Marshfield Clinic mandates flu shots for employees

sharpeimom · Aug 31, 2009

the h1n1 and "regular" flu shots pose a dilemma for me this year because i am still recovering from a severe immune system reaction almost one month ago and have been told -- in no uncertain terms -- that i must not and may not have either shot this year, or perhaps, ever again. my knees were both damaged in an incident with a 400+ pound psych patient several years ago that was compounded by a skiing accident, and i have received synvisc injections in both knees. i have had four complete series, over a five year period with absolutely no adverse reaction whatsoever. in july, i began another series of injections. at the end of the final injection, (on tuesday) i was fine and moving well. i woke up saturday morning and could not move my legs and could barely move my arms or wiggle my fingers. one scary l-o-n-g week later, we were told it was a reaction to either the synvisc or the egg it grew in. we already knew that much! aarrgggghhh! so far, i've seen my neurologist, my orthopedist, an immunologist, and my internist... no agreement on which caused it. only that it was one of them. gradually, it went away over a 10 day period, except for some extra fluid around my knees, which will gradually go away. everyone i saw said i have a good immune system or the reaction would have been much worse or might have even killed me. sooo, would i get a mandated shot? xxxx, no!

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 31, 2009

My hospital is also mandating both types of influenza vaccines (assuming the H1N1 becomes available in sufficient quantities). If people have a strong and documented reason for not getting it (e.g. allergy), then they can wear masks instead -- but their stated allergy, etc. must be properly documented and not just be something they made up to avoid the shot. The same mandate goes for students of all types.

The reasoning is that it's been OK for years to mandate MMR's, TB tests, varicella immunity, etc. -- and the influenza immunity is no different. If a person wants to exercise their freedom of choice not to get the vaccine, the hospital will excericise its freedom to not allow that person to work here. The hospital's obligation is to provide a safe environment for the patients and for all staff. If people are not willing to join that effort to provide a safe envrionment, then the hospital doesn't want them working here.

And yes, the staff can get their vaccine from the hospital for free.

Wise Woman RN · Aug 31, 2009

Patients can refuse any treatment, it's their right... Can we mandate that everyone who comes to the hospital get the H1N1 vaccine prior to admission?? If people want the vaccine, fine... give it to them... but if not, well, is it not a violation of a patient's or a citizen's rights to force it?? I think so...

KellyCCRN · Aug 31, 2009

I posted on another thread last week that the hospital I work at is mandating the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine for all employees that have direct patient care. They have a loophole to cover them though by saying if we refuse to get the vaccine we MUST wear a mask the ENTIRE 12 hour shift while we are in the hospital...they dont mean just during patient care....they mean the ENTIRE shift. I guess that is their way of covering themselves if someone does become severely ill from the vaccine they can say we did have the choice to wear a mask. The mask requirement lasts from Oct 1st to March 31st.
I have a feeling before its all said and done that a lot of health care facilities will make this a requirement.

You must work for an HCA facility:wink2: .....I personally usually do not get the flu shot but will be this year, no way I'm wearing a mask for 6 months or more!

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2009

The mandate is for the flu shot(seasonal) not the H1N1---yet.

otessa

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2009

Why not give the choice of either you receive the shot or if you choose not to, or have an allergy or medical condition, then you will be required to wear a mask.
I don't care for the idea of these shots being mandated, but we need to protect ourselves and those we care for.....

That IS the alternative. Those that do not get the seasonal flu vaccine will have to wear a mask starting in Nov.

CRNA2007 · Sep 1, 2009

Maybe they are just preparing you for Obama care. Because the government can mandate it when they control your healthcare. As a vet about mandatory flu shots.

dishes, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2009

autoleigh I agree none of us wants to expose our families to H1N1 but having the H1N1 shot will not prevent you from carrying it to your family.

dishes

SunnyAndrsn · Sep 1, 2009

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20090830/WDH0101/908300444/1981
Read the above link and tell me what you think of this. Would you quit your job if your place of employment made you do this?

I have several jobs, one is working with a critically ill child. Another is local med-surg, and also a LTC/TCU. I have a diabetic spouse. For all of these reasons, I will be getting the available vaccines. I also am from WI, and yeah, we've had a lot of cases of H1N1.

I could not stand the thought of bringing something home to my husband, or to the little boy I help take care of.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2009

I have several jobs, one is working with a critically ill child. Another is local med-surg, and also a LTC/TCU. I have a diabetic spouse. For all of these reasons, I will be getting the available vaccines. I also am from WI, and yeah, we've had a lot of cases of H1N1.
I could not stand the thought of bringing something home to my husband, or to the little boy I help take care of.

What people forget is that other states stopped testing AND reporting H1N1 long before WI-----that may be why WI had higher numbers even though it might have been misleading.....

otessa