Getting Immunized

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Nov 15, 2006

When I did my clinical at the health unit (immunization dpt), there was an option for parents whos children required immunizations for school, but the parents refused to immunize. Parents had to fill out a legal document, and have it signed by a doctor, and then submitted to the school. However, should there be any outbreak at the school, their child would be immediately removed until it was clear. Maybe there is a similar mechanism at your school. They likely wouldn't advertise the option since they would want you to get the shots, but it's worth asking about if you really want to stay there. Maybe theres also something about the clinical settings requiring student's to have the shots, and not the school. If thats the case, it may not be so easy to get around it.

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 15, 2006

I personally believe that people should have the choice of whether or not to be immunized, and that includes their children, but I also fully support the right of schools not to enroll the children (and colleges) as well as employers who refuse to hire you unless you are immunized. I also support health insurance companies to not pay for illnesses when you 'get' an illness, refused a vaccination for it, b/c in my opinion, you created your own health problem.

Immunizations are not 100%, and I feel that healthcare workers that do not take the standard vaccinations are putting their own health as well as the health of their patients at risk.

I personally, if I knew, would not want a nurse, a doctor, or any healthcare worker around me or anyone in my family who didn't have up-to-date immunizations.

I went to a private college, and if you didn't have your immunizations up to date, you didn't attend, period.

augigi, CNS · Nov 15, 2006

Try contacting the school and asking if they have any policy allowance for this. They can only say yes, or no, and then you'll know.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 16, 2006

I have worked in Health Care settings before. FYI, most of the facilities I have worked in required that my shots were up to date. In fact all of the facilities allowing student nurses to volunteer in my community want documented proof of vaccination, no exceptions. If we cannot produce proof, we are dropped from the program.

With that said, even if your school makes an exception, most clinical or in-patient settings will not make an exception. So if you become a Registered Nurse you may run into trouble when trying to gain employment bedside. Good luck. :twocents:

MiaLyse, APRN · Nov 16, 2006

I personally believe that people should have the choice of whether or not to be immunized, and that includes their children, but I also fully support the right of schools not to enroll the children (and colleges) as well as employers who refuse to hire you unless you are immunized. I also support health insurance companies to not pay for illnesses when you 'get' an illness, refused a vaccination for it, b/c in my opinion, you created your own health problem.
Immunizations are not 100%, and I feel that healthcare workers that do not take the standard vaccinations are putting their own health as well as the health of their patients at risk.
I personally, if I knew, would not want a nurse, a doctor, or any healthcare worker around me or anyone in my family who didn't have up-to-date immunizations.
I went to a private college, and if you didn't have your immunizations up to date, you didn't attend, period.

A healthcare worker not getting the standard immunizations does not put their patients at risk (just as a child who does not receive vaccinations does not put other children at risk).

MiaLyse, APRN · Nov 16, 2006

I am in a bit of a pickle.
I have been lucky enough to obtain a seat at a highly competitive nursing school (I am not entering into year 1, rather changing institutions).
In my old university, getting immunized was not mandatory. However at this new school its a requirement to submit documented proof of immunization.
Personally I am against immunizations. However this was not always the case, and I am current with all but 1 vaccine. I will also have to keep the other ones current while studying there.
Isn't it unethical to "force" people to take vaccines? At the end of the day I would do it if I had do, and I don't want to be diffucult as I've just recently been accepted, but at the same time I would prefer not to. I think it may have something to do with protecting the school
I have to submit my documents in the next three weeks. Any advice is welcome. Thanks

If immunizations are against your beliefs then you can not be made to have them for school. I attended school without them and have been nursing 4 years without them. I have had no problems finding jobs either. hth's

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 16, 2006

A healthcare worker not getting the standard immunizations does not put their patients at risk (just as a child who does not receive vaccinations does not put other children at risk).

I disagree on both counts. That is one of the arguments that anti-immunization people make and the American Academy of Pediatrics would disagree with you as well. I have included a link to the following articule, but the same theory would exist for adults as well...

Responding to Parental Refusals of Immunization of Children -- Diekema and and the Committee on Bioethics 115 (5): 1428 -- Pediatrics

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 16, 2006

If immunizations are against your beliefs then you can not be made to have them for school. I attended school without them and have been nursing 4 years without them. I have had no problems finding jobs either. hth's

What would have happened if thousands of people throughout the world refused the smallpox vaccination?

It's a terrifying thought.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 16, 2006

A healthcare worker not getting the standard immunizations does not put their patients at risk (just as a child who does not receive vaccinations does not put other children at risk).

I am not debating that I am against or for immunization. I am just stating the facts of my experience. Students who are not immunized will be dropped from my program because the clinical sites do not want those students as volunteers. If you have not experienced this, then that is unique. This is not the case for me and it will not be the case for others.

Cherish · Nov 16, 2006

Your school might accept you not being vaccinated but if the hospital or clinical site you will be going to mandates it you will not be allowed to do clinicals until you are vaccinated. Since you said that you will get the vaccination anyways, then by all means do it.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Nov 16, 2006

A healthcare worker not getting the standard immunizations does not put their patients at risk (just as a child who does not receive vaccinations does not put other children at risk).

not trying to hijack the thread, but felt compelled to comment. You are advocating NO immunizations? :chair: