When a Covid 19 vaccine becomes available, will it be absolutely mandatory for healthcare staff?

Published

When a Covid 19 vaccine will become.available , will it be mandatory for us? I am not against vaccines but I personally have a reaction to the influenza vaccine and chose not to take it. Will they give us the same option, or will it become absolutely mandatory?

What do you guys think?

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I'm afraid President Trump will put too much pressure to push through a vaccine too fast.

The Salk polio vaccine caused polio in some children, as the vaccine was improperly made.

"In April 1955, soon after mass polio vaccination began in the US, the Surgeon General began to receive reports of patients who contracted paralytic polio about a week after being vaccinated with Salk polio vaccine from Cutter pharmaceutical company, with the paralysis limited to the limb the vaccine was injected into. In response the Surgeon General pulled all polio vaccine made by Cutter Laboratories from the market, but not before 250 cases of paralytic illness had occurred. Wyeth polio vaccine was also reported to have paralyzed and killed several children. It was soon discovered that some lots of Salk polio vaccine made by Cutter and Wyeth had not been properly inactivated, allowing live poliovirus into more than 100,000 doses of vaccine. In May 1955, the National Institutes of Health and Public Health Services established a Technical Committee on Poliomyelitis Vaccine to test and review all polio vaccine lots and advise the Public Health Service as to which lots should be released for public use. These incidents reduced public confidence in polio vaccine leading to a drop in vaccination rates.[76]"

The H1N1 vaccine in 1976 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome.

"An H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak among recruits at Fort Dix leads to a vaccination program to prevent a pandemic. Within 10 months, roughly 25% of the US population is vaccinated (48 million people), about twice the level needed to provide coverage for the at-risk population. Cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurologic condition that in rare instances has been associated with vaccination, among vaccine recipients appeared to be in excess of what was expected, so officials determine the vaccination program should be halted. "

See also zdoggmd's video interview with Dr. Paul Offit on some of the hurtles that must be overcome to make a new vaccine. Dr. Offit states it takes YEARS to know that you have a safe vaccine.

The Salk vaccine had problems with production. The H1N1 vaccine was pushed through too fast.

COVID 19 is a pandemic; millions of people will want the vaccine. If there are problems with a new vaccine, it would be better to find out with a smaller test group.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polio_vaccine

https://www.CDC.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/pandemic-timeline-1930-and-beyond.htm

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=zdoggmd&epa=SEARCH_BOX

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community health.

I love vaccines. I get my flu shot every single year. My son has been vaccinated against every disease in existence. Am I going to be first in line for a vaccine that was rushed through development and production, that prevents an illness that I have a low risk of serious illness from? I am not. Give it a while and then I’ll happily take my shot but not during the first wave of recipients!

9
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
6 minutes ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

I love vaccines. I get my flu shot every single year. My son has been vaccinated against every disease in existence. Am I going to be first in line for a vaccine that was rushed through development and production, that prevents an illness that I have a low risk of serious illness from? I am not. Give it a while and then I’ll happily take my shot but not during the first wave of recipients!

I also love and advocate for widespread immunization. I also agree that this is not the best time in American history to trust that the people in charge got it right on the first try.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here is how I look at it...never before have we been faced with this type of decision. The COVID-19 virus is similar to other types of viruses that we do have vaccines for. So I am expecting a vaccine will get pushed through very quickly.

That is the ONLY reason I am going to be semi-OK taking it when it comes out. But maybe not with the current administration.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
19 minutes ago, Jory said:

Here is how I look at it...never before have we been faced with this type of decision. The COVID-19 virus is similar to other types of viruses that we do have vaccines for. So I am expecting a vaccine will get pushed through very quickly.

That is the ONLY reason I am going to be semi-OK taking it when it comes out. But maybe not with the current administration.

I believe that we are in the same page. I live a remote lifestyle by choice. I'm going to just be the crazy guy from that little Alaska community who rarely goes to town but when he does he wears a mask and steps back when you step forward...until a safe and effective vaccine is available. I will decide on the safe and effective part. I wish that I felt differently and would rush to be among the first.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
14 hours ago, Nursesusu said:

I'm old enough to remember the polio epidemic and what happened when the first vaccine was administered. I have to pass on a vaccine until it is proven to be safe.

I’m not that old but old enough to remember trials of bringing back the small pox vaccine when we thought it would possibly be used as bioterrorism after 9/11/01. Media showed a few young healthy people who volunteered for it and said they had never been so sick in their lives. Later the idea faded and the obsession with bringing back the vaccine went away-yet small pox did not come back with a vengeance and COVID19 doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. Hopefully vaccination will be on a voluntary basis until we have a solid background on its safety. Just injecting crap into people hoping for the best is not going to help anyone unless its safe AND effective- if not effective then a false sense of security-like the current COVID19 antibodies test I hear so many patients say they’re getting (eye roll). Sure, hope you were asymptomatic but have a positive antibody test that may or may not be right? Put your damn mask on and shut up if you want elective care (no covid related health care).

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are going to try to force and it make it mandatory. If they try to force it then I am just going to get my religious medical exemption that by the way they’re trying to pass a bill getting rid of exemptions just so you all are aware. It takes at least 2 years for a vaccine to be properly tested and this definitely isn’t properly tested just like the HPV vaccine they’re pushing on children. That has only ever been tested in women so IDK what their big agenda is at the end of the day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology.

I will not be the first in line to get the new covid vaccine. I am not an anti-vaxxer but I refuse to get a vaccine that was rushed. As for the flu vaccine my employer does not mandate you to get one and I may pass on the flu vaccine this year too. If you refuse you just have to wear a mask during flu season which let's be honest, this will be the new norm for a while.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 minutes ago, OUxPhys said:

I will not be the first in line to get the new covid vaccine. I am not an anti-vaxxer but I refuse to get a vaccine that was rushed. As for the flu vaccine my employer does not mandate you to get one and I may pass on the flu vaccine this year too. If you refuse you just have to wear a mask during flu season which let's be honest, this will be the new norm for a while.

I agree with the rushed covid vaccine thoughts on waiting until we know more about its safety. I waited on the flu vaccine because it was free from my employer-the got theirs late-I was diagnosed the morning we were supposed to get our shots-within 3 days I had bronchitis, o2sats in low 80s and needing a nebulizer and abc shots for the bronchitis-oh and a uti to top it all off. So I’m getting that one when I can, each year-I still get the flu (swabbed positive) about 50% of the time. Now I’m paying for my own N95 masks so I can work and be safer because I have asthma and autoimmune issues-not easy to find but I have a child that needs their mom and I’m at high risk for serious complications if I get the virus. Crazy times we are living in

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I'm am not convinced that the vaccine will be "free"...will the states be bidding against the feds to purchase it, like with other necessities? Business profit is of central importance to this administration

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
On 6/4/2020 at 1:58 PM, toomuchbaloney said:

Do you think that mass vaccination will be offered free of charge to Americans?

We already have that under ACA.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
4 minutes ago, FolksBtrippin said:

We already have that under ACA.

Millions of Americans are not covered by any health insurance and there is still a legal battle to dismantle the ACA.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/suit-challenging-aca-legally-suspect-but-threatens-loss-of-coverage-for-millions

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion