Forced flu shot at work
Replies
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I'm sorry, but to be forced into taking a flu shot or be fired if you refuse, is against your civil liberties. I am a respiratory therapist with over 30 years experience, most in an acute care hospital where everything under the sun was treated. We were always offered and encouraged to take it, but never forced. If we declined, we had to sign a refusal form (I think more to protect the hospital's interests). There was a time in my early career that I would take it, but would still come down with a different strain of flu that the vaccine I was given didn't cover. So, I quit taking the vaccine and really paid attention to good hand hygiene and wearing masks around patients with the flu. I haven't had the flu in many years!
You may want to consult a lawyer on the legality of your facility's "take it or be fired" stance.
Good luck.0 -
I'd quit before I got a flu shot. The way I look at it is that your body can't build up natural immunities without actually getting sick sometimes.0
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Lots of mixed debate here. I worked in the Health Care industry for many years, a few years back they were forceing injections upon us for H1N1 and other flu's. We were told that we had two options, either we took the injections or found other employers. We told them that they had two options to either brace for legal action or change their demands. A lawyer friend stepped up to bat and advised the hospital that we were going to file a suit for enough to cover our salaries and take our plight to the media. They quickly backed down and presented us with the option of wearing masks if we were coughing or around anyone who was coughing. Just a sidenote this was a Major Medical Name Hospital.0
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The hospital I worked at only hired people on PRN and yet made them work full time hours a lot of the times without giving them health insurance, I guess they thought a free flu shot would keep people at work and that was their form of health insurance...in the time it took from walking from the health nurses office to my office in a matter of 5 minutes I became sicker than I've been in years, such a weird immediate feeling, no more flu shots for me ever or my son, I don't care who says what. I wish people would do their research instead of just thinking certain things are the "right" things to do.0
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I used to work in a medical center for same day surgery. We were "forced" to take the flu shot -- I'm personally against it and claimed I had an allergy to eggs -- which excused me.... not sure if that still works.
I say no one should be able to force you to do anything to your body/put anything in your body that you don't want or makes you uncomfortable.0 -
Would not like to be forced!!! This should be your choice. My doctor told me last year she wasn't even getting one. Not enough research on the new flu shot!!!0
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You can't sue an employer for placing immunization restrictions on employment. No one is forcing you to get the flu shot--they're saying if you want to keep working there, you need to get the flu shot. If you want to find employment elsewhere, then do so, and you don't need to get the flu shot. I expect that if you decide to work at Staples, or McDonalds, or etc etc. you won't have to get a flu shot. No one is forcing you to work in healthcare.
If you want to continue working in a hospital, it seems reasonable to get a vaccine that has been found in study after study to lessen the number and severity of cases of the flu. Seems a bit selfish to object to something that can protect those you care for--even if you are far from patients, you still make your paycheck from an institution that cares for patients, therefore you should be immunized.
The flu shot can't make you sick--it's a DEAD virus. To say "I got the flu shot and got the worst flu of my life from it" means you lack a basic understanding of the science of vaccinations.
^^ This.0 -
I have received a flu shot twice in my life. I became terribly ill after both instances. The first time I figured it might be a coincidence, but I now refuse flu shots. You can't force me to be sick under the guise of forcing me to be healthy. Also, I don't typically get ill during the usually flu season (even with a cold or sinus infection), so I don't see the point for ME PERSONALLY.
I actually worked in a hospital. A flu shot was optional, but they're strongly encourage you to get one. I explained my reasoning. They understood.
To those saying you can't get sick from a vaccination: I'm not saying I got the flu. I did get ill in reaction to the vaccination. I'm not anti-immunization, but flu shots don't end well for me. If you'd like to force me to have one, you can come hold my hair back and mop my brow.0 -
I'd refuse! The only time I ever had the flu, was the year I got the flu shot! It could have been my luck, but I'm not willing to take any chances again!
Same here. I never got the flu before I got the flu shot. I got one for three years in a row (skipping last year) because my mom told me I should (she is an ER nurse who has to in order to work at the hospital) and I got the flu every year I got the shot. Before that I didn't get the shot and didn't get the flu. And last year, no shot, no flu. No flu shots for me. Seems like they make me sick.0 -
To me, getting or not getting the shot is not the big issue… for some people it works, for others it doesn’t… The problem is that an employer is forcing its employees to put something INSIDE their bodies and then resort to using threats of termination to demand compliance. That is the big issue...
This.
If it is for the safety of people who are immunocompromised and for infants, the next step is to force paramedics, police officers, and those who teach or work in schools to get it. Well, since we don't know who is immunocompromised and we may bump into them in a mall, what's the next step? Everyone is mandated to get the flu shot.
I really have a problem with an organization forcing its employees to get the flu shot. Some say it is a choice. Well, if I had known that I would be forced to get a flu shot when I became a nurse, I would have gone into another profession. I didn't know that this would happen (I have been in the healthcare field for 30-some years), so it is no longer a choice of being a nurse or not being a nurse. Then we have this 'or else you will be terminated' clause. That there makes it like you have no choice. Yeah, you could lie and get out of it, but you shouldn't have to lie. You should be able to say "No, thank you" and they should accept that.0 -
My hospital is demanding that everyone take the flu shot this year. You will be fired unless you have a Dr. Note or religous conviction. How would you feel about this at your work place?
If I worked in a health care setting, I would expect that to be the case.0 -
You can't sue an employer for placing immunization restrictions on employment. No one is forcing you to get the flu shot--they're saying if you want to keep working there, you need to get the flu shot. If you want to find employment elsewhere, then do so, and you don't need to get the flu shot. I expect that if you decide to work at Staples, or McDonalds, or etc etc. you won't have to get a flu shot. No one is forcing you to work in healthcare.
If you want to continue working in a hospital, it seems reasonable to get a vaccine that has been found in study after study to lessen the number and severity of cases of the flu. Seems a bit selfish to object to something that can protect those you care for--even if you are far from patients, you still make your paycheck from an institution that cares for patients, therefore you should be immunized.
The flu shot can't make you sick--it's a DEAD virus. To say "I got the flu shot and got the worst flu of my life from it" means you lack a basic understanding of the science of vaccinations.
^^ This.
1. There have been no studies that show that having nursing staff get the flu shot will reduce the number of patients getting the flu. The only studies done are those that show the effectiveness of the flu shot, which is not all that effective in those who need it most. You must have a good immune system in order to develop the antibody reaction to the vaccine in order for the person to be protected.
2. There are many legal cases that set precedent on what happens when a change is made in the contractual agreement between employer and employee. In the majority of cases, the employee wins when the employer changes something, thereby enforcing a previously absent rule. I look forward to seeing hospitals being sued over this. It will be a crap shoot, but without a concrete study showing the effectiveness of requiring staff to receive flu shots on patients' health, I would say that the employee would win.0 -
I work in a hospital & they are thinking about maiking it mandatory. I think that is absolutly against my right. I don't want the flu shot for the possible repercussions of getting it. I have seen some effects it can possibly have. Of course its only a percentage that can be affected but they are serious enough that I will refuse. I think its completely unlawful also to fire an employee for it. I will wear a mask if needed but I will not get a vaccine for the flu.0
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You can't sue an employer for placing immunization restrictions on employment. No one is forcing you to get the flu shot--they're saying if you want to keep working there, you need to get the flu shot. If you want to find employment elsewhere, then do so, and you don't need to get the flu shot. I expect that if you decide to work at Staples, or McDonalds, or etc etc. you won't have to get a flu shot. No one is forcing you to work in healthcare.
If you want to continue working in a hospital, it seems reasonable to get a vaccine that has been found in study after study to lessen the number and severity of cases of the flu. Seems a bit selfish to object to something that can protect those you care for--even if you are far from patients, you still make your paycheck from an institution that cares for patients, therefore you should be immunized.
The flu shot can't make you sick--it's a DEAD virus. To say "I got the flu shot and got the worst flu of my life from it" means you lack a basic understanding of the science of vaccinations.
^^ This.
1. There have been no studies that show that having nursing staff get the flu shot will reduce the number of patients getting the flu. The only studies done are those that show the effectiveness of the flu shot, which is not all that effective in those who need it most. You must have a good immune system in order to develop the antibody reaction to the vaccine in order for the person to be protected.
2. There are many legal cases that set precedent on what happens when a change is made in the contractual agreement between employer and employee. In the majority of cases, the employee wins when the employer changes something, thereby enforcing a previously absent rule. I look forward to seeing hospitals being sued over this. It will be a crap shoot, but without a concrete study showing the effectiveness of requiring staff to receive flu shots on patients' health, I would say that the employee would win.
There is no contractual agreement between a hospital and its staff that the hospital cannot require vaccines. I look forward to employees losing tons of money to lawyers because they all believe they have the right to a job on their terms.0 -
...I took a survey who did and didnot not get the flu shot and what happened? everyone who recieve the flu shot GOT SICK AND lost work time. DO NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT
:laugh: Bahahahaha! Real scientific survey, huh? You should publish those results in a medical journal. I'm a teacher and I get a flu shot every year, because I hate getting the flu with a passion. My district offers the shot for free, but does not require it. I have not gotten the flu in all the years that I have taken the shot. It's a relief when everyone around you is puking out both ends and you're doing just fine. Of course, I could blame all the colds I've gotten on the flu shot, like so many people have done here, but I realize that my flu vaccine doesn't cause or prevent regular old colds. :flowerforyou:
"Puking out both ends" is not what the flu shot covers. Your misconception is all too common. What you are describing is the stomach flu, for which there is no immunization. The 'flu' shot covers respiratory influenza, not the stomach flu.0 -
I have to get it done for the hospitial I am at...0
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Thank goodness my hospital isn't making it mandatory.
I refuse to take the flu shot and I am the only one in the office that hasn't had the flu for 2 years...
I've taken it before and was sick as hell for weeks. Never again.0 -
My hospital started making us take it about 3 years ago... I think it is ridiculous... I've had the flu once in 38 years... and had the flu shot that year.. we come to work with sore throats, coughs, colds, sinus infections, pneumonia, n/v/d... and every other type of virus or bacterial infection... what is the difference? If they did a nasal swab on us, they would probably find that most of us had MRSA too!0
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I Have religious reasons why I would not, you might want to check and see if they give a provision for phylosical reasons why you don't want to,
Personally I would rather go with out the job then let them violate my temple (In which I also deem my husbands Temple and Gods temple)0 -
that depends, are you a right to work state?
kids have to have shots to go to school, why not adults?
Little known fact, in most states, children don't need all those shots to get in school. Ask for the exemption paper and you will see that I speak truth.0 -
1. There have been no studies that show that having nursing staff get the flu shot will reduce the number of patients getting the flu. The only studies done are those that show the effectiveness of the flu shot, which is not all that effective in those who need it most. You must have a good immune system in order to develop the antibody reaction to the vaccine in order for the person to be protected.
THis is absolutely not true. Earlier in this thread I cited several studies that show it DOES reduce the number of patients getting the flu, and I could easily have kept on listing more studies. It was very easy to find them by googling.
The legal stuff is another issue entirely and I'll let you guys fight that one out, lol.0 -
Little known fact, in most states, children don't need all those shots to get in school. Ask for the exemption paper and you will see that I speak truth.
Yes, and that's why we are seeing outbreaks of whooping cough all over the place now.0 -
What word is that supposed to be?you might want to check and see if they give a provision for phylosical reasons why you don't want to,0 -
Little known fact, in most states, children don't need all those shots to get in school. Ask for the exemption paper and you will see that I speak truth.
Yes, and that's why we are seeing outbreaks of whooping cough all over the place now.
oh never mind the rise in Autusm0 -
What word is that supposed to be?you might want to check and see if they give a provision for phylosical reasons why you don't want to,
my spell check is out, I meant, phil li sophical reasons0 -
Are you freaking serious? No intelligent person believes there is a link between vaccines and autism. One FALSIFIED study found a link.Little known fact, in most states, children don't need all those shots to get in school. Ask for the exemption paper and you will see that I speak truth.
Yes, and that's why we are seeing outbreaks of whooping cough all over the place now.
oh never mind the rise in Autusm0 -
oh never mind the rise in Autusm
there is zero connection between vaccines and autism, sorry. The one study that showed it was a fraud.0 -
Are you freaking serious? No intelligent person believes there is a link between vaccines and autism. One FALSIFIED study found a link.Little known fact, in most states, children don't need all those shots to get in school. Ask for the exemption paper and you will see that I speak truth.
Yes, and that's why we are seeing outbreaks of whooping cough all over the place now.
oh never mind the rise in Autusm
Not ture there are plenty of drs and scentist who beleive it0 -
Are you trying to say "philosophical"?
What word is that supposed to be?you might want to check and see if they give a provision for phylosical reasons why you don't want to,
my spell check is out, I meant, phil li sophical reasons0 -
Not ture there are plenty of drs and scentist who beleive it
Like Mercola? He doesn't understand how the immune system works.0
This discussion has been closed.
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