forced vaccines

[crissrn27]

Hi all, thought I'd see what you guys thought of this. I posted here and the general nursing board, since I know we see this alot with newborn care. The hospital I am currently at is starting a plan to mandate the flu vaccine for all direct-care staff, and there will be some type of disipline if the staff member who doesn't get the vaccine has the flu and misses work. Can they really do this??? I get the vaccine every year but some people don't and I can certainly see why they might not want to. I just can't believe that they can really force someone to put something in their bodies or retaliate it they don't. This would be like us telling our new parents that the have to give their kids hep b, or circ them, etc, IMO. What do you guys think? BTW, it will not be like hep b, where we can sign a wavier if we don't want it.

[justme1972]

I agree with other posters. This is not legal;. I bet the NM was bluffing and trying to scare people into getting the vaccine. I doubt the legal department is involved yet. It is probably something that is in the working stages, and people are talking about it PRIOR to the plan going to the higher ups. It will most likely fizzle out.

Where is the evidence of being able to get the flu vaccine if you have an egg allergy? The CDC VIS state if you have a severe egg allergy, you shouldn't get the vaccine. I know some people may have an allergic reaction that is not considered severe, but I sure don't want to be the one who gives them the vaccine and it be the time they convert to anaphylaxis!

I agree with this completely.

No way in the stratosphere of mankind is that legal.

I would WALK OUT on my job before I would take a flu shot if I was one of those people that had a severe egg allergy.

It's illegal to force a patient to take a shot against their will and unless you are IN THE MILITARY, you can't do it to a private citizen either.

Hospitals are private employers, bottom line.

Your NM is setting herself up for a huge lawsuit if she is telling staff that and someone gets harmed....and if I was on a jury, 6-figures wouldn't even scratch the surface.

[gemininurse71]

This has been going on at Virginia Masonin Seattle for a few years. At first, the nurses were told that if they didn't get vaccinated, they would have to wear a mask at all times while working. The union fought this and won. It appears that now they are requiring the flu shot as a requirement of employement, as part of a "fitness to work" policy. I live on the other side of the state, so don't know all the details, but I found a few articles about it:

http://hr.blr.com/news.aspx?id=77934

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2005-11-23/news/shot-for-flu-mdash-or-you-re-through.php

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002433096_flushots11m.html

Personally, I think a good incentive program would be more effective and moral-boosting than this, but I also know that our facility requires an annual TB test as a requirement for employment and I do that every year (I grumble, yes, but do it without question).

[flygirl43]

Your not poking me....where is the concern re: MRSA CDif? Are they swabbing. Gimme a break!!!!!!

[jhhrn68]

I didn't get a flu vaccine this year and I got the flu. And so did everyone else I know, even the ones who had the vaccine. No flu vaccine can protect one against all strains.