Mandatory Flu Vaccines- How do you feel?

Asystole RN · Oct 6, 2012

Because there is not a study linking or not linking means nothing. Since there is no study that refutes the link between space aliens and your son's allergy maybe that should be a concern?

My facility has mandatory flu shots, or wear a mask the entire time at work, policy. I support it.

You do not have the right to refuse like a patient because you are not a patient. You are an employee, who of free will, chooses to be employed at a facility that mandates flu shots.

The flu vaccine is not approved for children less than 6 months, this does not mean it is not safe. Approval and safety are two different things.

FlyingScot, RN · Oct 6, 2012

Eight billion other threads about the same subject. Do a search and you will find all the opinions you could ever eant.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Oct 6, 2012

Anyone else upset by the requirement to take flu vaccine or else... not even a mask option??? Only way out is a MD note stating "severe" allergy. Why is it we can't force our patients but our hospitals can force us.
I am pregnant and know I am high risk, but I took the vaccine in my last pregnancy and my son has an egg allergy. No proof linking, but no study not linking. I am so close to maternity leave and was going to wait until I delivered to be vaccinated. Do you know that they don't recommend the flu vaccine until a baby is 6 months but somehow it is safe for a near term "fetus"? Shouldn't we have the right to say no, just like out patients?

I would not work for an employer that "required" me to take a flu vaccine and personally, I think mandatory medications should be illegal for adults for employment.

However, the vaccine had nothing to do with an egg allergy. That is why you cannot find a study linking the two or any proof...because it doesn't exist.

To me, it has nothing to do with the vaccine, but just about taking unnecessary medication during pregnancy. I wouldn't.

I also don't get my children vaccinated for the flu nor do I.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Oct 6, 2012

Many employers require this now. It is to protect your patients just as much as yourself. I get mine every year. So does everyone else in my family. Kind of a no brainer to me. If you don't want to work at a place that doesn't require it.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 6, 2012

I would not work for an employer that "required" me to take a flu vaccine and personally, I think mandatory medications should be illegal for adults for employment..

You must have lots of employment possibilities to choose from to be afford to be so determined in your convictions. I wonder how you felt about verifying your varicella antibodies or taking the Hep B vaccine series in order to attend nursing school?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2012

Don't vaccination recommendations for infants have a lot to do with when their immune system is capable of converting and building immunity? Don't maternal antibodies make certain vaccines ineffective early on?

A sign up at my OB's office says that getting vaccinated while pregnant will give the baby immunity after birth.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Oct 7, 2012

You must have lots of employment possibilities to choose from to be afford to be so determined in your convictions. I wonder how you felt about verifying your varicella antibodies or taking the Hep B vaccine series in order to attend nursing school?

I actually do have lots of employment opportunities because of my training.

My facility does not require any vaccines. If you don't want the Hep B, you just sign a waiver for it...but if you do this and get it with your job, the chances of you getting workman's comp is very slim. The vaccine has also been around for many years unlike the flu vaccine that is a 'guess' of which three strains will be the most popular this year.

I didn't have any problems with them verifying titers. I personally have no desire to get chicken pox or shingles.

I am one of those people that gets horribly ill about a week after the flu vaccine. Yes, I know you don't get the flu from the vaccine but it does SOMETHING to where I am horribly ill with 100% accuracy with a very high fever that knocks me on my rear for a minimum of a week.

One of the health nurses at my job came around and was high pressuring nurses to get the flu vaccine and I said, "I'll be happy to take the vaccine as long as they'll pay me if I get sick in a week to where I won't have to use my PTO time."

That is why I don't take it....I actually don't mind the illness, it's getting screwed out of my pay when I get sick that I get upset over.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Oct 7, 2012

Thread explosion and lock in three..... two...... one......

cdthorste · Oct 7, 2012

it's probably mandatory because the hospital knows what a huge lawsuit could be waiting for them if something bad happens. if a nurse passes a flu virus onto an immunocompromised patient.....the lawyers would come after all of you with torches and pitchforks. one quick injection is a simple way to that sort of tragedy. a nurse saying "I just didn't feel like getting one" isn't going to cut it at the malpractice hearing.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2012

When I teched, I had to receive a flu shot and since clinical was at this facility, we had to receive one as a student. So, I received the flu shot two years in a row. Quite frankly, I don't care. I am very into preventative care though, so slight discomfort for less than a minute is better than getting the flu or one of my patients getting severely ill from me passing the flu on to them.

I know I am going to get flogged over this, but unless you are severely allergic to it or having an anaphylactic reaction to it; get over it. I personally have seen middle aged women whine about getting the flu shot and us younger ones couldn't care less about having to get one. We were given the option of wearing a mask, but not many people took that option. Only a few employees quit, so compliance was pretty good. Plus, it was nice when I was an employee, it was free. When I was a student, I had to pay $30.

I think I am more floored at the whining coming from nurses and they are typically the ones giving everyone else shots.

Snowbird17 · Oct 7, 2012

Wow Asystole. Space aliens- excellent reference. Perhaps the moms who took Thalidomine would have appreciated such a comforting analogy before studies were compiled linking that med to birth defects..... I happen to feel the flu shot is very benign but should my employer have the right to force me to take it without offering an alternative? I support the policy as well as long as I can have the option to wear a mask. They are not offering that option this year. Am I really in a position to choose a new employer- I only have a few shifts left before leave. No one will hire me waddling like a duck to work a few weeks and then go on leave. Plus, what about my benefits, etc.

I read through a couple of your other posts to get a feel for the meaning behind your response. This is a quote from a previous post from you...."Hooray for socialized medicine! I love it how government can dictate how we use our bodies. " Glad we draw the line at government but for-profits do what you will to me. I have rights, just not as many as the patients I care for. FYI- in some states this is mandated by the department of health. That is a government agency.....

I take the flu shot, as does my child with an egg allergy. My concern is not the vaccine it is this small step an employer can imposing on my choice for my body. My reasoning for debating the vaccine is irrelevant. I should have left that out. I follow all company guidelines. I am not a problem employee. This is not just my hospital or my company.

Will I comply, more than likely. That is not the point. Sadly, I wonder what will be required of healthcare workers in the future because of the tolerance for such requirements now.

Seems vaccinating the patient really protects the patient. Oh, your nurse didn't give you the flu but the cab driver who picked you up did.

Flyingscot, I did search the 8 billion other posts. Many brought up the alternative option of wearing a mask. I was curious how other nurses felt about not being given an alternative.