Flu Vaccine, enough already!

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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...

Please elaborate as to exactly what you are saying here?

It's very clear. You don't get to walk around as a petri dish of disease because you're an American. That affects others' well-being.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I'm calling B.S. on this. The vaccine MAY be protecting patients, but you don't know until the season begins and we see which true strain is out and which one you were vaccinated against. Being that you can and probably will still be susceptable to catching the flu because they don't always get the vaccine right and sometimes there's more than one strain out, you and your patients are still at risk. Like I said before, since you don't know if you were vaccinated correctly or not, the best thing you can do for your patients is wear a mask at all times during flu season because even though you've been vaccinated you are still putting your patients at risk because the vaccine may not have done it's intended job. Let's see if you all do that....being you care so much about spreading flu to your patients and all.

You're welcome to call my opinion B.S. all you want, you're entitled to your own opinion too.. I disagree with you. You're basically saying, "don't bring your rain coat and boots with you, it's just a prediction there are going to be downpours this afternoon, we don't really know for sure"... what's wrong with better safe than sorry?

I'm a little confused that people who are so anti-modern preventative medicine ended up working in the medical field.

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You don't have the freedom to shout, "FIRE!" in a crowded theater in which there is no fire.

I most certainly do have that freedom. Please show me the law to the contrary.

You don't have the freedom to put others at risk for potentially deadly illnesses, either

Again, please point me to this law.

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It's very clear. You don't get to walk around as a petri dish of disease because you're an American. That affects others' well-being.

Please cite me the law that says I cannot walk around "as a petri dish of disease"?

Do you realize how many "bugs" you carry on your skin everywhere you go? Isn't everyone a "petri dish of disease"?

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Specializes in School Nursing.
We all still have a choice as to whether or not to get the flu vaccine ...

And employers still have a choice as to who they hire. They are free not to hire people who don't get the vaccine. And they are free not to allow students who don't get the vaccine to come into their facility for clinicals.

The choice is still there. Some people just don't like the fact that facilities also have the freedom to choose.

Exactly!!! This is why these discussions frustrate me. You get the inevitable "I'm a American, darn it! No one is going to tell me what to put in my body! I have RIGHTS!!!" Yes, sir or m'am. You have rights. You have the right to choose a career other than healthcare. You have the right to work at any of the number of venues that does not require a flu shot. But being a nurse is not a right. Being employeed at a particular hospital is not a right. And that hospital has the right to protect it's patients by making a vaccine a condition of employment. No one's rights are being interfered with.

Until someone is holding you down and forcing the flu shot into your arm, stop talking to me about how your rights are being violated by an employer requiring a flu shot as a condition of employment! (or Hep B, or MMR, or TB test for that matter, but no one complains about those)

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I most certainly do have that freedom. Please show me the law to the contrary.

Again, please point me to this law.

It's called "precedent." Something like this case would be used.

http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/vaccines/cude.htm

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I most certainly do have that freedom. Please show me the law to the contrary.

I'll take the liberty to expand upon that- you can shout 'fire' in a public theater- but you can not do it without consequence. The first amendment will not protect you if your shouting 'fire' cause a stampede where people are injured and/or killed.

I'm fairly certain you knew that though.

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You're welcome to call my opinion B.S. all you want, you're entitled to your own opinion too.. I disagree with you. You're basically saying, "don't bring your rain coat and boots with you, it's just a prediction there are going to be downpours this afternoon, we don't really know for sure"... what's wrong with better safe than sorry?

I'm a little confused that people who are so anti-modern preventative medicine ended up working in the medical field.

Well, you haven't answered my question. Are you going to wear a mask during any contact with any of your patients this flu season or not? Because you MAY OR MAY NOT still be spreading the flu even though you got your beloved flu shot. Like I keep saying over and over and over again although you must not get it, you nor anybody else knows if the flu shot you got is protecting you from getting it or spreading it to your patients. Since you care so much about being safe than sorry, I sure hope you are wearing your mask during every shift you work this flu season. I'm guessing by your sidestepping that issue, you probably won't be doing that. :cool:

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It's called "precedent." Something like this case would be used.

http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/vaccines/cude.htm

I understand case law, however, your citation is not applicable to the discussion at hand.

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(or Hep B, or MMR, or TB test for that matter, but no one complains about those)

Maybe it's because those shots actually do the intended job...a flu shot is a GUESS that you will be protected.

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I understand case law, however, your citation is not applicable to the discussion at hand.

Your comments show no such understanding. You keep requesting that a law specific to the flu shot be cited. There is none. Precedent would govern, and the courts. This law may well be applicable should such a case come to court. Neither you nor I are attorneys.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Well, you haven't answered my question. Are you going to wear a mask during any contact with any of your patients this flu season or not? Because you MAY OR MAY NOT still be spreading the flu even though you got your beloved flu shot. Like I keep saying over and over and over again although you must not get it, you nor anybody else knows if the flu shot you got is protecting you from getting it or spreading it to your patients. Since you care so much about being safe than sorry, I sure hope you are wearing your mask during every shift you work this flu season. I'm guessing by your sidestepping that issue, you probably won't be doing that. :cool:

I believe compulsive hand washing will be adequate.. as you know covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough and washing your hands regularly can cut down infection quite well. Further, if flu season is that bad, sure I'll wear a mask. I don't consider the flu shot 'beloved'.. that's just silly. It's a tool to help prevent the spread of disease as well as help prevent you from contracting it. I got it for the first time a few weeks ago.. as required by my school. If I don't get it, I don't get to go to school. My choice was a no-brainer. I suspect for most people being required for work is a no-brainer too.

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