I would like to hear form those that have refused the mandatory Flu Shot.

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I don't want to turn this in to a debate regarding the flu shot. I have made my opinion and until some more evidence based studies are performed I don't want to get it.

Up until now I have been allowed to sign a waiver, but I have interviewed at a hospital that has made it mandatory, or you have to wear a mask.

I would like to hear from those that have opted to wear a mask during flu season. Is it truly realistic? Have you ended up caving because its a pain? Are you the only one to refuse on your unit or are there any other rebels? I really want this position that I interviewed for, but I absolutely do not want to get the vaccine. I'm trying to figure out if I should just pass on this job, or if wearing the mask is feasible. Thanks

Thanks for your posts, as I stated originally, I don't want to turn this into a Vaccine debate. I have made my decision regarding it, and no evidence based studies have shown that mandatory vaccination of health care workers reduce the spread of the flu.

I give up evenings and weekends with my family, I forgo nail polish and pretty nails, I have terribly dry cracked hands because of the amount of hand washing I have to do, I put myself at risk everyday caring for patients, but I draw the line at yearly injections of preservatives and chemicals. I understand that some may find it a strange place to draw the line, I don't.

I didn't think wearing a mask for half the year was really feasible, Thanks to those that replied to my question, I won't be accepting the position. It's a shame, the hospital will lose out a great nurse.

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I don't agree with your reason for not getting the flu shot. It seems as though you feel you don't have control over anything so you decide to refuse the flu vaccine to give you some sense of control. If you are tired of all the rules of the bedside than perhaps you should consider another type of nursing. I'm also fed up with many policies and polictics in bedside which is why I'm working hard to find a way out. Just my 0.2cents

Thanks for your posts, as I stated originally, I don't want to turn this into a Vaccine debate. I have made my decision regarding it, and no evidence based studies have shown that mandatory vaccination of health care workers reduce the spread of the flu.

I give up evenings and weekends with my family, I forgo nail polish and pretty nails, I have terribly dry cracked hands because of the amount of hand washing I have to do, I put myself at risk everyday caring for patients, but I draw the line at yearly injections of preservatives and chemicals. I understand that some may find it a strange place to draw the line, I don't.

I didn't think wearing a mask for half the year was really feasible, Thanks to those that replied to my question, I won't be accepting the position. It's a shame, the hospital will lose out a great nurse.

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I don't agree with your reason for not getting the flu shot. It seems as though you feel you don't have control over anything so you decide to refuse the flu vaccine to give you some sense of control. If you are tired of all the rules of the bedside than perhaps you should consider another type of nursing. I'm also fed up with many policies and polictics in bedside which is why I'm working hard to find a way out. Just my 0.2cents

Who said I was fed up? You may disagree with my reason, but it still MY reason. I think that fighting for what I believe in is important. I'm not quitting bedside nursing just because I disagree with policies, but I am willing for let an opportunity pass me by because it is a right I still have.

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@ OP, I respect your right to have different opinions and priorities than me. You do what you gotta do! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Never had the flu vaccine and never had the flu. In another post somewhere on AN, I said that my military dad and brother were required to get the vaccine and 'coincidentally', got the flu every year. My kids and I remain flu-free and flu-vaccine free. I held a job that mandated the flu vaccine or season-long mask wearing. Well, I need a job but I didn't need THAT job. So I moved on to the next. Fortunately for me, I've always maintained my own employer-free health insurance and retirement so I didn't hesitate to get to steppin'.:cheeky:

That's just me.....:yes:

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Flu shots work. Masks don't - unless it's custom fitted to your face. We had to wear those in the 80's briefly when doing an AIDS case. If you have asthma you can't breathe in them. Masks are more ritual than anything else.

Hmmm, interesting how well the flu shot worked against the strain of B that's making the rounds this year. But if you have evidence showing masks don't work, please share. My entire floor ends up on droplet precautions, and I'm sure those that have had the flu shot would love to avoid the mask, especially our nurses that have asthma. Better start watching those asthmatics closely, they could stop breathing at any moment in one of our many/all isolation rooms. Wonder why they haven't yet?

I wear the mask all flu season. It's annoying for about a day then it just becomes part of you like your scrubs. I'm taking care of my patients by wearing a mask. While all of you holier than thou flu shot advocates could be spreading flu B without even being symptomatic yet. If y'all are so worried about spreading disease to them (because remember, it's about them, not you) then why aren't you doing all you can to protect them from ALL strains of flu, not just the ones covered by this year's vaccine? Or would you ALL be "asthmatic" for whom apparently masks are now contraindicated?

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In RI it is now mandatory by state regulation that you wear a mask when flu is declared widespread in RI if you have not gotten the flu shot. The hospital can be fined for violation, you personally can be fined and reported to the Board of Nursing. Don't know if this will become a trend...I got the flu shot as I personally don't object to it. I saw many employees wearing masks throughout the season and while they didn't love it, it was workable.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
Masks don't work? Interesting -- the CDC seems to feel otherwise.

CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings

And I'm not seeing the connection between masks and an AIDS patient, unless you are saying that the patient with a hx of AIDS was suffering from influenza at the time -- perhaps I'm misreading your post.

The way I read this is that back in the 80's when they weren't sure how AIDS or GRID (as it was known) was spread they probably had everyone in masks. That's just my assumption.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

OK so I am curious..had a severe reaction to influenza vaccine years ago and have refused it ever since..could my employer force me to have a vaccine even if I am allergic to it? BTW My employer doesn't mandate the shot yet but probably will in the future so I am concerned.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
OK so I am curious..had a severe reaction to influenza vaccine years ago and have refused it ever since..could my employer force me to have a vaccine even if I am allergic to it? BTW My employer doesn't mandate the shot yet but probably will in the future so I am concerned.

My understanding is that if you have a documented allergy you don't have to take it but wear a mask. The firing is for people who don't want to take it based on principle.

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Thanks for your posts, as I stated originally, I don't want to turn this into a Vaccine debate. I have made my decision regarding it, and no evidence based studies have shown that mandatory vaccination of health care workers reduce the spread of the flu. I give up evenings and weekends with my family, I forgo nail polish and pretty nails, I have terribly dry cracked hands because of the amount of hand washing I have to do, I put myself at risk everyday caring for patients, but I draw the line at yearly injections of preservatives and chemicals. I understand that some may find it a strange place to draw the line, I don't. I didn't think wearing a mask for half the year was really feasible, Thanks to those that replied to my question, I won't be accepting the position. It's a shame, the hospital will lose out a great nurse.
they dont care. and in some areas alll facilities do this. its one of those things were you may dislike yourself or giving in but the organic clean diet doesnt come for free! ii have coworkers who wear the mask from nov to may and they tell pts why. most of the pts are furious for them . lol
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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I waited until the last possible minute to get my flu shot. Last year I signed a waiver and I didn't get sick. This year it was either sign a waiver and a wear a mask if you're within 6 feet of a patient or get the flu shot. I didn't want to wear a mask all of the time, so I opted to get a flu shot. I didn't get my flu shot through my employer since our Employee Health nurses were on vacation and since I was running out of time, I got mine through my PCP. I remember at one of our staff meetings they told us our options were flu shot or mask, no question, and anyone who will not comply will be disciplined up to termination.

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