Now that the Covid 19 vaccine is just around the corner... Will it be mandatory?

[NewRN'16, ADN, RN]

Are we going to be able to refuse it, or will it be mandatory? 

I have had severe reactions to the influenza vaccine and eventually I declined it. 

Do we need to have a severe reaction in order for us to decline any further covid 19 vaccines? Or we could still opt out? 

What do you guys think? 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

That's going to depend on your employer most likely

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

No one can force you to get any vaccine however if you work in an “at will” they could fire you !

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I think this will vary from facility to facility. In the beginning, I imagine most places would only take volunteers like my current hospital is doing. However come next year, I think it will be "mandatory" much like our flu vaccines are. As Hppy said, you can't be forced to take a vaccine btu understand you can be fired for not taking one.

[MunoRN, RN]

It would seem somewhat unlikely that the vaccination would be purely voluntary for HCWs working with high risk (hospitalized) patients.

As it is, my employer no longer allows any exemptions for the flu vaccine, which isn't uncommon, since there aren't really any true absolute contraindications to getting the vaccine (the two 'severe reactions' to the vaccine are GBS, which doesn't prevent someone from getting vaccinated in the future, and a severe allergic reaction which the person can still get vaccinated with a recombinant vaccine and/or vaccinated under medical supervision).  

[Emergent, RN]

I decided to accept. I've never reacted to any vaccine. I'm in superb health. I was paranoid,  but decided to throw caution to the wind.

[CardiTeleRN, BSN]

Health care is becoming a field of pure intimidation, bullying, and staff have no rights. It's always do what they say or be fired. No conversations to be had, no surveys. Nothing. We are willing to compromise but its a hierarchy of BS.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

On 11/26/2020 at 11:02 PM, CardiTeleRN said:

Health care is becoming a field of pure intimidation, bullying, and staff have no rights. It's always do what they say or be fired. No conversations to be had, no surveys. Nothing. We are willing to compromise but its a hierarchy of BS.

That's not limited to the field of healthcare. It exists in every setting out there. The employer has always had the right to tell employees what to do, as long as its not illegal/out of scope. Some are just nicer about which knife they use to stab you in the back, when it suits their purpose

[MunoRN, RN]

22 hours ago, CardiTeleRN said:

Health care is becoming a field of pure intimidation, bullying, and staff have no rights. It's always do what they say or be fired. No conversations to be had, no surveys. Nothing. We are willing to compromise but its a hierarchy of BS.

There shouldn't be any "surveys" involved or any other conversations, compromises, etc regarding whether or not nursing staff should take basic steps to ensure the safety of their patients.

If a nurse says they see no need to perform hand hygiene between patients, or that they don't want to because of it's potential adverse effects should they be given a pass?

 

[NewRN'16, ADN, RN]

On 11/26/2020 at 1:46 PM, JadedCPN said:

I think this will vary from facility to facility. In the beginning, I imagine most places would only take volunteers like my current hospital is doing. However come next year, I think it will be "mandatory" much like our flu vaccines are. As Hppy said, you can't be forced to take a vaccine btu understand you can be fired for not taking one.

The more I think about it , the more concerned I am (regarding side effects and possible adverse reaction ) 

Im too chicken for this vaccine. Who knows what it does in the long run? It's not enough data yet 

[blondenurse12, MSN, NP]

I am fully vaccinated and I think of myself as a relatively intelligent individual. 

When I have read on this topic, I am concerned. mRNA vaccines have been researched for years but now we have one in a few months. Pfizer's safety data extends only a few months. The had 40,000 participants which I suppose seems like a decent number but when the population of the world is approaching 8 billion, that's a drop in the bucket. 

Most worrisome is how Pfizer announced 90% efficacy, then Moderna announced 94% or something, then Pfizer came back a day later saying they were 94.5% effective. This vaccine is all about capitalism and who can make the most money off this. 

I am afraid I will be forced to receive it. I have not had children yet. It would be terrible if this vaccine caused some birth defects or who knows what. 

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I’m sure I will get it eventually... but I’ll wait until the last second!  I am 37 and in great health. Statistically speaking, I have nothing to worry about from Covid (not saying I have zero chance of severe illness, but the risk is vanishingly low and I’ll take my chances). So I’m in no hurry to take the vaccine. However, I’m also not going to quit my job over it. When it becomes mandatory, I’ll get it, but hopefully my deadline will be after quite a lot of real-world data from people who get it.