"Mandatory Flu Shots Hit Resistance"

Citizens in this country should be able to CHOOSE if they want any additive put in their body or not, not mandated! This is the United States of America not a dictatorship. Last I knew health care workers were citizens and have the same rights as other people who live in this country.

I was mandated to get the flu shot last year though Governor's order. It was technically optional, but if we opted out we would not be allowed to provide any patient care, which would essentially eliminate the possibility of graduation. That doesn't sound so optional to me... I did it, but didn't like it. It is possible to have a mandate to get a flu shot in the US. If you want to keep your job, you gotta get the shot.

I am allergic to the flu vaccine. I took one last year for the first time, first year as a nurse during flu season, and reacted with hives all over my body. I am not allergic to eggs, but am certain that the flu vaccine is what I reacted to as it was the only thing out of the ordinary at that time. Now, as of Oct 15 I have to either get the flu vaccine or wear a mask as punishment for 3 months. The CDC has recommended wearing N-95 if you are caring for a known or suspected flu pt., but not otherwise. I resent the fact that I am being punished with non-evidence based practice due to an allergy. I also will refuse to tell pts. why I am wearing a mask as my allergies are none of their business. What will happen when they refuse to have me as a nurse because they believe I am ill? My manager certainly will not be allowed to tell them why because HIPPA applies to me as well. The facillity that i work for is madateing that we wear the mask all shift, not just when in direct contact with pts. We can only take it off to eat. don't get me started on the contradiction there. I can infect all my coworkers, but only when I am eating? They will not make us change masks from pt. to pt. either. which in my opinion makes the mask more than useless. This is not about pt. safety. This about punishing employees who are not willing to do what the facillity tells them to. What is next?

So, if we can be mandated to get a flu shot (seasonal or H1N1) and punished by having to wear PPE all flu season or quit our job, why can't we mandate that visitor's also wear PPE? Seriously, even with contact isolation, visitor's aren't forced to wear PPE or even wash their hands! Seems to me they're endangering us, and administration doesn't back us up when we try to enforce precautions. The whole arguement of "protect the community" for making us get the shot is hypocritical in my eyes. How about making visitor's wear masks and wash their hands? Especially before going into the cafeteria or elevators! Oh, I know why...wouldn't want the Press Ganey scores to drop!

Here is a question for everyone. Have you ever had a child die of the flu or known or cared for a child with the flu who has died...it is heart retching to say the least. I have! I rather risk the side effect than have another child die from the flu and Im not talking about kids that are high risk with respitory or any other complication that can suppress the immune system. I'm talking about the healthy child that one day is fine and a few days are dead from the flu. It happens and it happens way to much.
I'm very passionate about this because I never want to go through the loss of loosing a health child again because they got the flu.
Tricia RN

Facilities I've worked at have policies for visitor requirements for MRSA, TB, and C.diff. And visitors don't complain.
But the point of the flu vaccinations is not just for your personal health. It is for the good of your patients. I'm in the profession to help people get better, not expose them to new problems. Vaccines should never be mandatory. This is America! But if you are willing to make your patients worse, why are you a nurse in the first place?