Flu Vac, should it be mandatory

[hagler2011]

I work for a facility that is thinking about making the Flu vaccine mandatory in order to work. I personally do not like this idea. I have never gotten the Flu, Pneumonia, or H1N1 for myself or my family. I think that this kind of act is forceful against my free will. It should be my decision not anyone elses. Any thoughts?

[rn/writer, RN]

I'd like to see the higher-ups set the example and be among the first to get the vaccine, whether they're technically exempt from the requirement or not.

Also, for people who trot out the old canard, "but I thought this was Americaaaa, where they can't make you do anything!" Seriously? Is is okay for you to drive without vision correction if your eyes are bad? As nurses, are many of us mandated to be tested for TB? And are the folks whose tests come back positive required to take certain actions, including meds if their CXRs also show problems? Do you get to keep every dime of your paycheck, or are certain items withdrawn whether you like it or not?

Yes, certainly the government can get too intrusive, but in this case it's not the government. Individual employers are deciding this, and no one is forcing the employee to stay there.

For those who say, "It's not their business," I guess I'd have to respond by saying, "It IS their business," meaning their company/facility. So they get to call the shots--pardon the pun.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

When I lived in Austin, both hospital chains were requiring the flu shot. I had no objection to getting it, but it was how they presented it - you WILL get the flu shot, or you WILL wear a mask, and if we catch you without the mask you WILL be FIRED. They presented it with this floofy statement about how all they cared about was our health and not getting others sicks. Please. I've been so ill, so obviously sneezy contagious, I looked worse than my patients, and I was never told to go home. In fact, in my compliant baby nurse days, when I did hint that I wanted to leave I was told I couldn't. They don't care if we're sick, as long as we drag ourselves to work and be productive. The mandatory flu shot thing is so they can post hallway signs and fool the general public into thinking patient are was their first concern. Higher ups, by the way, were exempt from the flu shot requirement.

Anyway, last year a nurse took one for the team and refused the flu shot and refused the mask. When they fired her, she sued them stating that her Hipaa rights were being violated. Don't know how that one played out.

hahah awesome post. I have seen drs and nurses walking around who look a lot sicker than some of the patients.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

That's the way the world works. conform or rebel. why are people suprised about this or shocked? next up meet weight requirements or pay higher premiums for health insurance!

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

That's the way the world works. conform or rebel. why are people suprised about this or shocked? next up meet weight requirements or pay higher premiums for health insurance!

Could you elaborate on how you came to this example as the next logical step? Seeing as it has nothing to do with contagious, infectious disease and protecting the health and lives of our patients...

[Gently.me]

*sigh*. Gotta love the ignorance