Is your place of employment offering you the flu vaccine?

Shotzie · Oct 17, 2004

Very interesting. Our group of managers had a conversation with our in-house legal consultant this last week about this exact topic. He was the one who said there are not any current laws in place to prosecute someone for giving a flu shot to someone not in the high risk category.

...wonder if that law is only a Michigan state law or does it apply across the country..anyone know?

Katnip, RN · Oct 18, 2004

The laws are state-by-state. I can't remember the list, but I know Washington D.C. is one because I live near there. It seems a lot of folks who had plenty of money were getting their doctors to give them and their kids shots because they did not want to take time off work.

Most of these situations were done by docs who knew their patients and knew they were not high risk.

A lot of docs who can't get their hands on the vaccine are writing prescriptions so their high-risk patients can hopefully go somewhere, anywhere, like the health department and get them.

We have a person at work who got the shot...someone directly involved in patient care. He feels awful because his wife has cancer but can't get the vaccine anywhere. At least he won't be carrying it home to her.

shudokan-RN · Oct 18, 2004

our facility will not be giving any flu shots. I will not take one this year and pray I stay healthy

LydiaGreen · Oct 18, 2004

Our facility provides flu shots to all employees but, I live in Ontario and ALL Ontario residents can receive the flu shot free of charge. The public health system sets up flu shot clinics at every school, Walmart, Safeway, etc. It's on a rotating schedule. I won't be getting mine at work just because I'll be getting mine at my kids' school when they receive theirs. Can't make them do anything I wouldn't do first right?

Kaelie · Oct 18, 2004

Our facility provides flu shots to all employees but, I live in Ontario and ALL Ontario residents can receive the flu shot free of charge. The public health system sets up flu shot clinics at every school, Walmart, Safeway, etc. It's on a rotating schedule. I won't be getting mine at work just because I'll be getting mine at my kids' school when they receive theirs. Can't make them do anything I wouldn't do first right?

Here in BC, Ineligible patients have to pay $14 or so for the shot at the pharmacy. We do the injection for free.

nurturing_angel · Oct 18, 2004

I work for 2 different hospitals and neither of them have flu shots for employees this year. I got one through my hematologists office last week but only because I have had 2 heart procedures since June and I am a diabetic and have chronic but severe anemia. I told them that I would take my chances but he wouldn't hear of it. My hubby needs to get one because he has lung problems and hypertension but we can't find any available anywhere.

This situation is a mess and I fear for this flu season and all the unprotected people out there.

dosamigos76, RN · Oct 18, 2004

Our hospital gave them out to us. They even came at night for us night shift people!

Cheryl

loriangel14, RN · Oct 19, 2004

I am from Ontario too and we have free clinics for anyone who wants a flu shot. Mostly they are in community centres and churches. My employer has recommended I get a shot but it is not mandatory. The LTC facility in my town doesn't make employees get the shot but if there is an outbreak you aren't allowed to come to work.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 19, 2004

I am from Ontario too and we have free clinics for anyone who wants a flu shot. Mostly they are in community centres and churches. My employer has recommended I get a shot but it is not mandatory. The LTC facility in my town doesn't make employees get the shot but if there is an outbreak you aren't allowed to come to work.

Agnus · Oct 19, 2004

Our practice has always given employees the shot, but we buy ours from the company that got sidelined this year so we do have any for us or our patients. We tell our patients to get one wherever they can and the employees have been told to do the same. I have elected not to get one as I feel I might take one that an elderly, very young, or immune compromised patient might need.

I see you you go by chemo queen. This suggest that you work with immuno compromised patients. Health care workers are encouraged to get the vaccine because if we get flu we are at risk of passing it on to compromised patients.

We personally as a group are no more at risk from flu complication or death than the general population. What puts us in a high risk catagory is our frequent contact with those who are at risk, because we may pass it on to them.

eltrip · Oct 19, 2004

Our employer will provide vaccine, free of charge, to employees who meet the CDC criteria, including those who provide bedside care. Those of us who don't provide bedside care and don't meet other CDC criteria are not being provided with flu shots at this time.

SharkLPN · Oct 19, 2004

My facility mandated that *only* employees over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, or those who will be pregnant during flu season will be able to get a flu vaccine this year. I say it's awful. Tell the housekeepers, dietary, and administrative folks to forget it, and vaccinate the nurses. We're the ones who will unwittingly catch/pass on any flu bug on to our elderly and compromised pts, as we have so much close contact with them.

Of course, our flu vacs are kept unlocked on the unit. Even though we should sign doses out when they're administered to pts, it's rarely done. So if a few cc's are missing and this nurse - one that my hospital doesn't think should get vaccinated this year - ends up getting it? How many of my patients will benefit from my not passing the flu to them, and from my being well enough to care for them?

I just have to find a kindred nurse. Now way I can jab myself in the deltoid! :rotfl: