Flu Shots

Our hospital provides them free but only if you want one. I got mine Friday.

I got mine today.I got it free because I am Diabetic not because I am a nurse.Last year it would have cost me £12 because the company would not pay for it ,needless to say I did not get it last year.

It is not mandatory at my hospital, but we do have to sign a form that states we were offered the shot, but refused.

Our hospital also provides them free.

sounds like crap to me that you have to have it or not work. i never used to get it at work, i had it once in 6 yrs. and i know there was no correlation, but i did get sick that one time only! and it was the worst i had ever been.

I know the hospital i am doing clinicals at is going to pressure us, because they look better the more ppl that get them. dont know what i am going to do yet.

-H-

I thought that only the military could REQUIRE vaccinations. I think the flu vac is a good idea, but I don't think that I'd be letting my employer make my health decisions for me.

I get the shot every year and i never had any problems with it. My hospital offers them and they are our choice if we want one. I don't think it should be manditory but it's wise if you work on an acute floor.

At the assisted living center where I work they are offered to employees but not mandatory. I got very sick when I had a flu shot many years ago and would not do it again. I don't think it is right for a job to force people to get flu shots. I don't think it is legal for them to force staff to have flu shots.

i just got mine -- they're offered free to employees and strongly encouraged but not required. i think they help, and with the potential for bird flu, i have no problem with getting mine!

Wow, sounds illegal. Even childhood immunizations you can get out of by doing a waiver, usually either religious, medical, or personal beliefs. We are "highly encouraged" and have to sign a paper saying we refuse it. There also is talk that if we refuse ours we will have to wear a mask at work. I dont know who you would contact but your facility sounds like they are crossing the line and cant force it on you?

Jessica

Thanks for the replies

They won't hold me down and inject me but say I won't be allowed to work if I don't agreee to the flu shot.

Now I just have to decide how far I am willing to push the issue.

As long as the potent neurotoxin thimerisol is present in the influenza vaccine, I will refuse this immunization year after year after year (and I work in direct patient care). There are so many contaminants in our environment to which we are exposed daily on an inadvertant basis, why subject oneself to such a potent toxin willingly? I liken this to taking vitamins with food coloring or artificial sweetener additives - an oxymoron.

http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimfaq.htm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/14/mercury-contamination-is-destroying-public-health-and-spawning-an-autism-epidemic.aspx

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Children-With-Autism-Get-Their-Day-in-Court-20994.aspx

Can I ask you guys a few questions. Does your employer or did your program require you get the Hepatitis B series? The graduate program I was in did. Or I couldn't do any of the clinical experiences required by the program. And the hospitals in the area also required the series before you could engage in clinical practice in their facility. It seems like every year we get the 'no employer is going to force me to get a flu shot' or ;it has an additive in it that is harmful.'

You people are exposed to sick people every day. And some of them may have the flu virus circulating in them. Or do you think that because you are a health care provider you are immune? And do you think that because you are an health care provider, you don't have the flu virus circulating in your system, exposing your patients to your own little flu virus. I have been getting the flu vaccine since 1976, when NYSDH required that all of its employees get the famous swine flu shot. It didn't make me sick and unfortunately it didn't protect me from the flu that year. The CDC had called it wrong.

I have an idea, if you refuse the flu shot and you get the flu, stay home. But you employer doesn't have to pay you for your sick days because you refused the shot. And since any patient exposed to you, who gets the flu, they should have the right to force you to pay for their additional time in the hospital. And if the patient dies, the family has the right to sue you. Sounds a bit outrageous, doesn't it? Just as refusing a vaccination that may protect you, your family, your patients, your co-workers does.

Woody:balloons: