NY Nurses to Rally Against Mandatory H1N1 Vaccinations

SilenceDogood · Sep 27, 2009

ME doing the fear mongering? I'm just stating the facts, and if the facts don't make you scared, you have both some professional and personal issues to deal with.

People are being mandated to take something that was rushed through clinical "trials" into their body at the risk of losing their livelihood. They will be guinea pigs at the direction of the government.

If that STILL doesn't send off red lights in you brain, ask yourself this: Would you force a patient to take a drug that has gone through rushed clinical trials and threaten to toss him out on the street if he doesn't do so?

Girl Scout · Sep 29, 2009

I just knew this was going to happen. I just knew that the powers that be were going to start forcing HCW's to get vaccinated or get fired. Of course, there are many that will get vaccinated, but some that cannot or will not. This is probably only the opening salvo, and I'm sure there will be many other organizations around the world following suit. I'll be interested to see the first round of litigations that pop up over this once the dust settles.

As for me, in this awful economy, if I can snag a full-time job, and I'm mandated to get the vaccination, I guess I will either have to do it, or try and find another job outside of healthcare, if I decide that I don't want the vaccination at all. And I'm not sure that I want a vaccine that was poorly tested and rushed to market. I'm just actually getting over swine flu right now; it had me for 2 weeks and I still have a pretty good case of bronchitis and dyspnea as a souvenir. So now I've built up an immunity to this thing, the vaccine isn't of much use to me, but it's still a decision I guess I'll be faced with at some point. What I will be most interested in seeing is if Pandemic-H1N1-09 vaccinations become mandatory for the duration, as pandemics do not simply arrive and then burn out, opting instead to hang around for a year or two to wreak maximum havoc. Out of curiosity, if "have you been vaccinated..." becomes a question in an interview, what happens then?

RuRnurse? · Sep 29, 2009

I think what happens is that the healthcare system comes close to collapse. I don't think the mandate will convince those who are strongly opposed to this vaccine to roll up their sleeves. Those who just 'kinda, sorta' don't want it may, but there are a sizeable number who came to their decisions after doing research and are positively against being used as a guinea pig.

It's hard enough to keep this field staffed as it is...what else but chaos can happen if say, 20%, of the HCW's are fired or laid off?

psychonaut · Sep 30, 2009

...any attempt to do a large-scale forcible vaccination program will result in such chaos and unrest, the powers that be will wish they had only the flu to deal with.

... Personally, I believe anarchy will break out...

Luckily, if such sad times come to pass, there will be legions of nurses across the country, quieting fears and educating the public, and just generally behaving in our grand tradition of public health. With our scientific, rational education in the nature, treatment, and prevention of infectious disease, we will be able to bypass the vast majority of such opposition, diffusing conflict as we use our time-tested patient education skills to convince more and more citizens just how important and effective is vaccination against infectious disease.

While unpleasant, it is times like these that allow nurses to so clearly answer that question, "Hey, is nursing a profession, or just another skilled trade?" The question will be answered in many ways, not the least of which will be lining up first for the new vaccine (in those cases where those ahead of us may need a demonstration of faith in science, research, and rationality).

...right?

ozoneranger · Sep 30, 2009

Luckily, if such sad times come to pass, there will be legions of nurses across the country, quieting fears and educating the public, and just generally behaving in our grand tradition of public health. With our scientific, rational education in the nature, treatment, and prevention of infectious disease, we will be able to bypass the vast majority of such opposition, diffusing conflict as we use our time-tested patient education skills to convince more and more citizens just how important and effective is vaccination against infectious disease.
While unpleasant, it is times like these that allow nurses to so clearly answer that question, "Hey, is nursing a profession, or just another skilled trade?" The question will be answered in many ways, not the least of which will be lining up first for the new vaccine (in those cases where those ahead of us may need a demonstration of faith in science, research, and rationality).
...right?

You go right ahead.

indigo girl · Sep 30, 2009

I wonder if you had the positive results of a swine flu test, could you challenge having to get the swine flu vax?

Many, many people have been immunized by the virus, itself. If you could prove immunity, then there would be no point in vaccination at least for this year.

Just thinking...

Girl Scout · Sep 30, 2009

I wonder if you had the positive results of a swine flu test, could you challenge having to get the swine flu vax?
Many, many people have been immunized by the virus, itself. If you could prove immunity, then there would be no point in vaccination at least for this year.
Just thinking...

My doctor didn't test me. I believe at that point she was only ordering tests for youths, pregnant women, and other at-risk groups. However, she took one look at me and said "honey you got the H1N1 and pretty much everything else."

I don't know if it would be enough to produce a record from her if she diagnosed me with respiratory distress, which is what I initially presented with, and not H1N1. But I would sure as heck see if it was possible, since now I don't need a vacc. It would be a waste to give me one with such limited supply coming.

indigo girl · Sep 30, 2009

If you could prove that you have antibodies...

dcampbell · Oct 1, 2009

What is the test that you could request be ordered to prove whether or not you have had the H1N1 virus? Is this test accurate and readily available? Would "positive" results be considered under the NYS law as a valid reason to not have to receive the H1N1 vaccine? Does the NYS law require only the seasonal flu vax or the H1N1 vax or both?

indigo girl · Oct 1, 2009

dcampbell, I was just speculating about the antibodies. You probably cannot get this test done even if you think that you had the flu.

We know that most people are never going to be tested. The labs are so backed up with tests for people that are sick enough to actually need testing that requesting a test to avoid vaccination is not going to be a priority.

I expect that the caseload of really sick kids will seriously climb in the next few weeks until we are able to begin vaccinating them, and they develop antibodies. The development of protective antibodies to protect them will take time.

I am truly heart sick from reading about kids dying from swine flu, and watching their parents crying over their children.

Even though I am not a fan of mandating vaccinations, when I see an interview like this link below, there is a real disconnect for me between the reality of what is going on in this world, and the nurses that do not want to be vaccinated against this virus.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5352442n&tag=api

dannyc12 · Oct 1, 2009

ME doing the fear mongering? I'm just stating the facts, and if the facts don't make you scared, you have both some professional and personal issues to deal with.

Look, accusing me of having "professional and personal issues" simply because I am not "scared" is practically the definition of fear mongering.

The facts don't make me "scared" because there is simply nothing to be afraid of.

This has been stated over and over again: There is a mountain of evidence testifying to the efficacy of vaccine technology in general and flu vaccinations in specific - including trials of this very vaccine. No one reinvented the wheel here and you are free to review the published journals and point out where they are wrong. Those are the "facts."

You need to provide some rational evidence for your "fright" and hysteria. This is not a government or corporate conspiracy no matter how hard you want to make one.

If you are an honest person, you will return here and post an apology when the H1N1 vaccine performs exactly like the other flu vaccines.

SilenceDogood · Oct 1, 2009

I've said little to question the safety of the vaccine. I have stated trials were rushed. YOU are the one yapping about safety. Hmm.

This is what I have said, throughout this thread and others:

People are being mandated to take something that was rushed through clinical "trials" into their body at the risk of losing their livelihood. They will be guinea pigs at the direction of the government.

I'm sorry, but to me, that's frightening, when you consider the implications.

Quite frankly, I hope - and believe there's a pretty good chance - the H1N1 vaccine will be harmless for the majority who take it.

However, knowing clinical trials were rushed, and knowing there is definitely a risk of adverse reaction, it's personally not for me. On the other hand, I (and most others who object) would most likely be more than happy to take precautions other than vaccines (mask, etc.) to control the spread.

My objection is to what basically amounts, really, to a forced vaccination. Do it or lose it. Today it's a swine flu vaccine. Tomorrow it's...?

This is the modus operandi of the incrementalist.

Further, will proof of vaccination be required for everyone who enters a health care facility?

And most importantly, you haven't answered the definitive question of the post to which you replied:

Would you force a patient to take a drug that has gone through rushed clinical trials and threaten to toss him out on the street if he doesn't do so?