Mandated Flu vaccine?

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Hi- Just received a blanket email yesterday that my hospital in VA is requiring ALL STAFF involved in patient care to get the flu vaccine this year. (incl nurses, physicians, clinical aides etc) I always get the vaccine voluntarily but feels wrong that this can be mandated. I still intend to get it. Is this legal? I remember something similar involving a group of NY Nurses some time back.:uhoh3:

Specializes in FNP.

:banghead:

I really don't know how much longer I can take this.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Here are position papers from the CDC, SHEA, and the ACP you can refer to if you're interested:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5502a1.htm

http://www.premierinc.com/all/safety/safety-share/12-05-downloads/03-shea-hcw-flu-position-paper.pdf

http://www.acponline.org/clinical_information/resources/adult_immunization/flu_hcw.pdf

Influenza vaccines depend on the patient's immune system response to be effective, elderly patients have a decreased immune response and therefore vaccinations are less effective in this age group, making it still important that you as their care provider be vaccinated. Basically, an increased rate of health care worker immunization correlates to lower mortality rates, ie: get immunized so you don't kill your patients.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

oops.

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

As we all know, you can not get the flu from the vaccine. You can however have side affects related to getting the flu vaccine. The VIS (Vaccine Information Statement) list the following "mild" symptoms that one could have from being vaccinated such as;

Mild problems: * soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given * hoorificeness; sore, red or itchy eyes; cough * fever * aches * headache * itching * fatigue If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.

I am sure that most who post about not feeling well afterwards had some of these symptoms.

Here is a link to the VIS: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flu.pdf

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I disagree with any vaccine mandates, including influenza. I've researched vaccines for 17 years, including all the ingredients, the disease, treatments, etc. There is NOT a single documented case of a hcw giving a patient influenza. This is 2011, if influenza were to be spread by hcw, why hasn't it been documented prior to a mandate.

Masks are not 100% effective either and seem ridiculous. Why wear a mask just during 'flu season'? Why not year around? We are in the public all the time, stores, church, etc, and every spring/fall/summer/winter. Do we wear a mask when you go to target or wal-mart in the summer? Why not? Anyone could catch anything just as easily in the summer as in the winter.

A frightening reality is the future of our children, whom most (not all) have zero natural immunity against any disease. Evolution has shown that virus/bacteria can easily mutate. Fast forward to the 'future' when these children (with zero natural immunity) are now adults or in their geriatric years. Say a communicable, mutated disease outbreak occurs, what is the outcome? Most likely, those who have natural immunity will survive, be immune and take care of the ill or dying. It happened with the h1n1 scare. The elderly did not need to be vaccinated b/c they had/have natural immunity against the h1n1.

Science has given us many advances in the medical community, but none in the common sense department.

The information that disproves your assertion is not hard to come by, and should have been easy to find in your 17 years of researching. Google "HCW influenza transmission" and in the first paragraph of the first search result you'll find "Unvaccinated HCWs spread influenza to their patients" and "Transmission of influenza from HCWs to patients has been documented in nearly every health care setting.", you'll also find "We also know from reports in the literature that HCWs can be a point source for outbreaks of nosocomial infection [2, 3]," If you don't believe this source, feel free to consult any of 30 studies/case reports this is based on. You can also refer to the many other sources such as SHEA and the CDC, all of which confirm that transmission of influenza by healthcare workers has been well established. I tell you from first-hand experience that patients can get influenza from HCW's as I've had a patient who contracted influenza from staff, she was young with small children, she died as a result.

You can also refer to the studies on rates of nosocomial influenza when staff are immunized. As staff vaccination rates rise, rates of nosocomial infections decreases, as does patient mortality. Arguing for decreased immunization rates is arguing for increased patient mortality.

Immunizations do not weaken overall immunity of a population. Whether the virus enters your body through your nose or through a needle, the process by which your body develops antibodies is identical. Immunizations also do not cause mutations of viruses. If you're arguing that immune systems are weakened because they aren't faced with being sick as often and therefore suffer from a "use it or lose it" effect, then you're actually better off getting vaccinated since that is the only way to ensure a yearly immune response to the flu virus.

It's always perplexed me that supporters of homeopathic medicine are often opposed to vaccines since vaccines are essentially homeopathic. Homeopathic, as I'm sure you're aware, is the treatment of disease by administering a substance that causes the disease, but in a diluted, inactivated form to limit it's negative effects while still "training" the body to deal with the disease effectively. Considering the number of things called "homeopathic" that have nothing to do with homeopathy, I would think advocates of homeopathy would be happy to see such a close relative of the homeopathic ideology become so successful.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
:banghead:

I really don't know how much longer I can take this.

The search box is your friend. Use it.

The scroll bar is also your friend. Use it.

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Specializes in FNP.

Clever duck.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

There are dozens if not hundreds strains of the flu. You get vaccinated against 3 or 4. The CDC has to guess which strains to include in the yearly vaccination. Getting the flu shot shows support and belief in the science behind immunizations. As a nurse, you are supposed to support modern medical science. You should take the ethical stance of being inoculated, as you are supposed to counsel your patients to do. I believe that shots work, and are the best defense we have. They are not a panacea but the responsible thing to do. I also got the flu the first year I got the shot, but have been ridiculously healthy since (shots every year). Trust the science and get the shot.

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Specializes in Peds and PICU.

I get the flu shot annually for two reasons:

1. I work in the Peds ICU and not only come into contact with the flu a lot, but my patient population is particularly susceptible.

2. I can't afford to be out sick with the flu when all 12 of our beds are filled with little ones with flu and RSV on oscillators and JET vents and conventional vents.

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

Yep, every year. And I got the pneumococcal pneumonia one on the advice of my doc b/c of my asthma. Haven't had bronchitis since. May be a coincidence, but I'll take it.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

moved to our pandemic flu forum

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I was wondering what other nurses felt about having the flu shot mandated. Our facility is making the flu shot mandatory unless there is a signed physicians explanation or allergy to eggs etc (which would need a dr signed exemption.) The facility still has the ability to over rule the physician's statement if they don't feel it is acceptable. If they do approve the exemption form--then the nurse shall wear a mask for the entire shift including all meetings and office time for the duration of the flu season.

I have taken the flu shot over the past 19 years being a nurse, but I have never been told it would be mandated. I did have a reaction to the H1N1 shot 2 years ago and did not want to take that again. The H1N1 is included in the flu shot now. I didn't want to divulge my personal health history since getting the H1N1 and have kept it confidential. I feel I will have to divulge my personal health history which I would rather not. I have been seeing a dr for the past 2 years who is monitoring these nodules. After getting the H1N1 shot I had a severe headache for 3 days, then I noticed nodules on the right side of my neck (around the thyroid). I had 6 nodules on the right side of my neck and 2 on the other side with one on my wind pipe. The nodules went away over the last 2 years except for the one on my windpipe (it is still there).

I am very concerned about having to take this shot. I don't believe that I would be able to wear a mask for the duration of my shift if I was actually approved. Any advice or comments.

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