How do you feel about mandatory influenza vaccines?

Nurses COVID

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I am totally against the influenza vaccine. I know many of my close relatives and friends, as well as other nurses, who have received the vaccine and it did more harm than good to every one of them. Five of these people in particular were hospitalized after and a few of them were sick for months. I have never received the vaccine and I personally think it is wrong for an employer to force you to get it. I have done some research on it and some hospitals are going as far as terminating people who refuse the vaccine. I am a new graduate (December 2012) still unemployed and actively looking for RN jobs and many of them state that they require the influenza vaccine for all employees. I was wondering if your particular hospital has a waiver or any exemptions to the mandatory vaccine?

just list'em, I have a med school within miles, I can go check them out. But, really how can there be any when they aren't allowed?

I found a whole bunch of studies in scholarly journals/websites but you have to pay to see them.

Then I found this so thought I'd add it here.

Flu Deaths Among Young, Healthy and Unvaccinated | Shot of Prevention

Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, Subacute, Homecare, LTC.

CarrieRN,

I wasn't referring to the shot giving you the flu... hence the disclaimer.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
This is not a post about the flu shot causing the flu, but I am wondering where you would report to if you ended up getting the flu that season when you received a shot?

Your physician would report it. And if you didn't go to a physician (PA or NP) and get a test to confirm that it was actually influenza ... then you have no way of knowing it was influenza. Your illness could have been caused by any one of the many respiratory virus out there.

The flu shots helps your body fight the common strains of influenza, but it does not provide protection agains other types of infection.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Generally, I'm not in favor of "mandating" ANYTHING that is invasive. That said, I strongly encourage healthcare workers and other friends and family to get their flu shots each year, and yes, I get one myself. It's not optional for me since I'm over 50 and have diabetes and asthma.

I've only gotten the flu ONCE since 1992, which is the last time I went without a flu shot. I spent that entire fall and winter bouncing in and out of the hospital due to the flu and its subsequent bouts with pneumonia (once) and status asthmaticus (three times). I'd rather get the shot and feel a little 'fluey' for a day or so than go through something like that again.....to say nothing of the guilt I would feel if someone in my care were to die from the flu I brought in to them. :no:

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
Your physician would report it. And if you didn't go to a physician (PA or NP) and get a test to confirm that it was actually influenza ... then you have no way of knowing it was influenza. Your illness could have been caused by any one of the many respiratory virus out there.

The flu shots helps your body fight the common strains of influenza, but it does not provide protection agains other types of infection.

Yes, all 3 years I got the flu to go with my flu shot, it was legitimately diagnosed by an MD. I don't think the flu shot causes the flu, but I also don't think it offers near the protection they claim it does.

The people preaching that everyone should get the vaccine, have any of you ever looked into what some of these "vaccines" contain? some vaccines contain mercury. Is it any wonder people don't want something like that in their bodies? I'm 22 and I've never had the flu jag and i've never had the flu (i nursed my bf for a week who had swine flu and never contracted it) i certainly don't want to pollute my body with something that will have very little benefit to me
The single dose vial does not contain any preservatives.

I am also against mandatory vaccination. I am not against vaccine. If others want to have them, then it's their choice. Making it mandatory is what bothers me. We nurses who are against this should band together to fight for our jobs. I found this new group on Facebook named NAMV "Nurses Against Mandatory Vaccinations". And they seem to be very helpful. Terminating people who can't get the vaccine without offering alternative solution is illegal. We need to get together as a group and fight back.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
I am also against mandatory vaccination. I am not against vaccine. If others want to have them, then it's their choice. Making it mandatory is what bothers me. We nurses who are against this should band together to fight for our jobs. I found this new group on Facebook named NAMV "Nurses Against Mandatory Vaccinations". And they seem to be very helpful. Terminating people who can't get the vaccine without offering alternative solution is illegal. We need to get together as a group and fight back.

Mandatory vaccines are obviously not illegal or it would have already been defeated in court several times over.

Furthermore, nurses who choose not to get vaccinated are a proven health menace and shouldn't be providing care to patients whom are needing our protection instead of unproven ideologies.

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