Is there really no way to refuse a mandatory flu shot?

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Besides the medical and religious reasons which are clearly only for a rare few, is there really no hope for the healthcare occupation and those who refuse under all circumstances to get a flu shot? I was looking online to find some solutions on how to opt out, but unusually I was not able to find any type of viable solution that I could particularly use except for possibly lying which may or may still not even work.

Gestapo at its finest. Lets just hope another vocation is hiring. Clearly this isnt the field for me, or at least the particular facility.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I can't think of any way out. That's why it's called mandatory.More and more places are making it mandatory.

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find a job that doesn't require it is about your only option. i work for a school and they don't

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Gestapo at its finest.

Yes, that's right, preventing healthcare workers from infecting already sick patients is EXACTLY like a secret police killing squad.

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Yes, that's right, preventing healthcare workers from infecting already sick patients is EXACTLY like a secret police killing squad.

Hahaha

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I'm just curious as to why, in these types of posts, it's almost always the flu vaccine being singled out. Posts asking about refusing the MMR or tetorifice shots are few and far between if they exist at all. Those of you who are looking to get out of getting the flu shot, do you also refuse all other vaccines? And how do you handle working in facilities where frequently, anyone over the age of 65 is automatically ordered a flu vaccine unless contraindicated or where giving vaccines to patients is a required job duty? I just find the disconnect between promoting health (of which vaccines are a part) and wanting to refuse a vaccine confusing.

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I'm just curious as to why, in these types of posts, it's almost always the flu vaccine being singled out. Posts asking about refusing the MMR or tetorifice shots are few and far between if they exist at all. Those of you who are looking to get out of getting the flu shot, do you also refuse all other vaccines? And how do you handle working in facilities where frequently, anyone over the age of 65 is automatically ordered a flu vaccine unless contraindicated or where giving vaccines to patients is a required job duty? I just find the disconnect between promoting health (of which vaccines are a part) and wanting to refuse a vaccine confusing.

And the Hep B vaccine; I never hear anyone complaining about or indignantly refusing that -- it just seems to be the flu shot.

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I knew going into nursing school that the vaccine was mandatory, so I never looked for a way to get out of it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Emergency.
And the Hep B vaccine; I never hear anyone complaining about or indignantly refusing that -- it just seems to be the flu shot.

Of course...people that jump on propaganda bandwagons rarely, if ever actually think for themselves...what else would you expect?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

At my hospital, we don't make ANY exceptions -- not even for medical reasons, allergies, religion, etc. The protection of our patients comes first. If you are not willing or able to protect our patients, you cannot work here.

Yes, it is a free country. We are free to require that our staff protects our patients by being immunized for inflenza. People who aren't willing or able to provide that protection are free to not work here.

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I can answer that (at least for myself). I've had my share of shots through the years and I'm not against vaccines in any way. I've had them all. But the one and only time I had a flu shot (4 years ago) left a sore spot in my arm that still remains. To this day, I can unhesitatingly find the spot where it was given.

No, it's not 'in my head' and yes, I realize that it's not necessarily the vaccine itself which caused the spot. But - in my head - flu shot equals sore arm.

Of course it helps that I've never had the flu. Actually, I haven't been to a doctor because of sickness in 45 years.

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Not only is comparing a simple flu shot to one of the most abhorrent episodes in human history-your disgusting gestapo comment-ignorant it is quite a shame that you may or may not be involved in health care...another vocation? Goodbye...
I totally agree and couldn't have said it better. No one is holding you down and making you get the vaccine. Most hospitals allow you to wear a mask.
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