imjustme123

I think people should be able to decide for themselves. I have an autoimmune disorder and also I watched my husband have a bad reaction to the flu shot right before he went through cancer radiation treatments. My husband works for a medical center and soon he will probably have to try and "prove" that he shouldn't get it. It's bad enough to have cancer and a reaction to the flu shot without having to "prove" you are not a bad person for not wanting to get it. My husband does not even have direct patient contact. He said he is willing to walk from his job over this rather than suffer like he did last time. It is too bad we have to suffer from people who would try and force us to do things against our will. It just seems very oppressive.

I took all the pre-nursing classes, quit my job, bought all my books, started nursing school, signed a declination form for the flu shot months before classes started and THEN they changed the rules on me and forced the flu shot. Short version: I quit school and filed for tuition reimbursement and got it. It has been very emotionally devastating and exhausting to go through this. I could have sued. They admitted that they changed the rules mid-stream. I decided I want this part of my life to be over instead. I also have to put up with the stigma with some that I "quit over a stupid flu shot" making them wonder my REAL reason for quitting or somesuch because all people do not believe my reasons. This whole thing has been hard. Hope you can make your decision before you invested everything I did. They hurt me. And they don't care.

Please post a synopsis of this article for those of us who do not have an account with medscape. Thank you! (moderator edit to add - Medscape is a free sign up service and you will be able to click on and read entire article)

Amen and amen! I too have wondered about the sudden "pandemic". Seems like a very interesting correlation with the mandates about....

I was wondering the same thing.

I see that not only are hospitals and clinics threatened with not getting medicare/medicaid reimbursement for not getting staff 90% vaccinated but that according to this article they can lose their accreditation: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/0...ing-flu-shots/ This basically FORCES ALL CLINICS AND HOSPITALS to MANDATE the flu vaccination or go out of business. This is being forced by our government, but why???

I am not trying to be smug. Sorry if I came off that way. It's just the constant pressure of "take it or leave school" or "take it or get fired" etc. that wears on a person. It's easy to get an attitude when a person is forced to change their life plans because we are not allowed to make our own decisions. I really have no issue with people taking the flu shot if they have looked at the evidence and still want to. I would just like the same respect.

Maybe those of you who are employed can pay all the taxes to support those who aren't.

Very good post. I was just reimbursed for nursing school when I refused the flu shot that they instituted after school began. Glad to see there are others who will think for themselves and draw the line for themselves.

I think this answer is telling. Your answer was not "patient safety".

My school just reimbursed my costs for school since I was required to get the flu shot or leave. I am happy they reimbursed me and they are supposed to have some discussions about this at the school now too. I am not happy about the whole situation. I feel like an ant trying to knock over a wall, but at least I have done my part. I am semi-happy.

Yes, so someone else can decide for you whether you really reject the vaccine for religious reasons. Ridiculous!

Yes and I quit nursing school over it. To me, I question the safety and necessity. Above that, it is the principle of the thing. If hospitals and clinics were REALLY concerned about "the safety of the patient" this would have been mandatory long ago. But only now, that it is connected to reimbursement dollars, is the "safety of the patient" suddenly so important.

I've enjoyed reading olddraggers posts. It seems to me that unless someone posts that the discussion dies. Olddraggers interesting posts have kept discussion going. On the point of vaccinations I think it boils down to whether you trust the government and CDC etc. to always give accurate information.

I actually know someone who refuses to buckle up because he is not hurting anyone but himself if he does not buckle up and crashes. He says it is stupid to make a law against it for that reason. I buckle up myself, but I see his point. People should have freedom of choice especially when it is not hurting another. In the vaccine debate, there is no clear risk vs benefit for vaccine recipient vs others etc. Someone may argue that, but it is very debatable. It depends on who you ask. At any rate, freedom of choice matters when things are not so very clear.