Mandatory Flu Shots

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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?

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.

Just wanted to make sure you knew that both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot are available thimerisol free (they're in single dose containers).

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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.

The high school in my town is considering closing for a couple days....they currently have about 250 kids out with the flu in a school of roughly 600 kids.

The hospital where I'm in clinicals, is currently on a staffing yellow alert to deal with the increase of patients...specifically in the ED d/t patients with the flu.

It's real and not a media invention.

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Thimerosal-free vaccines are available. We use them in our county flu clinics.

Get the shot.

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Thanks all- I know the shot is available Thimerosol free, but not at my hospital yet. That isn't my only concern about the shot. Good info from everyone, though, it is nice to see an adult discussion where everyone can give their opinions!

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Specializes in ER, Med/Surg.
The hospital where I'm in clinicals, is currently on a staffing yellow alert to deal with the increase of patients...specifically in the ED d/t patients with the flu.

It's real and not a media invention.

But what were their numbers like over the last 5 years at this same time?

If everybody with the flu wouldn't run in to the ER there wouldn't be a problem. I think the ER's should setup a triage system that if you have "flu-like s/s", unless you meet x,y,z criteria you do not need to be seen in the ER.

We have a guide for when people call the hospital. "Unless you have these s/s fever over 102, difficulty breathing......stay home."

Pat

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Last night was ridiculous! I was working Fast Track and I only saw a few patients that did not get flu swabs. I am estimating that I probably took care of fourty or so patients in the twelve hour shift, and did about thirty flu swabs. Everyone was there for cough, cold, congestion, etc. We had ONE positive H1N1. I totally agree that people need to stay home unless they are truly sick- and DON'T keep spreading the love!

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But what were their numbers like over the last 5 years at this same time?

If everybody with the flu wouldn't run in to the ER there wouldn't be a problem. I think the ER's should setup a triage system that if you have "flu-like s/s", unless you meet x,y,z criteria you do not need to be seen in the ER.

We have a guide for when people call the hospital. "Unless you have these s/s fever over 102, difficulty breathing......stay home."

Pat

I don't have numbers, and wasn't there in previous years....but the RN's I was speaking with said they've never seen so many folks(many, admitted because they were very ill...high temps, resp distress, etc) coming in for flu before.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My facility requires both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1. There are only 2 ways to get away with not getting it, allergic to eggs, w/drs documentation, religious belief w/clergy documentation, and these people have to wear masks the entire time they are on hospital property except their 1/2 hour lunch break. Anyone who flatly refuses to be vaccinated will ultimately be relieved from their duties (fired). All the hospitals in our area have the same policies in effect now. They are all going with whatever the SC Assoc of Hospitals and the CDC/DHEC reccomend.

The county I work in has the highest incidence of + H1N1 flu cases. The schools are talking about closing for a couple weeks.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I know where I am at, they've stopped testing for H1N1...so determining the actual numbers is impossible. X% out for the flu doesn't really mean anything. A 24/hr stomach bug can present itself with the same s/s. Its really hard to tell what exactly some people are suffering from.

Funny that people are rushing to the ED with the flu when the CDC is recommending them stay home. I absolutely blame the media for the frenzy.

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Specializes in Oncology Unit.

I work at a large cancer center and I read on our website that they were mandating flu shots but I heard some of my co workers signing a waiver. Some of the reasons on the waiver are allergies, scared of needs, or believe that it doesn't prevent the flu. How does your hospital handle the flu vaccine??? I think it is necessary to protect the nurse or the patient. Our patient population have compromised immunity due to the side effects of chemotherapy, their WBC are often low which predisposes them to infections (ie. stem cell pt.).

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

The great thing about the seasonal influenza vaccination is that if even half of your coworkers receive immunizations there is a statistically proven drop in patient mortality rates. I'm very happy to see hospitals moving to mandating the influenza vaccine! Even if some heath care providers opt out, we can still provide heard immunity and protect our patients.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

If we refuse the flu shot we get a reduction in merit raises.

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