Forced flu shot at work

I'm actually disturbed people are fighting over this. Jesus Christ guys, it's a hypothetical question.

Personally I wouldn't care, if that was what they required then I'd do it. It'd be like arguing that it was mandatory I wash my hands or not wear nail polish or any offensive jewelry. It's trivial. If you honestly have a problem with them wanting this, either talk to corporate or find another job.

Washing hands and wearing jewellery does not present unknown substances into my body. You're not even on the same wavelength with your argument.

Never had the flu shot in my life. Had the flu twice...lasted 2 days both times. Third day I wasn't 100% but back at work. I'll take that vs sticking guesswork in my body.

It's a load of crap. If YOU don't want the flu and truly believe the shot will help, then by all means go get your shot. Don't tell me or my coworkers what to do. People are so worried about healthcare workers...how about those caring for your chidren, cooking your food or checking you out at the store?

I work in a hospital as well. A Catholic hospital at that. This year they are requiring the flu shot. But you know what was required of me to start my job? A drug test (by blood not urine), a breathalizer (yes to check if I have been drinking), they do labs to check for any recent vaccines and if you aren't up to date on Tetanus, Hep B, etc they are all required before your start date. And the first day of orientation you walk into the lecture hall and recieve your TB skin test.

I can't tell you how many times a week I walk into patient rooms that are in isolation requiring that I wear a protective gown, gloves and sometimes a mask. Some masks in which I have to be properly fitted for. I wear gloves no matter what room i walk into but still. I feel so gross and germy when I get home I can't wait to take my scrubs off!

So yes I hate needles and have not previously gotten the shot I will take it. I hope to God all my coworkers do too. For one it prevents us from getting it from patients and for two it prevents us from giving it to the patients. Yes you can wash your hands all you want but hey guess what...it can be airborne sometimes too. No the shot won't cover all strains but it does cover the strain that is most popular that year.

So in my opinion if you work in health care (and have for any length of time) it is your duty to protect yourself and your patients. So i say suck it up and take it. If you don't want to don't work in healthcare!

@ncthomas09. You had the choice whether to take the job or not BEFORE you had the shots. The OP has already got the job and is now being required to violate her person in order to keep the job. It's out and out illegal.

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?

i'd love it

also... you work at a hospital. Yeah, you definitely need a flu shot

I work in healthcare as well. Don't work with sick patients but I do understand why they would require it of you because of the risk of you being a carrier and passing onto patients who may already have compromised immune systems. I get the flu shot every year and don't have complications - always looked at it as being better than the alternative.

Its a flu shot, not small pox vaccine. Suck it up and get it.

no way would i get the shot. i would contact and attorney to see if they can get away with it. or i would get a dr note.

If you're sick, do you always stay home from work? Hospitals are filled with germs. I have a special needs daughter, and everyone in my family gets a flu shot every year to protect her. We avoid the hospital because it seems like every time she goes for an appointment of any kind, she gets sick. So, although I think firing is a bit severe, I think it's very self centered for someone who works in a hospital not to make themselves as healthy as they can be, both for themselves and for everyone who has to visit the hospital each day. Maybe a bit harsh, but you asked what we thought.

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?

What do you do at the hospital? Flu shots were required just to attend nursing school so you must not be a nurse or doctor

@ncthomas09. You had the choice whether to take the job or not BEFORE you had the shots. The OP has already got the job and is now being required to violate her person in order to keep the job. It's out and out illegal.

I know I had the choice before I took it and guess what I took it anyway. When I got the job I asked about the flu shot and they said it would be required this year. And guess what I still took it. It's not a violation and like she said she could get out of it with a DR. note or whatever. But honestly it's not that a big a deal....its a friggin flu shot for crying out loud!!! Just take it and deal!

I also work in a hospital, the pharmacy to be exact. In the last 2-5 years vaccine requirements for hospital employees have become more stringent. Last year at my facility they did not make the shot mandatory, but they did provide special stickers for ID badges for those who got the shot and required those without stickers to wear a mask for the entire flu season. In fact, the hospitals in my metropolitan area made a public health agreement that they would all abide by this policy or one more strict. As the hospital provides the vaccine, I have no issue with it. If they didn't vaccinate me, I'd get the vaccine on my own.

Reasons to vaccinate:

1. Protect yourself from illness. The hospital, by requiring vaccination, helps to limit the lost shifts due illness. You don't lose paid hours and the money spent treating your symptoms.
2. Protect your family/friends/roommates from illness. You get exposed to a variety of nasties in a hospital environment. If you aren't immunized and/or have a slip in healthcare hygiene, you could take something home to your family. Don't make it easier for this to happen.
3. Protect the patients. Caregivers and support staff who are not immunized run the risk of carrying a disease into the workplace and spreading it not only to co-workers, but also the patients, particularly the at-risk elderly, infant and young children, immunocompromised, etc. If a hospital has policies that do not protect patients from this sort of exposure risk they are liable for lawsuits or to lose their accreditation. If they lose accreditation they will shortly be out of business as insurance companies will make them out-of-network. Not to mention that Medicare/Medicaid will refuse them reimbursement if they are racking up extra hospitalization days due to hospital acquired infections. Look into hospital outbreaks of pertussis in nurseries as an example of how this can happen. And not just weakened people are at risk. The so-called swine flu had many severe cases in otherwise disgustingly healthy teenagers and young adults.
4. Protect the community. Diseases like influenza, polio, measles, smallpox, and rubella used to spread rapidly and at times run to epidemic proportions. We don't see much of that in the US anymore thanks greatly to large scale vaccination programs.

Think of vaccination as part of your protective gear. Many occupations require personnel to wear/use appropriate protective gear and will not accept workers who refuse these precautions. They simply cannot accept the inherent liabilities. Workers who are not willing to follow such safety rules may find themselves unemployable. For yourself, weigh the pros and cons of refusing vaccination, but understand that you will increasingly find that limited healthcare employment options will stack up on the con side of that equation.

I would get a note from my doctor saying that he doesn't think it's a good idea for me to have it due to X.

I figure if everyone else is getting the shot then I don't need it do I???

I don't even see the point in flu shots. I get them and I get sick. Yes, I know thats whats supposed to happen, but then I get sick again.

Whats the point of getting a flu shot if I just keep getting the flu?

I would absolutely refuse. Contains thimerosol.

Actually, most current formulations of the influenza vaccine do not contain thimerosol.