[crissrn27]

Hi all, thought I'd see what you guys thought of this. I posted here and the general nursing board, since I know we see this alot with newborn care. The hospital I am currently at is starting a plan to mandate the flu vaccine for all direct-care staff, and there will be some type of disipline if the staff member who doesn't get the vaccine has the flu and misses work. Can they really do this??? I get the vaccine every year but some people don't and I can certainly see why they might not want to. I just can't believe that they can really force someone to put something in their bodies or retaliate it they don't. This would be like us telling our new parents that the have to give their kids hep b, or circ them, etc, IMO. What do you guys think? BTW, it will not be like hep b, where we can sign a wavier if we don't want it.

[Ginger35]

You can't take it if you have an allergy to eggs.

Nonetheless, it appears to me that they are taking away your right as an employee health type of patient to refuse treatment.

[Batman24]

I'm allergic to eggs so I would never be able to get one. My mother is a nurse and she has never gotten one nor have my brothers or I. We are lucky and don't get the flu. I wouldn't take it and I don't see how they can enforce this legally.

[KellNY]

I posted in your other thread.

It would be highly discriminatory for them to punish a staff member who became sick with the flu after not getting the vax. 1st of all, they'd have to PROVE it was actually the flu and not food poisoning, bacterial infection, viral infection NOS, etc. 2nd of all-what about the people who get the fax and still get the flu? Do they get punished, or do they win a prize for getting jabbed with chemicals to no avail?

I would not submit to getting a flu shot. If they were that anal about it, I'd wear masks while caring for the babies or whoever had been deemed the 'at risk' population. Or, like I said in the other thread-look for a new job.

[Jolie]

I agree that vaccination vs. non-vaccination is a personal choice, and no employee of a private (non-military) facility should be forced to obtain one. However, in a serious outbreak, I believe it would be within the employer's rights to limit the patient care areas where a non-vaccinated employee could work, or to direct a non-vaccinated employee NOT to report to work until the outbreak passes.

As far as penalizing non-vaccinated employees who become ill, I'm sure a labor attorney would have a field day with this! First of all, when calling out sick, it is not necessary to inform your employer as to what your illness is, and requiring such information from a patient's physician would be a HIPAA violation. All that is necessary is a statement from one's healthcare provider (at the conclusion of an illness) that the employee is fit to return to work.

[crissrn27]

Thanks guys, these are my feelings too. The NM mentioned it in such an offhanded manner, like it was something routine, I was shocked. She said I think we will get this (passed though the hospital p/p board) and I said something to the effect of, I wouldn't think so, and she just looked at me and went on to some other subject. Maybe they think no one in our hospital is smart enough to have an antivaccine opinon, lol. We really don't get that many parents who don't want vaccines.

[indigo girl]

I would hope that they would reconsider before going thru with this.

I think that they will be legally challenged and rightfully so.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I would legally challenge this.

[crissrn27]

I actually get the flu vaccine, b/c it hasn't (so far) affected me. I do know several folks that get deathly ill from these vaccines.......I'm sorry, its too much to believe that all these guys got sick at the same time, with the same s/s, a week after having the flu vax. Just don't think this is going to fly, wanted to make sure I was not just over reacting to this. BTW, I know some of you have read some of my other post, we do things, ummm, different (and not usually in a good way) alot at my hospital. Its great to talk with you and see (for the most part) how things really should be done.

[dawngloves]

I'll bet this has already been through the legal department and they have their butts covered. Even if an employee challenged it, they probably think that the amount of money it would cost them in sick time and/or extended pt admissions from one sick employee infecting others, would be cheaper.
The needs of the many outweight the needs of the one.
BTW, you can still get a flu vaccine if you have an egg allergy.