Mandatory flu shots????

[45whenimdone]

It didn't dawn on me until just right now, don't ask me why, that my choice of NOT getting a flu shot will NOT get me into a nursing program. The director at my school of choice basically stated "it is a requirement that you receive one, however you can sign a declaration that you do not wish to receive one." Then I asked, "would that inhibit my chances of getting into the program?" She replied, "well, the facilities in which we work with it is required due to you working with elderly clients; If you do not wish to get the flu shot perhaps you should look into another career."

*****?? (excuse the language) I have worked in nursing homes, health centers, private duty, home health agencies, visiting nurses association, hospice AND THEY NEVER REQUIRED me to ever receive or even ASKED if I have obtained a flu shot!!! (mid 90's)

So, anyone please tell me my dream of becoming a nurse is already dead because I REFUSE to get a flu shot???!!! seriously??? I am so upset right now!!!

[rpattee]

what ever happened to our own immunity? we have helper cells, If I am not sick, why wear a mask? I am a professional R.N. and If I am sick with the flu I will not come to work to contaminate everyone else. the flu vaccines are changing every year so it is impossible to protect us from the other types of flu out there. we are only protected from 3 types.

[rpattee]

are we for Profit? or not for Profit? during the flu season all hospitals become For Profit.

[elkpark]

what ever happened to our own immunity? we have helper cells, If I am not sick, why wear a mask? I am a professional R.N. and If I am sick with the flu I will not come to work to contaminate everyone else. the flu vaccines are changing every year so it is impossible to protect us from the other types of flu out there. we are only protected from 3 types.

Because you can be exposed to the flu and, as a healthy adult, not get sick, but shed virus for several days and put the sick and immunocompromised individuals around you at risk. Even if you do develop the flu, you will be contagious for a few days before you even realize you're sick. That's why.

[elkpark]

are we for Profit? or not for Profit? during the flu season all hospitals become For Profit.

What does this even mean?

[amberdawn85]

^This. As a healthcare worker you should be concerned about your patients. I think it should be required and if you refuse you can easily be replaced by somebody who understands the flu virus and the risk it poses to immune compromised patients

[morte, LPN, LVN]

you can carry the virus, vaxed or not. which makes masks not such a bad idea....with good nutrition and hand washing....

Because you can be exposed to the flu and, as a healthy adult, not get sick, but shed virus for several days and put the sick and immunocompromised individuals around you at risk. Even if you do develop the flu, you will be contagious for a few days before you even realize you're sick. That's why.

[NBmomto2]

you can carry the virus vaxed or not. which makes masks not such a bad idea....with good nutrition and hand washing....[/quote']

I agree! Even the CdC says so....

" Can I get seasonal flu even though I got a flu vaccine this year?

Yes. There is still a possibility you could get the flu even if you got vaccinated. The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on various factors, including the age and health status of the person being vaccinated, and also the similarity or “match” between the viruses used to make the vaccine and those circulating in the community. If the viruses in the vaccine and the influenza viruses circulating in the community are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness is higher. If they are not closely matched, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. However, it’s important to remember that even when the viruses are not closely matched, the vaccine can still protect many people and prevent flu-related complications. Such protection is possible because antibodies made in response to the vaccine can provide some protection (called cross-protection) against different but related influenza viruses. For more information about vaccine effectiveness, visit How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?"

Also, I find it interesting that the CDC even says that a persons immune system weakens over time possibly due to vaccine...

"Also, multiple studies conducted over different seasons and across vaccine types and influenza virus subtypes have shown that the body’s immunity to influenza viruses (acquired either through natural infection or vaccination) declines over time."

Here's the link where I found this info.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

I choose to wear a mask, wash my hands and eat healthy, and live a healthy lifestyle, in order to protect my patients. But getting the flu shot is not something I have confidence in to prevent me from getting sick with the flu, or to prevent me from spreading it to my patients.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I agree! Even the CdC says so....

Also, I find it interesting that the CDC even says that a persons immune system weakens over time possibly due to vaccine...

"Also, multiple studies conducted over different seasons and across vaccine types and influenza virus subtypes have shown that the body’s immunity to influenza viruses (acquired either through natural infection or vaccination) declines over time."

No, that statement nor does the CDC suggests that a person's immunity may weaken over time d/t vaccines. The body's immune system does not adapt as readily as we get older. The influenza vaccine may not confer full immunity, but it can offer a partial defense thus lessening the detrimental effects of influenza. This is consistent with everything we are taught about geriatrics and aging in general.

Unless someone plans to hold their breath for the entire shift no mask or other health measures will ever be as effective as getting the influenza vaccine. Talking alone has been shown to shed the virus up to 6 feet. Masks are only effective for a short while they must be changed frequently, and when they become at all wet. Hand washing is minimally effective when a disease is mainly spread through droplets. The same goes for a "healthy lifestyle/diet" unless someones lifestyle/diet is way off the norm there isn't any research that I know of that shows it confers better protection than vaccines or even similar protection to the influenza vaccine.

[BlueLightRN]

While I am pro-vaccine and get flu shots, I recognize that flu shots are not protective against all strains of flu. Also, nothing prevents all sickness, even good hand hygiene, eating well, sleeping enough (lol) etc. However, I cannot force a patient to take a vaccination of they don't want to and I don't feel anyone or any business should be able to force a person or employee to take a vaccination if they don't want to, it's a violation of their personal right to choose their own health maintenance decisions themselves.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

While I am pro-vaccine and get flu shots, I recognize that flu shots are not protective against all strains of flu. Also, nothing prevents all sickness, even good hand hygiene, eating well, sleeping enough (lol) etc. However, I cannot force a patient to take a vaccination of they don't want to and I don't feel anyone or any business should be able to force a person or employee to take a vaccination if they don't want to, it's a violation of their personal right to choose their own health maintenance decisions themselves.

I do not view employment required immunizations as any different than any of the many other requirements we have as nurses. No one is holding someone down and forcing them to take the flu vaccine, if you don't want to be immunized then these people can go find a job outside of healthcare where they will not endanger patients.

A persons individual rights end when they endanger everyone else's public health, and this is exactly what happens when people (especially healthcare workers) refuse to be immunized. Non-immunized healthcare workers have much more opportunity to become unsuspecting disease vectors from vaccine preventable diseases.

We, as nurses, are supposed to protect our patients whether this accomplished from simple things such as hand washing or being immunized against influenza.

The medications, anti-bacterial soap(s), disinfectants, and chemicals that we use and/or are exposed daily as part of our job as nurses carry the potential of more serious side-effects than the influenza vaccine.

[NBmomto2]

You see...that's where I need to clarify my point. My refusal to take the flu shot is not because of it's potential side effects, nor is it because I think it will cause autism or GBS. My reasoning is solely due to the fact that after reading up on it, I am not convinced that it will do my body any good to take it. I not convinced that it actually prevents the flu, nor does it prevent me from spreading it to, or 'endangering' my patients.

There have been studies out there, but tell me, how does one predict, exactly, how effective it is? Let's look at this scenario...i did not get the shot, and don't get the flu or get the flu...go back in time, I get the flu shot, and I don't get the flu/or I get the flu. Sound crazy? Yep, it is. That's why no one can predict what would have happened to someone whether they got the shot or not. Every person's body is different. Everyone reacts to the flu virus differently. Many people who die as a result of the flu, die due to some secondary complication related to the flu...meaning that their immune system was probably jeopardized to begin with. I think it is totally my right to make an informed decision on what I put in my body. My immune system does not need a flu shot putting it into hyperactive mode every year, so that over time it actually works less and less effectively.

I get that employers have a right to put policies in place for employees, but in regards to a flu shot, something that is not proven to be something that is even effective in doing what they say it does, I think is ridiculous. Vitamin D boosts a persons immune system, making them healthier, making them less likely to spread illnesses to their patients, but for some people maybe they are not convinced on this either, therefore don't take it daily. And that's ok! What would happen if they forced everyone to take Vit D, each day, or be fired from their job?

Or, what would happen of they made everyone be swabbed on a weekly basis for MRSA, or VRE, or be tested for AIDS, or quit smoking? Or be a certain weight, because when they are obese, they are less healthy, thus making it more likely to be sick spreading illness to their patients (or 'endangering' their patients). ....yes....touchy right? But like a flu shot, these are ALL personal health choices!! I really don't think a job should be dependant on personal health choices!!

[BlueLightRN]

We, as nurses, can't force patients to do things so they don't put themselves, others, or even us at risk, but we can be forced to take vaccines to protect them from risks? I don't believe this kind of double standard is acceptable, sorry. If a person is sick, I could see not allowing them to work, because they are a clear risk, but just because they don't get a vaccine? No, that's still forcing in my opinion. They don't enforce vaccines and handwashing for the doctors, so why do they pick on us nurses? They can't force us to eat healthy, or do anything we don't want to, even if it's good for ourselves and others, this isn't any different. We have rights as people, too.