Marshfield Clinic mandates flu shots for employees

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. Would you quit your job

    • 9
      I would quit
    • 21
      I would take the shot
    • 40
      I would seek out my legal options

70 members have participated

Specializes in Neurosciences.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20090830/WDH0101/908300444/1981

Read the above link and tell me what you think of this. Would you quit your job if your place of employment made you do this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I don't know, I am from Wisconsin and that area is very close to my family. The area has been very hard hit with H1N1 so I can't say I blame them for wanting the extra precaution.

Down here in Georgia we aren't mandated yet, but I know the majority of us get flu shots each year without pressure.

Tait

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

ny state is mandating flu shots for healthcare workers, nysna fighing plan

i remember washington state nurses assoc. able to get legislation overturned few yrs ago...

published august 7, 2009

mandatory flu vaccines for hospital personnel set to take effect

the state hospital review and planning council (shrpc) thursday approved an emergency regulation to require influenza vaccinations for health care personnel. the mandate approved applies to all personnel working in hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers, certified home health agencies, long-term home health care programs, acquired immune deficiency syndrome home care programs, licensed home care service agencies, and hospices. nursing home employees are not covered under the regulation.

the only exemptions are for personnel who have a medical contraindication and for workers, such as those offsite, who would have no contact with patients and only incidental contact with direct-care staff. the language for the exemptions is available in the regulation

[color=#2200cc]nurses association opposes mandatory flu shots for healthcare workers

ny healthcare workers under the gun for flu shots | osha ...

in latest statistics i've read, only 42% all healthcare workers are immunized .

[color=#2200cc]joint commission offers seasonal flu immunization strategies ...

jun 24, 2009 ... "health care worker flu vaccination rates have been less than optimal for years and the vaccination rate is still below 50 percent. ... benefits on patient outcomes, staff absenteeism and reducing infections among staff.

poor flu vaccination rates among health care workers imperil ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

This is a good case for the ACLU. I'm not a fan of theirs, but this reeks of total and absolute totalitarian power being utilized.

The last time I checked, this is America. Where we have choices--if this happens where I work, I will be the first to contact my lawyer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.

If they mandated the regular flu shot, I personally would go ahead and get it because it has been around for awhile and I have been getting it for years without any ill side effects. that being saud, I think it's wrong for them to force employees to get the vaccine if the employee doesn't want it.

However I woud absolutly NOT get the H1N1 vaccine if they mandated it. It has been pushed through much too quickly and I don't believe it has been tested enough. It hasn't been around long enough for us to be aware of any harmful side effects.

There are many ways to protect patients, a vaccine is just one way to do it.

Masks, hand washing, isolation and PPE can also protect patients AND healthcare workers. It is easier for the hospital to enforce mandatory vaccines. They know in this economy people aren't going to quit their jobs.

It's ******** what they are doing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
If they mandated the regular flu shot, I personally would go ahead and get it because it has been around for awhile and I have been getting it for years without any ill side effects. that being saud, I think it's wrong for them to force employees to get the vaccine if the employee doesn't want it.

However I woud absolutly NOT get the H1N1 vaccine if they mandated it. It has been pushed through much too quickly and I don't believe it has been tested enough. It hasn't been around long enough for us to be aware of any harmful side effects.

There are many ways to protect patients, a vaccine is just one way to do it.

Masks, hand washing, isolation and PPE can also protect patients AND healthcare workers. It is easier for the hospital to enforce mandatory vaccines. They know in this economy people aren't going to quit their jobs.

It's ******** what they are doing.

This was about what I was thinking when I was talking to my father the other day and he asked if I had gotten my Swine Flu shot. I told him I had no idea what he was talking about.

Mandating the H1N1 shot could potentially cause me to lose my job because I will not be a guinea pig for a new vaccine for something I haven't even seen yet in my facility.

Tait

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in Marshfield, not at the clinic but at the hospital which is not mandating the flu shot, yet.

I geuss my statement to this would be the fact that the flu shot every year is a NEW vaccine. It is created new each year to prevent the strain of flu that they believe is going to be most prevalent this year. The H1N1 vaccination is the same idea. Granted it is a new shot, however, once again so is the flu shot that people have gotten for years.

I don't know if it's right or not to MAKE people get their flu shots...but I think that people should realize that you are not a "guinea pig" for the H1N1 but for the general flu shot every year, maybe this will make you think differently about recieving it.

On a side note: I'd be devestated if my family was affected by H1N1 becuase I some how brought it home to them...I'm going to do everything I can to prevent this. Including getting my H1N1 shot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I work in Marshfield, not at the clinic but at the hospital which is not mandating the flu shot, yet.

I geuss my statement to this would be the fact that the flu shot every year is a NEW vaccine. It is created new each year to prevent the strain of flu that they believe is going to be most prevalent this year. The H1N1 vaccination is the same idea. Granted it is a new shot, however, once again so is the flu shot that people have gotten for years.

I don't know if it's right or not to MAKE people get their flu shots...but I think that people should realize that you are not a "guinea pig" for the H1N1 but for the general flu shot every year, maybe this will make you think differently about recieving it.

On a side note: I'd be devestated if my family was affected by H1N1 becuase I some how brought it home to them...I'm going to do everything I can to prevent this. Including getting my H1N1 shot.

You have made a valid point :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am for healthcare workers getting the flu shot in order not to spread it to the general public. I also think it may be going too far to "mandate" it however taking care of disabled family members I see the necessity of this. The facillity has two choices IMO in order to make sure their facillity remains safe for patients... either mandate the flu vaccine or not and tell the healthcare workers that elect NOT to receive it, the facillity has the option of asking them not to come to work during the flu season. I don't think most people would be happy with that alternative either.

On a side note: I'd be devestated if my family was affected by H1N1 becuase I some how brought it home to them...I'm going to do everything I can to prevent this. Including getting my H1N1 shot.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

Why not give the choice of either you receive the shot or if you choose not to, or have an allergy or medical condition, then you will be required to wear a mask.

I don't care for the idea of these shots being mandated, but we need to protect ourselves and those we care for.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

I posted on another thread last week that the hospital I work at is mandating the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine for all employees that have direct patient care. They have a loophole to cover them though by saying if we refuse to get the vaccine we MUST wear a mask the ENTIRE 12 hour shift while we are in the hospital...they dont mean just during patient care....they mean the ENTIRE shift. I guess that is their way of covering themselves if someone does become severely ill from the vaccine they can say we did have the choice to wear a mask. The mask requirement lasts from Oct 1st to March 31st.

I have a feeling before its all said and done that a lot of health care facilities will make this a requirement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

I take the shot only if they pay for it... :)

Mandating it is somewhat a touchy approach, especially in the civilian sector.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment