Mandated Flu vaccine?

[mol42]

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.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

REALLY!!!!!! Although I do get the flu shot every year, I don't believe it should be anyones business but mine unless I choose to inform someone. I can't believe an employer can force an employee to wear a mask everyday for months! Is that even legal? What about people who may have strong beliefs against any type of vaccinations?

I'm just blown away by this! Whats next? Are they going to force me to take pms supplements 2 weeks before my period? Docs go from pt to pt and yet no mask? Of course not but lets force our nurses to wear them.

Last year all of our staff got our flu shots and our unit ended up quarantined for 2 weeks d/t flu like symptoms. We didn't have one confirmed case, just a nasty virus.

Seems like employers are taking this a bit too far. Just my

[mindlor]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2810172/

This is an excellent scholarly article on the subject. References included at the bottom of the linked page....

[Mom2boysRN]

I work in a ltc/rehab facility. We weren't required to get the flu shot but if we didn't want it we had to fill out a sheet telling why. I got it at my MDs office and had to provide info on where I got it. I get it every year, so it really doesn't matter to me personally. I don't really like that they are trying to strong arm people into getting it though, even though it's not required .

[mindlor]

You guys understand what excellent vectors for infection transmission healthcare workers make yes? You guys all had microbiology? It really is a no brainer...c'mon

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

You guys understand what excellent vectors for infection transmission healthcare workers make yes? You guys all had microbiology? It really is a no brainer...c'mon

Yep, we know. I'm just not sure about the facility 'forcing' . I think that's where it comes in. All those sick people getting out and about not wearing masks! Maybe we should all be forced to wear them while grocery shopping, going to class, getting gas.......and oh, don't forget about church. A few hundred and there are always a few hacking up a lung or two!

[mindlor]

In other countries, the general population does wear masks in times of flu season....for years facilities tried the voluntary approach, it did not work....pls read the article I linked a few posts up

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Boy am I tired of this. Get your flu shot or go work in a different profession.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Merged threads re mandatory flu vaccine.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

As far as requiring doctors to comply... they are not employees so the facility cannot require it.

They can get the vax or not practice in the hospital. Just like we can get the vax or not work for the hospital. They CAN enforce it against medical staff, they just choose not to do so.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

REALLY!!!!!! Although I do get the flu shot every year, I don't believe it should be anyones business but mine unless I choose to inform someone. I can't believe an employer can force an employee to wear a mask everyday for months! Is that even legal? What about people who may have strong beliefs against any type of vaccinations?

I'm just blown away by this! Whats next? Are they going to force me to take pms supplements 2 weeks before my period?

Given that I am required to wear a mask every single day of work during flu/rsv season, even WITH having been vaccinated, I assure it is perfectly legal.

And what are PMS supplements, and what do they have to do with spreading a deadly/debilitating disease to vulnerable hospital pts?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

since we're talking about influenza, i'll toss out a question i've never been given a definitive answer about. in my extended family, several members had the 1918 influenza. three died, including a 12 year old great uncle, while others survived it. same branch of the family, fast forward to the 1936 influenza. my mom, her three siblings, several friends, and cousins got it, as did a young aunt and uncle.

every single person who had the flu in 1918 or 1936, except two, developed parkinson's disease after age 55. my mom and and her aunt, who was a generation above but just five years older, escaped it.

does anyone have any idea what the$%^& the connection might be? is there a connection at all? did something predispose all of them? despite the fact that they were dx with pd, i've wondered whether at least some of the tremors and rigidity might have been simple familial or idiopathic in nature??

i'm not asking for medical advice. i'm asking a genetics question. thanks!

don't know about that one, but it is good question.

given those studies that found that the genetic mutation that allowed survival of black plague, has passed down to descendants a resistance to hiv infection, it would be an interesting theory to explore.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Given that I am required to wear a mask every single day of work during flu/rsv season, even WITH having been vaccinated, I assure it is perfectly legal.

And what are PMS supplements, and what do they have to do with spreading a deadly/debilitating disease to vulnerable hospital pts?

It was just a 'what's next' type of question. Really nothing to ruffle feathers. When an employer starts demanding, at what point is it crossing the line? I guess I should have just said that but I thought most people would get it. Sorry.