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:

Talk to a lawyer. Be prepared for a battle and maybe having to find a new job.

Or get your doctor to say you can't take the flu shot.

Question: since you had the H1N1, aren't you immune to that virus? Why must you take it again. I know it's included in the shot, but it seems there should be immunity and there should be a shot that does not include it that you could take if you like.

OR nurses wear masks. Not a real big deal except for the feeling of being an outcast maybe.

I wish you the best.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I personally don't care about having the flu shot mandated. Everything else in health care is mandated, TB screenings, Hep B, TDap. To me it is just another precaution for us and our patients.

If you have a concern about the shot, and I understand why you do, then get a doctor's excuse. I am sure they could simply write "Does not need flu shot due to reaction to previous shot". That shouldn't require you to give them the personal details of the event.

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Specializes in CTICU.
Talk to a lawyer. Be prepared for a battle and maybe having to find a new job.

Or get your doctor to say you can't take the flu shot.

Question: since you had the H1N1, aren't you immune to that virus? Why must you take it again. I know it's included in the shot, but it seems there should be immunity and there should be a shot that does not include it that you could take if you like.

OR nurses wear masks. Not a real big deal except for the feeling of being an outcast maybe.

I wish you the best.

Re both the regular influenza virus and the H1N1; viruses are very adaptive, and there are different strains around each season, which is why you need to get it annually.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Life is full of choices. You have a couple in this situation.

1. Take the shot and comply.

2. Choose not to comply and wear a mask.

3. Go home.

This is the 4th or 5th thread I've seen about this subject, and I just don't understand why people have such a hard time figuring this out. The hospital cannot make you take the shot. If you don't want to do it, then exercise your right not to take it. Followed closely by executing number 2 or 3 in my awesome list above.

Choices, people, and easy choices at that.

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Specializes in Research & Critical Care.

The mask thing is a bit ridiculous, especially around others who are vaccinated. Unfortunately, we don't make the rules.

The viruses included in the vaccine changes year-to-year; according to the CDC, there's an "H1N1-like" virus included this year. It's very possible that the nodules are a coincidence and had nothing to do with the previous vaccination. Also, there's three variations of the shot, as well as the intra-nasal version. You could discuss with your physician if any of these options might be a better bet for you.

The reaction wasn't life-threatening. If it came down to wearing a mask for the entire flu season or possibly getting a headache, I'd take the shot. For all we know, it could have been a million other things that caused your reaction and you'll be fine for the next 19 years with shots.

I'm all for mandating the flu vaccine. Aside from legitimate concerns like yours, the vast majority of individuals are simply misinformed. I'm sick of hearing about "getting the flu from the flu shot" and that nonsense. I'm not sure why people can still say that and not get the same "you're an idiot" look that one would get if they were arguing that gravity doesn't exist.

Simply put, I feel that if there's a problem being vaccinated against a virus to avoid spreading it to patients who might not survive a flu, you're in the wrong profession.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

What everyone else said. My nurse manager is struggling to keep a few people from leaving because of this issue, which is sad and ridiculous. People are either misinformed or commited to challenging anything mandated from on high, regardless of the practicality. Wearing a mask doesn't seem like a viable option on my unit - psychiatric inpatient. So the choices are that much easier. I have no problem with things like this, or nicotine screening, because as much as I romanticize my role as a nurse, it's a business after all.

(On a personal note, I wish all the ex-hippies would stop littering the staff lounge with paraphenalia regarding the rights that are being violated by this evil mandate. Just make a choice, do your job, and stop trying to recruit for the revolution. Not directed to the OP, who is simply voicing her concerns. Good luck.)

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Just get a note from your doctor that you had a reaction (without going into details) and wear a mask. I wore a mask the entire flu season last year and it was no big deal. It wasn't required by my employer. . I wore it by choice because we had so many H1N1 patients and I didnt' want to take it home to my kids. Sure my coworkers teased me, but I didn't care . . . it ended up being really funny and I stayed safe.

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Specializes in Cardiac, PCU, Surg/Onc, LTC, Peds.
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.

If I were you and didn't choose to get vaccinated, yes it is a choice, you do have options, it would be safer for you to wear a mask since others don't get vaccinated or wear masks and you sound like you may have a compromised immune system.

If me getting vaccinated could lower the risk of my pts with compromised immune getting sick.......

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Specializes in FNP.

I think if you don't want a flu shot you have every to refuse, so long as you take a job that does not put patients at risk.

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Specializes in MPCU.

On an old style Nursing Passive-Aggressive note: Enforcing the Mask wearing policy would be very difficult.

Another thought, is administration required to get a flu shot? At my hospital the mask would only be required during direct patient care activities.

For the record, I do think the flu shot should be mandatory for health care workers and anyone with significant contact with the public. Teachers, food service workers, Hospitality industry, etc.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

It's just kind of asinine to me that the OP admits she's willingly taken the shot for 19 years, but now that it's being mandated, she's suddenly opposed to taking it.

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