Posted on 09/29/2009 5:55:46 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Health care institutions, concerned that less than half their workers got flu shots in previous years, are moving for the first time to make the shots mandatory in the face of an expected swine flu pandemic.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures for the 2007-08 flu season, the most recent available, show that just 45.4 percent of U.S. health care workers ages 19 to 64 were immunized against seasonal flu that year. Three British surveys released in recent weeks suggest the same pattern with the novel H1N1 virus, commonly known as the "swine flu" virus.
But Dr. Tom Talbot, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said "there has been a big wave this year" of mandatory vaccination rules, ranging from small doctors' offices to large medical care and hospital systems.
"A lot of people are leaning [toward mandatory vaccinations], pointing to it as a safety issue, akin to a surgeon refusing to do a scrub before surgery," he said.
"I think H1N1 has prompted it," he said, adding that rules for seasonal flu are in place and likely will be for H1N1 when the vaccine becomes available. He said that voluntary systems need resources to exhort workers into complying, making a mandatory policy cheaper and quicker.
The New York State Health Department, in what is thought to be the first statewide ruling of its kind, now requires all hospital, hospice and home health care workers to get both a seasonal and H1N1 flu shot. Those who defy the requirement without a religious or medical reason put their jobs at risk.
Policies for H1N1 are generally still being formulated, spokesmen at several hospitals, health care systems and professional groups nationwide told The Washington Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Gotta buy that vacine and pay back that BIG donor to The Messaih, doncha know?
The health care workers are protesting this in Albany today. There is talk that if they refuse the shot they will lose their job. Ahh, the great state of New York!!
I love how health workers are always saying its no big deal...but then as soon as its required for THEM they freak out and start talking about how dangerous it is.
They were saying this to the nurses in the children’s hospital where I am doing clinicals. They don’t have a choice.
“I love how health workers are always saying its no big deal...but then as soon as its required for THEM they freak out and start talking about how dangerous it is.”
It’s how libs work. Healthcare “reform” is good for you... but those passing the legislation won’t be part of the plan!
I hate them.
I was in the Navy when the last swine flu came around. I was forced to take the vaccination even though the side effects were known, and the safety of the vaccine was in question.
I’ll never take another flu shot. My body is not the government’s chemistry set to play with.
These workers probably have 99% chance of getting the flu because people are bringing it to them. The problem is that they are more or less “still testing” the H1N1.
I have really reached my limit!! The state and federal governments need to stay out of our business.
The Commissioner of Health of NY state was interviewed on the radio today. What he said made some sense. He mentioned the fact that nurses in a pediatric oncology unit did not take flu shots and came down with the flu. Unfortunately, they spread the flu throughout the unit.
In NY - “No Shot, No Job”
Sickening. (pun intended)
anecdotal evidence... next...
I have know several people personally and known of many more people that have had the swine flu in the last few months. IT WAS NO BIG DEAL FOR THEM! To a person, it was far less severe than the regular flu. No vaccine for our household!
When I took a flu shot in 1976...(can't remember if it was swine variety).... I ended up with double-pneumonia and very ill for 3 weeks. I've never taken another.
If the issue is forced this time....I may be looking for a new career....because I won't tolerate this again. There are alot of nurses who feel the same way.
One of my best friends is a nurse, who plans to claim she’s allergic to the shot. Failing that, she’s willing to lose her job rather than take the shot.
Another FReeper posted this link a few days ago - a CBS 60 Minutes gov’ment expose, originally aired in 1979, regarding the 1976 Deadly Swine Flu Fraud:
http://www.resistnet.com/forum/topics/cbs-60-min-1976-swine-flu
I’m betting that doctors are not covered by this requirement. I had an e-mail exchange many years ago with a nurse at an East Coast hospital who was required to get a flu shot every year. So was the rest of the hospital staff with one exception. None of the doctors got shots. What did the doctors know and when did they know it? Good question.
Good for you. That’s how my friend feels - and check out the video at the link I just posted about the 1976 Swine Flu Fraud and other side effects. Scary stuff.
I believe it’s a requirement for military personnel.
No. The statement is correct. The gal was telling me the truth. She was an RN at some hospital. I don't recall which one. In any case, she had absolutely no motivation to lie about it. So why do think she was incorrect?
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