Flu Vaccine, enough already!

[Bklyn_RN]

Yes, we are in flu season. And it seems you can't go anywhere without being bombarded/enticed to get the flu vaccine. A lot of times scare tactics are used also. They tried making it mandatory for nurses last season but that failed, thank goodness. Then a friend went to a job interview, and a condition of employment was that she had to get the flu vaccine even though she did not want it.

Yet recently, a healthcare employer (I have declined to identify) went as far as to offer employees who get the flu vaccine (at work), entry into a raffle for a hot electronic gadget. I just think its too much. People already know about the flu vaccine and have made an educated decision about whether they want it or not. Flu vaccines have become extremely commercialized, which leads me to conclude that a financial windfall is being made somewhere. Just sayin...

[jimthorp]

Employers may make it a condition of employment,

This is where the issue lies. Employers should not be permitted by law to make it a condition of employment, period!

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

At my current job we just have to sign a waver that we decline. At my last job, which is very controlling, nurses had to wear a mask THE ENTIRE FLU SEASON if they opted not to get the vaccination.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your insight and opinion. If getting a flu vaccination is a condition of employment, then it a form of "strong arming". I got all of my 3 HEP vaccinations and a flu shot for 2010. The 3rd Hep shot did me in. So, now that I limped my way through my final semester of nursing school, I am supposed to limit my practice setting? I care about my patients very much and wear a mask, but what about educating them on all the possible adverse effects of vaccinations? I think that those who have bad reactions should be followed, so the pharmaceutical companies have a better understanding of how the product may affect some people. Patients can also be harmed by the vaccination itself not just from a healthcare worker not being vaccinated.

Yes, you are. If a facility mandates a flu shot, or any other condition that you find distasteful (such as crappy insurance, poor nurse to patient ratio, a practice of denying lunch breaks, inequitable holiday scheduling, low salaries, etc), you will have to limit your practice setting.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

This is where the issue lies. Employers should not be permitted by law to make it a condition of employment, period!

What they "should" be permitted to do by law is irrelevant and completely subjective. Right now they are permitted to do so. We have the right to refuse to work for any entity which imposes this requirement on us. We can also work within the system to get the laws changed, which will require convincing a large number of people that it is wrong and needs to be changed. That's democracy at work.

[sdlane]

I think it should be your choice ! I get one every year though.

[Hotfornursing, RN]

Yeah, at the risk of sounding like a kook, but seriously makes me wonder if we all are not bein systematically poisoned

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Yup, you sound kookish. I had a family member of one of my residents tell us his mom wasn't allowed to get a flu shot because she was OLD and everyone knows the President doesn't like old people so he's poisoned the flu vaccine. When we told him it was the same vaccine WE got and we were all fine, he didn't have an answer. His mom, who could still speak for her self, rolled up her sleeve and said "Stick me. My son is nutty and I DON'T want to get the flu!!"

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

This is where the issue lies. Employers should not be permitted by law to make it a condition of employment, period!

Do we really want the government legislating what employers can and cannot make a condition of employment? That is your slippery slope, if you ask me. I don't want Washington telling me as a business owner what I can and cannot require of the employees whose paychecks I write!!!

[RainMom]

My facility strongly recommends the flu shot, but you can refuse it. However, during the flu season when flu cases reach a certain level for the region, those who did not get the shot have to wear a mask within the hospital.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Vaccines prevent disease. They are a staple of public health. They may not be perfect but have saved millions of lives. Nurses are supposed to model healthy behaviors, not opt out of proven practices.

[mdlackowski, ADN, CNA]

UK Nurses Will Not Take H1N1 Vaccine

It is one thing to care about the patient. However, when the vaccine itself has not just things in it to stop the problem, such as levels of mercury that are 5x the amount that the FDA regulates is crazy.

[prmenrs, RN]

This is where the issue lies. Employers should not be permitted by law to make it a condition of employment, period!

The employer is the hospital. They are in the business of taking care of sick people (aka customers). That means they must protect the customers from harm while providing that care. That includes providing safe, secure and non-infectious environment. Employers give you a job, they have a right to expect employees to support that mission. If the employee doesn't do that, they don't get to work @ that business.