mandatory flu shot

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More and more hospitals are making the flu shot mandatory. Seasoned nurses are being threatened to lose their jobs if they do not take it or they are forced to wear a mask while doing patient care for the entire flu season. Is this a violation of HIPPA. Patients will know that that nurse has not had a flu shot when they see the mask. Do you think that the flu shot should be mandatory or should nurses have the right to refuse just like the patients have a right to refuse?

You don't have to get the flu shot if you don't want it. Just claim religious exemption - 48 states allow it (you're only SOL in West Virginia and/or Mississippi). You don't have to be a member of an organized religion or religious group, either, according to the law you only have to have a "sincerely held religious belief". Even if you are a member of a religion which does not officially oppose or prohibit vaccinations, you can still claim religious exemption based on your own personal beliefs based on your interpretation of your religion's holy texts /scriptures.

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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
You don't have to get the flu shot if you don't want it. Just claim religious exemption - 48 states allow it (you're only SOL in West Virginia and/or Mississippi). You don't have to be a member of an organized religion or religious group, either, according to the law you only have to have a "sincerely held religious belief". Even if you are a member of a religion which does not officially oppose or prohibit vaccinations, you can still claim religious exemption based on your own personal beliefs based on your interpretation of your religion's holy texts /scriptures.

Sorry but I find this suggestion an irresponsible, offensive misuse of this law.

The ONLY sect that refuse vax is Christian Science. Anyone else claiming this is lying. Full stop.

I'm speaking here as a devout Catholic and spouse of a guy completing his Phd in theology.

But this highlights perfectly why the laws need to be overturned or at least reformed. The conditions should be much stricter; one should need to show a signature from a clergy member that they are a current member of the congregation to get this exemption

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Sorry but I find this suggestion an irresponsible, offensive misuse of this law.

I'm sharing information so that people realize all their legal rights and options; I'm not interested in debating with you or anyone else.

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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
I'm sharing information so that people realize all their legal rights and options; I'm not interested in debating with you or anyone else.

Well it's an unethical for you to share this information in this manner- it being legal does not make it ethical

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
You don't have to get the flu shot if you don't want it. Just claim religious exemption - 48 states allow it (you're only SOL in West Virginia and/or Mississippi). You don't have to be a member of an organized religion or religious group, either, according to the law you only have to have a "sincerely held religious belief". Even if you are a member of a religion which does not officially oppose or prohibit vaccinations, you can still claim religious exemption based on your own personal beliefs based on your interpretation of your religion's holy texts /scriptures.

Sorry but I find this suggestion an irresponsible, offensive misuse of this law.

The ONLY sect that refuse vax is Christian Science. Anyone else claiming this is lying. Full stop.

I'm speaking here as a devout Catholic and spouse of a guy completing his Phd in theology.

But this highlights perfectly why the laws need to be overturned or at least reformed. The conditions should be much stricter; one should need to show a signature from a clergy member that they are a current member of the congregation to get this exemption

The exemption form that must be filled out for my employer regarding religious exemption does require the name of the religion, the address and phone number of the religious organization attended, description of doctrine that is contrary to flu vaccination, and signature of clergy. It's not as simple as just stating a religious opposition, nor should it be. That's a bit unethical to me to claim something that isn't true just because one disagrees with a policy. If the disagreement with the policy is that strong, the individual needs to take responsibility of finding an employer whose values are congruent with theirs.

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Sorry. SOL in NY as well. We require major documentation from clergy to support a religious exemption.

I put kids out of school until their parents comply.

They always comply.

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edited because I realized I'm battling wits with the severely under-armed. :)

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Well it's an unethical for you to share this information in this manner- it being legal does not make it ethical

That's your opinion, which is no more or less valid than my opinion, which is that NOT informing people of their legal rights is unethical.

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edited because I realized I'm battling wits with the severely under-armed. :)

Dancing with yourself, hmm?

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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
edited because I realized I'm battling wits with the severely under-armed. :)

Goodness. A bit early in the conversation for ad hominem attacks.

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Goodness. A bit early in the conversation for ad hominem attacks.

When it's all you've got it's not, I guess.

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Specializes in critical care.
Dancing with yourself, hmm?

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