Forced Flu Shots

Nurses Activism

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Georgetown Hospital in DC has forced flu shots. I am a travel nurse and have went through signing my contract and submitting my paperwork just to find out that if I don't have a flu shot I can't go to the facility. Normally I would say- ok, no big deal I'll get the shot but, I am allergic to the shot and eggs. Despite that info and the offer to provide the facility a note from my doctor they continue to refuse to allow me to come to the facility. Is this not discrimination? How can they do this and get away with it? Please help!

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Georgetown Hospital in DC has forced flu shots. I am a travel nurse and have went through signing my contract and submitting my paperwork just to find out that if I don't have a flu shot I can't go to the facility. Normally I would say- ok, no big deal I'll get the shot but, I am allergic to the shot and eggs. Despite that info and the offer to provide the facility a note from my doctor they continue to refuse to allow me to come to the facility. Is this not discrimination? How can they do this and get away with it? Please help!

First, you are a traveler - they can accept or decline you for virtually any reason. You do not have the normal protections afforded a staff nurse.

Second, in many areas, if a facility determines that a flu shot is reasonably warranted to safely work there and provide the care that is due, they can require it. In many hospitals, the employee handbook/job description lists the staffer as being able to lift a certain amount of weight. If you are not able to lift that much, they can legally bar you from the job. Granted, few actually test that but it is in many work description.

Do I agree with their requirement? No, but they have the right to set that requirement. Perhaps they figure that it is cheaper than providing N95s/fitting N95s for everyone.

As a traveler, I once nearly got kicked from a job, because CT in error sent them test results, that indicated that I might have TB, as part of the differential. The facility had actually violated HIPAA in accepting and using the data. It didn't matter - once they acquired it (in violation of HIPAA), they were required to bar me from pt care until TB was ruled out - thus they cancelled the assignment. It did get reinstated after I was bronched and shown negative.

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Specializes in Psych.
I doubt that the ADA would consider an egg allergy to be a disability.

Yes, food allergies are covered under the ADA guidelines. Found that out while doing research for my dd when she had a milk allergy.

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NYS tried to force nurses last yr. i always get my shot anyway

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
Yes, food allergies are covered under the ADA guidelines. Found that out while doing research for my dd when she had a milk allergy.

Except in this case, it's more a medication allergy than a food allergy.

At any rate, OP, what about the intranasal vaccine. Are you able to take that?

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Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

Major hospital system in the rustbelt announced this year that you get the shot, or you wear a mask when working within 6 feet of patients. This is new this year.

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Major hospital system in the rustbelt announced this year that you get the shot, or you wear a mask when working within 6 feet of patients. This is new this year.

Same at our hospital in the midwest. I think it's fair.

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How about flumist. They give to people with yourvkind of allergies in the military...

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Hey, it's the hospital rules - and frankly, they do not want a possible vector working for them. They have the right to dictate under what conditions you are allowed to work in their facility.

Look what happened last spring and summer with the flu and the amount of health care workers who got sick, then spread it to their co-workers before they were "sick enough" to take time off.

Why haven't you gotten the flu-mist? It's not egg based.

Every one in our hospital has been vaccinated one way or another.

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Specializes in Psych.
Except in this case, it's more a medication allergy than a food allergy.

At any rate, OP, what about the intranasal vaccine. Are you able to take that?

But she doesnt take the flu vaccine due to an egg allergy, which would be the food allergy.

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I researched the flumist and you cannot take it with an allergy to eggs or the flu vaccine. It is egg based.

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But she doesnt take the flu vaccine due to an egg allergy, which would be the food allergy.

Right, she can't have a vaccine (medication) because she's allergic to one of it's ingredients.

She's not ingesting any food in this scenario, it just so happens folks also eat the ingredient she's allergic to.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Let's face it, this is no different than hospitals requiring Hep B vaccines, polio/pertussis/varicella, etc. It's just that most Americans currently consider the flu shot to be a non-necessity. Most of us aren't old enough to have had the personal experience of a virus that deccimates the population.

All it would take would be one pandemic (dodged the bullet last year) and this discussion wouldn't exist. Even those with an allergy to egg would find a way to get themselves vaccinated, if there was a upclose and personal risk to themselves and their loved ones.

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