Hospital Employee To Be Disciplined For Refusing Flu Shot

Fox 2 Now (Saint Louis) ^ | November 5, 2012 | Anthony Kiekow

[Altariel]

WEST ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. (KTVI) – A Mercy Hospital employee is facing disciplinary action after refusing to get a flu shot.

The employee did not want FOX 2 to reveal her identity.

“I am scared to get the shot because of the proven adverse reactions people have had,” she said.

The hospital adopted a mandatory flu shot policy this year.

“It is in the best interest of our patients,” Chief of Quality at Mercy Hospital Keith Starky said. “We know that influenza is a leading killer for the elderly and it is just not a risk we can take.”

The policy states that employees can forgo the shot for a few specific reasons, including religious.

The employee refusing to take the flu shot said she is a Christian.

[Cloverfarm]

I’ve started getting them because I work in a factory in close quarters with a lot of somewhat scary people.

Two years ago i got pretty sick from the shot, but later was the last person standing in our department when our supervisor brought in some friendly bug. He did not have the sense to stay home but kept coming to work to spread the joy.

last year, no reaction.

This year, mild reaction.

Remains to be seen how sick my co-workers get this winter.

[onyx]

Happy with FR now?

How about Contributing Tonight?

[who knows what evil?]

That is interesting...is that a state mandated thing in New Hampshire?

I don't believe it is mandated by the state; just mandated by the larger health care systems in the state (Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Elliot, Catholic Medical Center)...there are a few exceptions, primarily where SEIU is standing up for the employees. (Shoot me...I am siding with SEIU on this one.)

What you describe in the rest of your post is exactly the way it was here last year. Guess you're next... :-)