How do you feel about mandatory influenza vaccines?

[ashleybrooke1208]

I am totally against the influenza vaccine. I know many of my close relatives and friends, as well as other nurses, who have received the vaccine and it did more harm than good to every one of them. Five of these people in particular were hospitalized after and a few of them were sick for months. I have never received the vaccine and I personally think it is wrong for an employer to force you to get it. I have done some research on it and some hospitals are going as far as terminating people who refuse the vaccine. I am a new graduate (December 2012) still unemployed and actively looking for RN jobs and many of them state that they require the influenza vaccine for all employees. I was wondering if your particular hospital has a waiver or any exemptions to the mandatory vaccine?

[motherof3sons]

I realize that there is evidence about minimal reactions, however I have cared for a lady in LTC that had a reaction and left her unable to care for herself at a very young age. With that in mind, I will not get the flu vaccine. Facilities can mandate, terminate or make me wear a mask, but it just isn't worth it to me.

Last year we had a flu outbreak at our facility. I was one of two who didn't get the flu for staff and the other person didn't get the vaccine either.

[chrisrn24]

Crazy how we are all nurses yet many of you are so misinformed and ignorant about vaccines.

Vaccines are extremely important and we all need to do our part to protect our patients and ourselves.

I'm first in line every year for my shot.

[loriangel14, RN]

Crazy how we are all nurses yet many of you are so misinformed and ignorant about vaccines.

Vaccines are extremely important and we all need to do our part to protect our patients and ourselves.

I'm first in line every year for my shot.

Yes it is scary how misinformed some people are.

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

The RN in our office refused the flu shot stating she had an anaphylactic allergic to eggs. We ordered her the RIV imminization. She still refused it, stating she "didn't trust" the RIV version. She was just going to wear a mask all winter.

Last week we had a catered breakfast, with you guessed it, omelets. She apparently forgot about her life threatening allergy. We all sat there and watched her sit down and start to eat an omelet, idly chatting about her morning, oblivious to what was about to happen. We fired her on the spot for dishonesty. Literally, walked her out the door and came back before our breakfast was cold.

RNs are a dime a dozen lately; we sure don't need dishonest ones with poor clinical judgement.

For the love of Mike, just get your bloody flu shot people. There is no bogey man and no government conspiracy to poison you. Sheesh.

Just telling people to get their bloody flu shot fails to respect the fact that some people have a legitimate issue with it.

I'm glad the lying nurse got fired.

I would be very upset if I had to pick between my job and a shot.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[morte, LPN, LVN]

please cite studies that show an improved mortalitiy.....

[sMoLsNurse]

This is not a post about the flu shot causing the flu, but I am wondering where you would report to if you ended up getting the flu that season when you received a shot?

[chrisrn24]

This is not a post about the flu shot causing the flu but I am wondering where you would report to if you ended up getting the flu that season when you received a shot?[/quote']

What would be your purpose reporting it? Just curious.

Every year when they make the vaccine they choose the most common strains. Not all strains are in the vaccine.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

please cite studies that show an improved mortalitiy.....

I found a whole bunch of studies in scholarly journals/websites but you have to pay to see them.

Then I found this so thought I'd add it here.

Flu Deaths Among Young, Healthy and Unvaccinated | Shot of Prevention

[sMoLsNurse]

Hey ChrisRN24,

I guess just to see how effective it is. If they were accurate in their prediction for that current year's flu strains.

[chrisrn24]

Hey ChrisRN24,

I guess just to see how effective it is. If they were accurate in their prediction for that current year's flu strains.

Ah okay. Makes sense!

[TU RN, DNP, CRNA]

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

[Carrie RN]

It should be reported to the health department if it's a verified case of influenza if you were vaccinated. But seriously it's the flu shot just get it if your work requires it. I am not sure how a person would contract influenza from the shot since it is an attenuated virus.