Mandatory Influenza Vaccine

[AllisonMcTigue]

Hi - I am a nurse working in the UK. Every year I get asked to have the flu jab by my employer. This year particularly I felt that I could not say no and I felt bullied into having it.

I have since found out that in US it is mandatory in some hospitals - how common is it? There is debate about whether it should be introduced over in the UK.

I think that it should be individual choice. My main question is how widespread is mandatory flu jabs for health care professionals?

[broughden]

I didn't take the flu vaccine, and I did not get the flu. Nearly everyone where I work that took the "strongly encouraged" flu vaccine got the flu, some multiple times! I don't think it should be mandatory. I think proper hand washing is effective. I also think the "studies" are flawed. Big pharma stands to make a lot of money every year from "mandatory" vaccines. I don't want to put a vaccine in my body that is only 30-70 % effective. It's not worth the risk to me.

^^^^

Hey everyone I found the anti-vaxxer who doesnt understand how science or microbiology works!

Influenza is typically spread through aerosol droplets in the air caused by coughing or sneezing, so no hand washing isnt "just as effective."

Are you even in the healthcare field? Did you pass microbiology?

[kcochrane]

My employers force their staff to get the flu vaccination. You can decline if you have a valid documented reaction or some religious reason, but you have to wear a mask October through March. You cannot just choose not to get it and wear a mask, that is not allowed. I am a little surprised at how many people here are commenting that they are fine with being forced to get a vaccination. I am not an anti-vaccination freak, but I do not believe I should be forced to get this one. Most of my coworkers agree with me. There were so many people who received the vaccination this past season and still got ill. I never have my kids or husband get the flu shots either and they have never caught the flu.

You were not forced to get the vaccine. It is the required of your employer to work there. Although I agree that this year's vaccine was not as effective as other years. Even though it does offer some protection and helps reduce the severity. There are working on a new vaccine that will be more effective and I believe it is only needed every five years.

[kcochrane]

Forgot to add that our facility it is mandatory but you can wear a mask if you don't want one or can't get one.

[LoveMyRNlife]

We are required to get the flu shot every year by a certain date or we are not allowed to work.

[Libby1987]

I had to sign a form saying why I was declining it. Perhaps this was just for research purposes. I think it should be personal choice and I was surprised when I read that it is mandatory in US. Do the hospitals with the high staff vaccination rates have less sickness absence?

I think you're answering Klone's Question in what way were you bullied.

How is signing a form including why you are declining a form of bullying? Perhaps is it a cultural thing where such a requirement is considered outrageous in the UK?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I had to sign a form saying why I was declining it. Perhaps this was just for research purposes. I think it should be personal choice and I was surprised when I read that it is mandatory in US. Do the hospitals with the high staff vaccination rates have less sickness absence?

It's not mandatory "in the US," it's mandatory at certain facilities and not required at others. There is no one national policy that mandates flu vaccines for health care workers.

At one place where I work, the flu shot is encouraged and offered free of charge. At the other place where I work, there is no policy whatsoever.

[SeasonedTech]

I have been in nursing since 1992 and I have got my flu shot every year and even my pneumonia shot before. I will continue to do so because I hate masks. But a month after I got my last flu shot I picked up flu-a that turned into pneumonia! I was shocked. I have never got that sick in my adult life.

[saongiri]

The hospital I worked at which is part of a large hospital system it was mandated unless you had a doctor's order stating you could not get it for some reason. The policy changed over time and it started with you being allowed to refuse it but over time with the more serious outbreaks of years and CDC recommendations, it did become mandated.