Mandatory Vaccination

[degfnp]

Many hospitals mandate their nurses to receive influenza vaccinations each year during flu season. Those who decline are forced to wear a mask while at work during the season. For those who cannot get the vaccine (for example, those who are allergic to ingredients), this seems like unfair punishment for something that they did not choose!

I can understand mandating nurses who decline, because in my opinion, it is an incentive for the staff to receive the vaccine. However, for those who wish that they are able to be vaccinated, this seems like undue punishment! I know it is for their protection, but in my opinion, they should have the right to make that decision on their own.

What are your thoughts on this?

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

You assume FolksB talking about you.

Because they are acting like a troll perhaps?

[mtmkjr, BSN]

The problem here is that you're making this all about yourself, rather than the patients. If you are a nurse, you're obligated to reduce preventable harm to patients, some of whom might have impaired immune response or prone to serious respiratory infections. Healthcare staff provide direct care to numerous patients in any given shift and can pass the flu to other staff, and infection can exponentially multiply quickly. If you cannot receive a flu vaccine, the next best thing is to wear a mask.

You do not have to choose to work in healthcare. Most other careers do not have such requirement. I worked in finance and if I went into work sick, most coworkers would stay away. I wasn't required to get close to them and I could just hide in my cubical all day and still do my work no problem.

If it were true that it's all about patient safety, we wouldn't have all the threads about not being able to call in sick/coming to work sick... That's a heck of a double standard!

As usual, It's all about the bottom line and productivity. It sounds nice to say it's about the patient, but that's secondary to the primary objective.

When management begins to insist that nursing staff stay home when sick as appropriate, Then I'll believe that the patient concern is primary.

BTW, I'm in favor of the flu vaccine for those in high risk groups. I got mine first of all because it's required, second because I don't want to be out sick and leave my unit short-staffed.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I find it an overstep of power and it should be an incentivised choice.

I think anti-vaccine people are morons, but I also do not agree with forcing them to have the flu shot.

No one is "forced." No one has to get a flu shot. There are places that do not make getting a flu shot a condition of employment, and even those that do nevertheless give the employee a choice.

[_firefly, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

If you are seriously asking, check PubMed or Google Scholar for statistical evidence and studies. Deadly infections follow the same pattern as wildfires. Just because your neighborhood hasn't been threatened doesn't mean it won't be ashes this year. The vaccine is only four variants of the virus, but any variant will and does kill the immunologically weak or those with comorbidities. I'm both an immunologist and a RN.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

That's punishment. A mask isn't. A mask is PPE.

Well at both of these hospitals, getting an annual flu vaccine is a condition of employment. Not saying I necessarily agree with it but that's how it is. I get the shot because I want to keep my job. At my last job, I wasn't even an employee of the hospital, I was an outside liaison but I was still required to comply with the hospital's flu policy if I wanted to keep my privileges there.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

No one is making them do anything. They can choose to work elsewhere. This topic comes up at least yearly and always goes nowhere fast.

Bad boss? Quit.

Bad rules? Quit.

Any trouble at all? Quit.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

No one is "forced." No one has to get a flu shot. There are places that do not make getting a flu shot a condition of employment, and even those that do nevertheless give the employee a choice.

Pardon me, but this is baloney. Get the shot or be stigmatized by having to wear a mask. That is force.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I work with a lot of anti-vaxxers who think that the flu shot is a big

government scam, and that God will keep them from getting the flu.

God... I like him very much. But he no help prevent flu.

You are entitled to your beliefs.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I used to work in an allergy clinic. The large healtcare system nearby (which I now work for) has mandatory flu shots with exemptions for allergic reactions or religious reasons. We had 5 different employees of the large healthcare system make appts with us just so the allergy doc would sign the form stating they were allergic to the vaccine. They didn't want the testing done, just "sign here so I can get out of it". Doc refused to sign without testing. We did have one allow us to administer the vaccine in the office, divided dose, with close monitoring, and they were fine.

Egg allergy and pregnancy are NOT valid reasons to skip the flu shot. I've had the flu once, as a teenager, and it sucked. I get the flu shot every year and so does my family. Last year my youngest didn't get it and did get the flu, so he was sick for his entire spring break.

I got the shot last year and still had the flu. Go figure.

I got the shot last year and still had the flu. Go figure.

Probably got it from the shot.

[elkpark]

Pardon me, but this is baloney. Get the shot or be stigmatized by having to wear a mask. That is force.

No, "force" is hospital staff wrestling you down to the ground and injecting you against your will, or holding a gun to your head and forcing you to get the shot. Being required to wear a mask through the flu season if you are unprotected is a simple, reasonable infection control precaution.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

not a troll, been here LOTS longer than ye. perhaps you should check out those things before you call names? and I think it is also against TOS

I was not referring to you morte. I was referring to the OP who has made two posts one day apart that are both on the topic of vaccines but different enough to cause suspicion. I think the OP is either a troll or a bot.

You... no way. Love you morte.