Any Nurses That Didn't Get COVID Vacc/Booster for Complio?

toomuchbaloney · Feb 18

Hi, welcome to AN.

It's rarely a good idea to put your "entire nursing degree" on the line for a feeling or a deceit.

JKL33 · Feb 18

Welcome. This isn't a Complio thing but rather is institution-based. Your first step is to contact your educational institution and see if they are considering exceptions to the Covid vaccine requirement. If they are, they will tell you what kind of situations qualify as far as they are concerned and you could then supply any documentation that is required in order for the exception to be granted. If they aren't considering exceptions for this--or if they are but you don't meet the terms to be granted an exception--there aren't tips to get around it and your choices would be to find an institution with different terms or reconsider your concerns.

ponderingDNP · Feb 19

I've never applied for any exemptions. But I do believe your documentation will either come from a physician/provider for medical exemptions, or a member of the clergy for religious exemptions.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 19

To be fair, there are truly only one or two religions that have specific exemptions against vaccination. As a school nurse of 30 years, I have seen this term thrown around very loosely in my experience. I believe it is the seventh-day Adventists and I can't remember the other one. If you look at all of the organized religions, vaccine exemption is not an issue. People claim "religious exemption all the time", but I'm not always convinced that it is just not a cover for a philosophical exemption. I don't know what the hospital will ask for verification of and how closely they will scrutinize the documents.

JohnHood, BSN · Feb 19

Just take the vaccine. It's not about you. It's about protecting your patients, many of whom are immunocompromised and your coworkers.

chare · Feb 20

NutmeggeRN said:

To be fair, there are truly only one or two religions that have specific exemptions against vaccination. As a school nurse of 30 years, I have seen this term thrown around very loosely in my experience. ...

Be that as it may, those claiming religious exemption as the basis for refusing to take the vaccine do so because it works.

Navy Stops COVID-19 Vaccine Separations for 4,095 Sailors Who Requested Religious Exemptions

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 20

chare said:

Be that as it may, those claiming religious exemption as the basis for refusing to take the vaccine do so because it works.

Navy Stops COVID-19 Vaccine Separations for 4,095 Sailors Who Requested Religious Exemptions

Yup. People lie to achieve their need. Or, in my experience, to pacify a new spouse who does not believe in vaccinations. I have had plenty of kids who all their primary vaccines with no noted issue. Then there is a new adult in the home, and all of a sudden their beliefs change to match that of the new spouse.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 21

There's another thing to consider about being exempted. It's quite possible for your school to grant an exemption, however it is ultimately up to the various clinical sites you will train at to decide if they will accept you or not. Every healthcare facility has its own rules and you have to abide by whatever rules they set forth; the facilities might not necessarily accept what your school allows. There also may be some facilities that are more lax than others and will take you.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Feb 22

I think that is a pretty uphill battle. I do know of one nurse that got a religious exemption, but had to start over at a new job for a new employer. She did lose her original job that she had worked at for over 25 years though! The Supreme Court ruled healthcare workers must be vaccinated for covid so that is where the pressure is coming from. It started with a rule from President Biden that if staff weren't vaccinated hospitals would lose medicare/medicaid funding and then when some challenged the law, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of mandatory vaccinations.

While there is some controversy this is where it remains, so I would suggest you consider an alternative career outside healthcare if you don't want to be vaccinated. Originally President Biden urged mandatory vaccines for all workers, but the Supreme Court ruled against this. For awhile it was mandatory for military workers, but I believe Congress ruled against that. It remains mandatory though for healthcare workers. I wish you the best!

Heatherpm · Feb 28

Thank you for asking, I am wondering the same exact questions and are in the same boat as you. I support you!

toomuchbaloney · Feb 28

Heatherpm said:

Thank you for asking, I am wondering the same exact questions and are in the same boat as you. I support you!

Do you wonder why you have the same exact questions or doubts about vaccines which are widely considered safe and effective by health professionals and scientists (according to data and observable effect)?