22,000 Nurses Refuse *Mandatory* Vaccinations

[Surg-OncRN]

Today, there is an article posted on how 22,000 nurses are taking a stand against mandatory vaccination. These nurses are willing to lose their jobs to stand up for their Pro-choice rights. I have included the link below so you can read the article for yourself. Learn more about NAMV (Nurses Against Mandatory Vaccines)

NAMV was founded when mandatory vaccines were introduced in the workplace, and though it is not pro-vaccine OR anti-vaccine, it is certainly pro-CHOICE. NAMV members believe that all people should have the right to choose and refuse medical treatment, including nurses and healthcare workers.

22,000 Nurses Refuse *Mandatory* Vaccinations | Natural Society

Share your thoughts below

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I had tunafish for lunch earlier this week and, then, when I got home after work, I tripped and fell down my back porch steps. I won't be eating tunafish from now on because it causes falls.

I really love your explanations. I suppose I should also avoid tuna fish, since I'm already prone to falls.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Some posts have been reported.

Might be time for some members to utilize the ignore feature if this controversial topic incites irritation and ire. This will most often lead to engaging in a manner that places the focus on the member and not the topic thus derailing the thread.

Here's how to place someone on ignore: (it helps reduce squeezing of the coronaries, too :) )

Click on your user ID name in the far upper right of any page and select Dashboard.

On the next page click on the green button labeled CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL YOUR ACCOUNT OPTIONS. In the drop down menu, scroll down to select Ignore List. Enter the member(s) name and then click, add member.

EDITED TO ADD: Please note that future off-topic/derailing posts will be removed.

[ED Nurse, RN]

I can't get the flu shot for medical reasons but if I feel sick or know that I have been around anyone who has been sick I swear a face mask to work and if it's that bad I don't go in. Gotta protect our patients, and ourselves.

You can carry the flu virus and have no symptoms. I personally would encourage you to always wear a mask during flu season bc you work with a large immunocomprimsed community. However, do what your policy and procedure is where you work. The way you describe where you work though, I don't know if I'd trust their policies.

[Accolay]

Two things I wanted to address here:

1. Herd immunity works for permanent vaccines, like MMR, TDaP. It does not work with the flu vaccine because we are only vaccinating against 4 common types of virus per year (there are a lot of other strains that arent covered).

2. Why did employers start requiring the flu vaccine in the first place?

Respectfully, the flu shot is absolutely given with the hopes that it will assist with herd immunity. The "correct" strain isn't always covered (like in 2015) but you're not seeing the forest from the trees if that's the part you're going to focus on. Same with #2, because we've determined that it's best practice- hopefully you'll get the flu shot for the herd, not carry the virus and not give to patients. Because you work in healthcare and are around more sick people on a day to day basis than the general population.

Its not mandatory in other countries and yet the flu 'problem' is no greater in, say, Europe, than it is in the US where the vaccine is mandatory.

Europe doesn't offer the widespread vaccination as in the US, true. However, the WHO identifies 6 populations who should receive the flu vaccination which includes healthcare workers. Flu vaccine attitudes abroad differ from U.S. - CNN.com

In the end I don't study the flu. But I don't hear virologists and epidemiologists advocate against the vaccination either. I agree with herd mentality. If you work in healthcare, I think you should get the shot.

[twozer0, NP]

Respectfully, the flu shot is absolutely given with the hopes that it will assist with herd immunity. The "correct" strain isn't always covered (like in 2015) but you're not seeing the forest from the trees if that's the part you're going to focus on. Same with #2, because we've determined that it's best practice- hopefully you'll get the flu shot for the herd, not carry the virus and not give to patients. Because you work in healthcare and are around more sick people on a day to day basis than the general population.

I'm seeing a spade so I'm calling it a spade. Since 2009 flu shot administration among the US has been between 38-58% depending on what age group. I did get my flu shot but not because I want to protect my patients. I got it because my kids need to eat and my bills need paid. If the patient wants protected, they need the shot plain and simple. Again, me having it doesnt stop me from giving the virus to them, it only helps me. It only provides a layer of protection, which again is also nominal like you mentioned above due to efficacy concerns. You didn't answer as to why it was determined to be best practice. Why wasnt it considered best practice 30 years ago? This is the part thats always left unanswered.

Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2013-14 Influenza Season | FluVaxView | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC

[TriciaJ, RN]

I had tunafish for lunch earlier this week and, then, when I got home after work, I tripped and fell down my back porch steps. I won't be eating tunafish from now on because it causes falls.

Tuna fish also contains mercury. You should not even walk through a fish market because you never know what can happen.

[toomuchbaloney]

Well, it is generally my experience that the likelihood of a nurse to refuse a vaccine is inversely related to their level of real medical knowledge. Some people willfully suppress the medical knowledge that is available to them for a variety of reasons, holding onto preconceptions they brought with them when they applied to nursing school.

Arguing with an anti-vaxxer is like arguing with a religious cultist or a political partisan. Their ego is invested in their opinion. Don't waste your breath.

bold mine

The minute someone challenges their opinion with actual data and facts they often respond with angry attacks which are ego and emotion driven. I find that anti-vaxers quickly devolve into mean school girls in their level of discourse when they realize that there is no real scientific basis for their fears or beliefs.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

You didn't answer as to why it was determined to be best practice. Why wasnt it considered best practice 30 years ago? This is the part thats always left unanswered.

Lots of things weren't considered "best practice" many years ago. Medicine evolves.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I'm seeing a spade so I'm calling it a spade. Since 2009 flu shot administration among the US has been between 38-58% depending on what age group. I did get my flu shot but not because I want to protect my patients. I got it because my kids need to eat and my bills need paid. If the patient wants protected, they need the shot plain and simple. Again, me having it doesnt stop me from giving the virus to them, it only helps me. It only provides a layer of protection, which again is also nominal like you mentioned above due to efficacy concerns. You didn't answer as to why it was determined to be best practice. Why wasnt it considered best practice 30 years ago? This is the part thats always left unanswered.

Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2013-14 Influenza Season | FluVaxView | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Lots of things weren't considered best practice 30 years ago and now are. That's because health care is always evolving. No, the flu vaccine is not 100% effective, nothing is. People who are immunocompromised can get the flu shot, but will mount a diminished response. Here's where you come in: by being protected yourself, you lessen the risk of carrying something to your immunocompromised pt. It works the same way with small babies and the elderly.

We'll probably never have 100% effectiveness, but the more of us who protect ourselves, the more protection we provide to the more vulnerable among us. It's not either-or; it's doing everything possible to protect as many people as possible.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Lots of things weren't considered "best practice" many years ago. Medicine evolves.

And how many things were once thought best practice and are now known to actually be detrimental? Throughout, one of the most consistent things I've seen is the effect of vaccination. Other things, like resting for weeks after surgery, have shown to actually increase complications. I'll happily get my vaccinations as recommended. In fact, I think I'm due for another MMR booster in another year or two. Must check on that.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I have worked with nurses who turned in fake "proof of vax" flu shot forms because they feel strongly against it. At the end of the day people are not robots and you can try to force them but....

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

For the record I think facilities require it to avoid the sue happy families who will look for any reason to get a quick buck. Mom was 99 with 9 artificial joints,MRSA.VRE,C-Diff and an EF of 2% but it's that nurse who breathed in her room that kilt 'er. I want my money. Facilities care about themselves. Pretending they care about protecting the patients is...naive'. After all that's why they kick them out half dead unless they have the right insurance.