i can understand both points of view. each yr i worked in the hospital i got the flu shot. i'm not sure that it was mandatory tho. but, i wanted it and never got sick. i asked my dr about the swine and was told to get it.

if i was a pt i would hope that staff wasn't spreading it around.
all it takes is 1 person to come in sick and it spreads, whatever it is.
that happened all the time. there was so much pressure not to leave the unit low staffed that people came in sick and wore masks. and i worked in a NICU!

nursenancy - that's why I understand where the State is coming from making this mandatory. They need to protect the patients.

Swine flue paranoia is out of hand.

My dad got an email from his boss, saying that both flu shots are mandatory for all medical people at the hospital. (my dad already got his seasonal flu shot from the shot lady at work.)

The boss said the hospital would provide free flu shots to everyone who hadnt already gotten one...but that they all have to provide documentation that they got their flu shots, or get it thru the hospital. (the hospital is keeping record of whoever they've given a shot to.)

Glad that it's not me being told I have to get a shot. I'm not doing either of them this year.

I wonder if your hubby asks if the hospital is responsible for adverse reactions, because they mandated the vaccines if they will.

Make them sign! I bet they won't.

I know they won't!! But I'd love for him to try that one.

I just saw the email that my dad got from his boss about the mandatory flu shots.

That email at least had wording it in that excused people who had problems that would make taking the vaccines impossible. They just need doctor's notes to get them excused...like high school gym class!

I caught a bit on the news about NY state requiring these flu shots. One hospital said if an employee didn't get it by Nov. 30th they would loose their job. One nurse is going to fight this and is trying to get others to join her. It'll be interesting to see how far the nurse gets in her fight against this. Unless she has a reason that the shots would harm her, I don't know if it is really worth the fight. In this economy I would like keeping your job would be more important. I hope to hear more about this nurse and her reasons so I'll be watching the news closely to follow the story. As for my DH he said he's just going to get the shots.

Today I saw my new PCP and it's the same for him. He's required to get it. He said that he would even if it wasn't required though. I got my regular flu shot today. I'll get the swine flu shot when it's available. He said I'd be eligible since I take an immune suppressing med for the MS (Tysabri).

You know, Texas tried to mandate the Gardisil vaccine for all young girls, and that fizzled!

And this country is very short handed for nurses. Firing them over this?
That sounds pretty stupid to me. Bullying...that is what this is.

I am very worried about this Flu paranoia. There is just too much hoopla about this mild bug to warrant, TWO different shots this season.

The regular flu shot is the same as last year. Are these vaccines designed to wear off in one year? That is pretty lame IMO. I have to wonder if any virus is in them....there have been years when that happened! (ParkeDavis in the late 90's made millions of doses empty).

I am not comfortable about being FORCED into any medical thing.
A huge dangerous disease, yes, but by all accounts this season is not going to be dangerous. However, the adjuvants in the vaccine are "dangerous" to some people, who are unaware of the risk they are taking. IF I were convinced this H1N1 was going to be dangerous, I'd get it, and only it. I haven't had a flu shot since 1976.

Interested readers might find this interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnaiubVJv8E&NR=1
There are 3 other parts to this interview you can find on YouTube.