Mandatory flu shots????

Nurses COVID

Published

It didn't dawn on me until just right now, don't ask me why, that my choice of NOT getting a flu shot will NOT get me into a nursing program. The director at my school of choice basically stated "it is a requirement that you receive one, however you can sign a declaration that you do not wish to receive one." Then I asked, "would that inhibit my chances of getting into the program?" She replied, "well, the facilities in which we work with it is required due to you working with elderly clients; If you do not wish to get the flu shot perhaps you should look into another career."

*****?? (excuse the language) I have worked in nursing homes, health centers, private duty, home health agencies, visiting nurses association, hospice AND THEY NEVER REQUIRED me to ever receive or even ASKED if I have obtained a flu shot!!! (mid 90's)

So, anyone please tell me my dream of becoming a nurse is already dead because I REFUSE to get a flu shot???!!! seriously??? I am so upset right now!!!

Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

Homework is good. Informed decisions are good. But all that is far from the point.

OP either gets the shot, or she finds another career. Her reasons are her own and could be valid, but they don't change her options.

I don't think that is far from the point at all.

Specializes in corrections.

WOW!

No wonder why nursing is in such a deplorable condition.

No critical thinking whatsoever.

I would hate to have any "flu-shot taker" as my nurse, because they might give me some medication that might kill me just because "the doctor told me to".

Hey, if you want to shoot yourself with shots and you like it, go for it!

But not everybody wants that, and it should NEVER be mandatory. We as a group need to stand up for our human rights. We have the right to be safe in our person, that is a constitutional right. Flu shots are not 100% safe. Not a risk I am willing to take. Pleople should not have to choose between their job/school and safety/giving up their human rights.

As for myself, the second I am "mandated" to take a shot, I will refuse, and if I lose my job, I will sue and get my job back. Why? Because the constitution protects me.

The true solution for the flu problems is easy. Let people that are sick, stay home until they feel better, without penalizing them.

As for the OP, if you choose not to pursue nursing: GOOD FOR YOU!

Nothing but backstabbing lemmings would surround you anyway.

Specializes in corrections.
The ability of a vaccination to produce immunity is always lower in certain sub-groups, including the elderly, this is nothing new. But if you believe this is an argument for avoiding vaccinations, rather than one of the main reasons why vaccinations in the general public are encouraged, then you have a misunderstanding of the theory behind immunizations.

The purpose of vaccinations is not so much to keep the vaccine recipient from becoming ill, it's more to protect those who are at much higher risk due to the illness. The catch 22 of immunizations is that you need a strong, competent immune system for a vaccination to work, yet those with weakened immune systems who are less likely to be protected by a vaccination are the same people for whom the illness targeted by the vaccine poses the greatest risk. When you get vaccinated, it's much less to protect you than it is to protect those high risk people. Since vaccines aren't all that effective in those with weakened immune systems (due to old age, disease processes, etc) they depend on everyone else to limit the spread of these diseases through vaccinations.

I think people often think that refusing a vaccine is a matter of autonomy, I'd argue it more a matter of selfishness.

I think it is selfish to expect the healthy individuals to be poisoned with heavy metals, for the sake of the immunocompromised.

As for myself the second I am "mandated" to take a shot, I will refuse, and if I lose my job, I will sue and get my job back. Why? Because the constitution protects me. [/quote']

Good luck with that one! Unless you've got your sights set on politics in hopes of one day amending the Constitution, no such protection exists.

Specializes in SICU/CVICU.
WOW!.As for myself the second I am "mandated" to take a shot, I will refuse, and if I lose my job, I will sue and get my job back. Why? Because the constitution protects me. /QUOTE']

What part of the constitution is this?

WOW!

No wonder why nursing is in such a deplorable condition.

No critical thinking whatsoever.

I would hate to have any "flu-shot taker" as my nurse, because they might give me some medication that might kill me just because "the doctor told me to".

Hey, if you want to shoot yourself with shots and you like it, go for it!

But not everybody wants that, and it should NEVER be mandatory. We as a group need to stand up for our human rights. We have the right to be safe in our person, that is a constitutional right. Flu shots are not 100% safe. Not a risk I am willing to take. Pleople should not have to choose between their job/school and safety/giving up their human rights.

As for myself, the second I am "mandated" to take a shot, I will refuse, and if I lose my job, I will sue and get my job back. Why? Because the constitution protects me.

The true solution for the flu problems is easy. Let people that are sick, stay home until they feel better, without penalizing them.

As for the OP, if you choose not to pursue nursing: GOOD FOR YOU!

Nothing but backstabbing lemmings would surround you anyway.

There are infants too young to receive flu shots that die from the flu. There are homebound elderly people that die from the flu. As a nurse, I can critically think that I could be the carrier of the flu. And could be exposed more than the average person.

I am not sure of how many nurses have died from being vaccinated.

I have said before that I do not relish the thought of someone telling me what I can and can not do to my body. At the expense of my job. Until I actually GOT the flu, and it was the worst thing I have ever gotten. THEN I thought I was gonna die. For real. Needless to say, I haven't missed a flu shot since. Still don't like it, but hate the flu more. And the thought I could carry it to someone who either can not be, nor have the means to be vaccinated.

It just takes once of watching a 1 month old infant be intubated, the parents devastated, and that was about it for me....or the elderly person who's family loves to visit, and 2 weeks later Gram's on her last leg and suffering from...yup....the flu. What a nasty death.

It is highly inappropriate to call anyone a backstabbing lemming. Honestly, over a mandate that may be politically charged, but never the less when taking emotion out of the picture, something that protects those a nurse is to take care of.

I think it is selfish to expect the healthy individuals to be poisoned with heavy metals, for the sake of the immunocompromised.
The single dose flu vaccines and the live virus nasal vaccine do not have "heavy metals" in them.
Good day:

Thank you for the encouragement and for sharing.

For me, unless a given medical treatment works 100% of the time causing no damage to the human being who would take the treatment, the treatment should be a choice -- freedom / liberty. Things we should never take for granted.

If a treatment is 9% one year, who knows another year, never 100% effective and can harm you on top of it, to me, it is the equivalent of playing Russian roulette.

My frustration is for those judgmental people who state that if you don't get the "never works consistently for everyone, never at 100% success, may be extremely harmful to your body" flu shot that you cannot be a nurse or otherwise work in the medical profession.

Thank you.

I know this is an old thread, but bears asking....Did your parent immunize you as a child?

I just find it interesting that those who are so against vaccines and all of the perceived dangers are fully vaccinated adults.

Flu shots now come preservative free, BTW...

The true solution for the flu problems is easy. Let people that are sick, stay home until they feel better, without penalizing them.

What a great idea!! You're right, that's so easy! Except for the part where healthy adults are contagious and shed virus for a few days before they notice any symptoms and start feeling sick. (What was that again about critical thinking? ...)

However, what do I know? I'm a backstabbing lemming.

elk, have you read any of Hope-Simpson? interesting Brit, on NIH.

Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.
WOW!

No wonder why nursing is in such a deplorable condition.

No critical thinking whatsoever.

I would hate to have any "flu-shot taker" as my nurse, because they might give me some medication that might kill me just because "the doctor told me to".

Hey, if you want to shoot yourself with shots and you like it, go for it!

But not everybody wants that, and it should NEVER be mandatory. We as a group need to stand up for our human rights. We have the right to be safe in our person, that is a constitutional right. Flu shots are not 100% safe. Not a risk I am willing to take. Pleople should not have to choose between their job/school and safety/giving up their human rights.

As for myself, the second I am "mandated" to take a shot, I will refuse, and if I lose my job, I will sue and get my job back. Why? Because the constitution protects me.

The true solution for the flu problems is easy. Let people that are sick, stay home until they feel better, without penalizing them.

As for the OP, if you choose not to pursue nursing: GOOD FOR YOU!

Nothing but backstabbing lemmings would surround you anyway.

You sounds like a pretty bitter person.

(Nursing isn't just a profession chocked full of "backstabbing lemmings")

Anywhoo...

Does your hospital actually MANDATE this?

They don't offer a waiver you have to sign upon refusal?

My hospital does the latter and then mandates that you simply wear a mask for the duration of flu season.

In the end, it is about the safety of the patients, imho.

You sounds like a pretty bitter person.

(Nursing isn't just a profession chocked full of "backstabbing lemmings")

Anywhoo...

Does your hospital actually MANDATE this?

They don't offer a waiver you have to sign upon refusal?

My hospital does the latter and then mandates that you simply wear a mask for the duration of flu season.

In the end, it is about the safety of the patients, imho.

The hospital I worked at as a PCT (CNA) while I was in nursing school, initially allowed employees to wear masks if they chose not to get the flu vaccine. Then the last year I worked there, the hospital made vaccination a requirement. A friend/coworker/classmate of mine was, after years of dedication and loyalty, fired because she did not get vaccinated by the deadline date the hospital had set. So, yes, there are hospitals that absolutely mandate it. I personally think almost everyone should get vaccinated. However, that is only my opinion. I don't believe a facility should have the right to mandate that those who wish to opt out, inject/inhale any substance in his/her body that they don't want to.

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