gladly will get it but when we talk about protection-you would think the officials would be targeting teachers as well....

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Specializes in Too many to list.
Someone else asked "are teachers being mandated to take the vaccine?" -that is a good point-they are around the most vulnerable for 8 hours a day-whereas we may be in a room with a pt only a few minutes at a time (of course not always-can be much longer)...why are we targeted? I mean schools ALSO have very immunocompromised children. I gladly will get it but when we talk about protection-you would think the officials would be targeting teachers as well....

I worry about teachers especially pregnant teachers being exposed. Some teachers have already died as well as school nurses...

I don't want them to be mandated but I do wish that they would be considered a priority group to be protected, and offered the vaccine.

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