Mandatory Flu Shots

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 16, 2009

is it fair for people to expose co-workers to disease?

We have not gone to that extreme, but we are requiring they sign a declination form so we can determine what education is required to overcome any false perspectives (like the shot gave me the flu). When more people die there will be more "unfair" practices.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

Sounds like what they're doing is against the law. :/ Enough people have to speak up for change!

3600jessica · Oct 16, 2009

Our hospital is doing the same thing. Except no button, but have to wear a mask if you chose not to recieve the flu shot for any reason, including being allergic to it, from Oct 1 - March 31

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

Please review the dozens of of threads that have discussed and redeiscussed this issue. Perhaps an admin should merge some of these threads.

No one is "forcing" you to get the shot - you are free to work wearing a mask. There is nothing illegal about this - many of us who work with severely immunocompromised pts are required to wear them for all pt contact/in all pt rooms, even WITH the flu vaccination and in a "mandatory vaccination" facility. Thus asking those that defer vaccination to mask should not be an issue.

Now if you were staff and they suddenly required you get the vaccine, with NO alternative, then you might have an issue.

The other issue is as it is a preceptorship, I presume that you are also free to do your preceptorship elsewhere. The facility is doing you a favor by allowing you to utilize their facilities - you are a "guest" there. If preceptees make a big issue about of standard hospital policies, they quickly become a HA that the facility doesn't need. You and/or your school may quickly find no one willing to permit preceptorship.

Is this fair - no. But you will find many unfair issues in life. It is not fair to pts to unduly expose them to disease. They can choose their friends and family, but not their healthcare workers and it is presumed that as healthcare workers that we will do the utmost to protect them against preventable disease.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

I would be more than happy to wear a mask for my shifts, but no one will force me to inject something in my body I have no desire to have. Patients have free choice to refuse meds therefore I am also entitle to that same right. I would be more than happy to sign a waiver at any time but ultimately it is my choice if I want the vaccine. I would elect to get it but not because I am being "forced" to do so.

OC_An Khe · Oct 16, 2009

Is it fair, no. Legal probably. Smart and in line with CDC recommendations no. Particularly the mask part as studies have shown it is the least effective way of preventing spread of the Flu.

lunglover · Oct 16, 2009

is it fair for people to expose co-workers to disease?
We have not gone to that extreme, but we are requiring they sign a declination form so we can determine what education is required to overcome any false perspectives (like the shot gave me the flu). When more people die there will be more "unfair" practices.

Don't healthcare workers expose patients to disease EVERY SINGLE day? Any doctor, nurse, etc. can be carrying around some bacteria or virus and infect anyone they come in contact with, before they even know they are sick. The last time I checked (please some correct me if I am wrong here, I don't work at the CDC) the H1N1 flu wasn't even that huge of a deal. I heard something like only 100 or so people in the entire state of New York were even confirmed with having had it. I think this H1N1 pandemonium is due to the stupid news media, just like SARS a few years ago. Until people start dropping like flies by the household, I'm not buying into this feeding frenzy.

I think that hospitals should highly ENCOURAGE its workers to get the flu shots, maybe even offering some kind of special incentive, but I think it is wrong to make it mandatory, and to threaten peoples' jobs. I applaud those who take a stand against this.

MeganAK · Oct 16, 2009

We are just being offered the H1N1 vaccine. I was not able to get the seasonal flu vaccine due to an allergy to Thimerisol and I am not really super interested in getting the H1N1 vaccine. I am currently working with my manager to educate the Infection Control nurse on an alternative medicine thereapy to the vaccine called MucoCoccinum. You can do your own research, I will not try to sell anyone on my ideas, but take a a look at some of the info:

http://www.naturopathicfamilyclinic.com/images/Mucococcinum_ho.pdf

http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/oct09_pg32feat

http://www.allbusiness.com/medicine-health/diseases-disorders-infectious/12819420-1.html

http://www.betterhealthproviders.com/documents/newsletters/2005betterHEALTHNewsletterOctober.pdf.

I do not want the vaccine, but I am willing to do the research and attempt to explain to my manager why I do not want it and what I will do to make sure that I am not at risk of spreading the virus to people at risk. So far, she seems receptive because she recognizes that I am not being stubborn, I just don't want the other ingredients that are in the shot. As far as I can tell, the MucoCoccinum is just as effective as the vaccine without the side effects.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

Don't healthcare workers expose patients to disease EVERY SINGLE day? Any doctor, nurse, etc. can be carrying around some bacteria or virus and infect anyone they come in contact with, before they even know they are sick. The last time I checked (please some correct me if I am wrong here, I don't work at the CDC) the H1N1 flu wasn't even that huge of a deal. I heard something like only 100 or so people in the entire state of New York were even confirmed with having had it. I think this H1N1 pandemonium is due to the stupid news media, just like SARS a few years ago. Until people start dropping like flies by the household, I'm not buying into this feeding frenzy.
I think that hospitals should highly ENCOURAGE its workers to get the flu shots, maybe even offering some kind of special incentive, but I think it is wrong to make it mandatory, and to threaten peoples' jobs. I applaud those who take a stand against this.

Well, in my area, they ARE dropping by the household. When a high school has 41% of their students out with flu symptoms, that's a problem. People are dying from this. Complications are much more common due to the virus' ability to attack the lungs MUCH more severely than the seasonal flu.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 16, 2009

My community also includes a school that has closed for a few days to give their students and staff an opportunity to recover and to try to prevent the spread of the disease. I forget the exact number of people there out with flu-like illnesses, but it was over 25%.

CuriousMe · Oct 16, 2009

I am currently doing my preceptorship at a Hospital that is making flu shots mandatory this year. They are even taking it to the level that if you don't agree to get it, they will make you wear a button stating your choice not to get the shot. Along with this mandatory button you have to wear a mask while on hospital grounds. The disciplinary action for not wearing the mask and button is termination, is this even fair or legal?

So you're doing your preceptorship, as in you're a senior in nursing school and this is your integrative practicum?

If so, I think you have even less of a leg to stand on.

At least by us, we are in our clinical sites, by invitation only. They could make any demand on us they wanted to, and if we decline to comply, we're welcome to no longer go to clinicals there. It's really that simple.

Is there a reason you don't want to get a H1N1 shot? (you said flu shot, I'm assuming you mean a H1N1 vaccine?)