Mandatory Flu shots

Nurses COVID

Published

sooooo...what are your thoughts of mandatory Flu shots for health care workers? we got the ultimatum....get the shot or get the ax. So I got my first ever flu shot yesterday. just sitting arround waiting to get sick now!!!!!

My facility has also mandated flu shots and H1N1 shots this year. I am deeply disturbed, because, for many personal reasons, I have never wanted a flu shot and have always refused one, even writing letters to management when necessary. This year we are not being given a choice.

What I do not understand is, given that fact, why we still will be giving our patients a choice. If, as Duluth Mike says, unvaccinate people KILL, then, shouldn't we mandate vaccines for everyone, including all of our patients?

I have not had the flu since the spring of '04, and it was the Asian strain that that year's flu shot missed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think the ones crying "Fire" in the crowded movie theatre are the ones who are screaming for EVERYONE to be vaccinated or else...

Could it be that the reason for some to be so insistent is that, if THEY have to get it and take the chance, they want everyone to assume the same risk? You lnow what? If YOU are going to get it for whatever reason, fine. But we don't all feel the same way about this, so deal with it.

If the vaccine works without nasty side effects, then what are you worried about? You got yours, so you won't be at risk then, will you? The ones taking the chances will be the unvaccinated, who have made that choice. So why force the unwilling ones to take this?

This is just my little prediction, but I think that in a few months, any state or facility that refuses to allow the unvaccinated to work will have to re-think the policy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU. L&D, PP, Nursery.

If hospitals really wanted to "put the patients first" they would stop having us come in while we are still sick be it the flu or a simple virus or whatever. How many of us have had pressure from coworkers (many whom probably never miss a vaccine--because they "put patients first") to come in while still sick to help out with staffing. Most of us NEVER take all of our sick time, and heaven help us if we ever do because coming to work sick is expected because we are needed to take care of our vulnerable, immunocompressed patients!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the vaccine works without nasty side effects, then what are you worried about? You got yours, so you won't be at risk then, will you? The ones taking the chances will be the unvaccinated, who have made that choice. So why force the unwilling ones to take this?

I think what you said sums it up beautifully! We see this logic so clearly, the sheep don't!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MPCU.
I think what you said sums it up beautifully! We see this logic so clearly, the sheep don't!

Baa, baa, pre-employment drug screening. Well, that only proves that you could stay sober long enough to test clean, but we need it.

Baa, baa, annual PPD, but if you ever have a false positive you only need a CXR every 3 to 5 years depending on facility policy.

Baa, baa, you're a sheep because you follow the scientific, peer reviewed evidence, and see the annual flu vaccination as a way to save lives. Baa, baa science is false when my leader says so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone must do their OWN research, and make up their OWN minds about this. NEVER do ANYTHING because someone tells you you must, THAT is what makes one a sheep!

States like NY, where I work, are going to have some BIG problems if they start restricting people from working simply because they refused the vaccine. And I predict that any such move will have to be reconsidered, when the staffing shortages reach critical levels...especially if we have a nasty flu season. And then you have to think about the slew of lawsuits that will no doubt start making their way through the courts...

Making rules that can't be reasonably enforced just makes the rule-makers look stupid.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.
Baa, baa, pre-employment drug screening. Well, that only proves that you could stay sober long enough to test clean, but we need it.

Baa, baa, annual PPD, but if you ever have a false positive you only need a CXR every 3 to 5 years depending on facility policy.

Baa, baa, you're a sheep because you follow the scientific, peer reviewed evidence, and see the annual flu vaccination as a way to save lives. Baa, baa science is false when my leader says so.

Peeing in a cup is fundamentally different from letting someone inject some thing into your body. As for PPD, I"m not crazy about getting a PPD every 6 months. However, I understand that TB is a very dangerous illness, which is easily spread and requires long-term significant medical treatment. Further, the PPD has been used for a long time and is well-researched. As for the H1N1 vaccine, I would love to see these peer-reviewed, scientific studies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Baa, baa, you're a sheep because you follow the scientific, peer reviewed evidence, and see the annual flu vaccination as a way to save lives. Baa, baa science is false when my leader says so.

Look, You can take my sheep analogy to the extreme, ad nauseum. I think the zealout proponents for MANDATORY vaccinations are looking at this backwards. The TB analogy is a bit different as there is no vaccine for TB is there? So, the only way to contain it is to treat the positive person. As the earlier poster stated, if you have your vaccine then you are protected, it's the unvaccinated that are at risk. So, if everyone that feels so fearful and just know the sky is falling down, then it is their responsibility to CHOOSE to vaccinate themselves. The fact that a person is not vaccinated does not make them a vector for the virus. However, that is the argument beeing implanted in the brainwashed to spew out their agenda. The government wants to use fear tactics to control the masses. Also, funny how many of the opponents of 'big government' are so readily complying with this flu mandate based on that illogic. I would think those that are afraid of 'big government' control would vehemently oppose the mandate. They are slowly indoctrinating us. Another thing, one cannot possibly be vaccinated for all the flu viruses out there as there are many strains. There is no guarantee and you want mandated yearly vaccines? At least my childhood vaccines came to an end. Again I say, if you get the vaccine, then you are protected, according to the current arguments. Let the unvaccinated kill off themselves, wouldn't that make you happy, it is their fault then. On that subject though, when did the flu become such a terror? I've had it many times in my life, more so when younger. The next think it will be the common cold.... If people die from the flu or colds that turn into pneumonia etc...due to age, comorbidities, I'm sorry but it happens. We are not meant to live forever and people will die. Someday I could get it and depending on my state of health, it could kill me as could even a cold etc... It is necessary to happen for population control, natural selection. As long as the vaccine is available for the quivering sheep, I do not see their point of agreeing to a mandate for everyone else, as they should feel so protected by vaccinating themselves. But it should be a CHOICE based on that person's knowlege of what their body needs. As far as I'm concerned, speaking for myself only, not the sheep, if I take the vaccine due to pressure, it's either slow suicide or if forced on me, slow homicide. We are in the process of converting our free society to a police state. Wake up to the BIGGER PICTURE. I am an American and it is very American to question. We are the people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Whenever people act in haste, they are bound to create bigger problems than they are trying to solve. This is going to be one of those times, you watch...

But, the whole thing smells to me. Why all the fear and panic? You have to wonder if there isn't much more than meets the eye here. Is someone trying to clean up a mess by this aggressive vaccination of the population? That Baxter company DID release live H591 virus in a large batch of shipped flu vaccine, reported this past February in the Toronto Sun...

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html

Did somebody screw up?

I am certainly not going to be taking ANY vaccinations this year. I will take my chances with flu, swine or regular. There are just too many unanswered questions here, about the vaccine, the disease itself, the frantic responses we are seeing...

We need to all stop and take a deep breath here before we go sticking untested chemicals into people's bodies by fiat! Right after 9-11, our government used fear of terrorists to erode some of our freedoms, now they are using fear of pandemic disease to take away a few more! It's outrageous!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU. L&D, PP, Nursery.

LIVE virus was released in a shipment of flu vaccine???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PEDS, M/S, DOU, ICU, REHAB.
You could say that for every vaccine you have ever taken. Didn't you have to have certain vaccines before you entered nursing school? Does your employer require you to have certain vaccines? Do you know who made any of them or what is really in them.

All vaccines I had already from childhood, (even the MMR- and I still acquired Rubella)..

Those vaccines you are not forced to get annually.

As for childhood vaccine, it is my opinion that the rise of autism speaks for itself, and although is not proven- remains highly suspect.. But that is a different debate..

As for who made them and whats in them: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm

That link is for the CDC and just a few years ago read very differently.

It wasn't until people started asking questions- that they started their damage control tactics.

My point is- it never hurts to ask questions, do your research and then ask yourself if the benefits out weigh the risks- because every one is different, but share the same risks, it should not be a "blanket policy", you should be able to make that decision on your own terms.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PEDS, M/S, DOU, ICU, REHAB.
Baa, baa, pre-employment drug screening. Well, that only proves that you could stay sober long enough to test clean, but we need it.

Baa, baa, annual PPD, but if you ever have a false positive you only need a CXR every 3 to 5 years depending on facility policy.

Baa, baa, you're a sheep because you follow the scientific, peer reviewed evidence, and see the annual flu vaccination as a way to save lives. Baa, baa science is false when my leader says so.

I tested positive for ppd- and had a reaction to the INH prophylactic meds- and could not finish them because it was killing my liver- but here I am still working-

should I have killed my liver on a hypothesis that someday I might actually be able to pass it on to others- even though the INH was destroying my liver- and only lessend those chances by a measly 20%?

Medication is different for everyone- and thats a risk that should be carefully measured by the one who has to injest or inject it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment