Hospitals crack down on staff refusing flu shots

In this Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, Bill Staples, a Mississippi Department of Health employee, is given an intradermal shot of flu vaccine by registered nurse Rosemary Jones, in Jackson, Miss. A CDC survey shows that in 2011, 29 hospitals in the U.S. fired employees that were not vaccinated against the virus. / AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Updated 8:44 PM ET

CHICAGO Patients can refuse a flu shot. Should doctors and nurses have that right, too? That is the thorny question surfacing as U.S. hospitals increasingly crack down on employees who won't get flu shots, with some workers losing their jobs over their refusal.

"Where does it say that I am no longer a patient if I'm a nurse," wondered Carrie Calhoun, a longtime critical care nurse in suburban Chicago who was fired last month after she refused a flu shot.

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Hospitals' get-tougher measures coincide with an earlier-than-usual flu season hitting harder than in recent mild seasons. Flu is widespread in most states, and at least 20 children have died.

Most doctors and nurses do get flu shots. But in the past two months, at least 15 nurses and other hospital staffers in four states have been fired for refusing, and several others have resigned, according to affected workers, hospital authorities and published reports.

In Rhode Island, one of three states with tough penalties behind a mandatory vaccine policy for health care workers, more than 1,000 workers recently signed a petition opposing the policy, according to a labor union that has filed suit to end the regulation.

Why would people whose job is to protect sick patients refuse a flu shot? The reasons vary: allergies to flu vaccine, which are rare; religious objections; and skepticism about whether vaccinating health workers will prevent flu in patients.

Dr. Carolyn Bridges, associate director for adult immunization at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the strongest evidence is from studies in nursing homes, linking flu vaccination among health care workers with fewer patient deaths from all causes.

"We would all like to see stronger data," she said. But other evidence shows flu vaccination "significantly decreases" flu cases, she said. "It should work the same in a health care worker versus somebody out in the community."

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Cancer nurse Joyce Gingerich is among the skeptics and says her decision to avoid the shot is mostly "a personal thing." She's among seven employees at IU Health Goshen Hospital in northern Indiana who were recently fired for refusing flu shots. Gingerich said she gets other vaccinations but thinks it should be a choice. She opposes "the injustice of being forced to put something in my body."

Medical ethicist Art Caplan says health care workers' ethical obligation to protect patients trumps their individual rights.

"If you don't want to do it, you shouldn't work in that environment," said Caplan, medical ethics chief at New York University's Langone Medical Center. "Patients should demand that their health care provider gets flu shots — and they should ask them."

For some people, flu causes only mild symptoms. But it can also lead to pneumonia, and there are thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. The number of deaths has varied in recent decades from about 3,000 to 49,000.

A survey by CDC researchers found that in 2011, more than 400 U.S. hospitals required flu vaccinations for their employees and 29 hospitals fired unvaccinated employees.

At Calhoun's hospital, Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Ill., unvaccinated workers granted exemptions must wear masks and tell patients, "I'm wearing the mask for your safety," Calhoun says. She says that's discriminatory and may make patients want to avoid "the dirty nurse" with the mask.

The hospital justified its vaccination policy in an email, citing the CDC's warning that this year's flu outbreak was "expected to be among the worst in a decade" and noted that Illinois has already been hit especially hard. The mandatory vaccine policy "is consistent with our health system's mission to provide the safest environment possible."

The government recommends flu shots for nearly everyone, starting at age 6 months. Vaccination rates among the general public are generally lower than among health care workers.

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[MelanieinNJ]

Here is the answer to your dilemma: if you are told you MUST have the vaccine and you DON'T WANT IT- tell them you are ALLERGIC TO EGGS. I am...and that is WHY I will NEVER have to get a FLU shot that is only 62% effective. Period. I'd rather GET the flu than to, and I quote the medical personnel: "It MIGHT not work but IF you get the FLU it will be less harmful" *** does THAT mean? Just sayin'...

[moonglow525]

Those flu shots contain mercury which is TOXIC to the brain. Those of you who think getting the flu shot is a good thing, then why are there doctors advising against it? I have never gotten flu shots and I don't get the flu.

I'm smart enough to stay away from crowds during outbreaks. I'm smart enough to keep my hands washed and AWAY from my face where the flu virus can enter through your mouth or nostrils. I'm smart enough to keep the Vitamin C flowing by consuming fresh fruits and veggies that contain Vitamin C. I'm also smart enough to keep people OUT of my face when they are talking. If there is one thing I absolutely HATE is when people get too close to me to talk, practically in my face.

I was in the nursing profession for quite a number of years. Caught a HORRIBLE cold when as I bent down to take a patient's blood pressure. He opened his mouth, stuck out his tongue and coughed right in my face!

On a visit to another patient's home, his daughter told me to pick some oranges off the tree in their yard. That cold was GONE in 3 days. As we know, colds are caused by viruses. So, you all can keep your flu shots as the mercury in them collects in your brains, possibly causing Altzheimers later.

My grandparents got flu shots every year and every year they were sick. I would not advise anyone to get flue shots. There are better ways to protect yourself.

[margroks]

Digger, it's not a drug cocktail-it's a VACCINE. Killed flu virus which provokes an immune response in a majority of people. There are several strains included every year but it is guesswork as to which will be the worst and sometimes a strain will pop up that is worse than expected. ANd it is not about freedom-it's about protecting everyone as much as possible. If some poor person cannot take the shots because they are allergic to some component it's too bad and if the rest of us are innoculated that can provifde some protection to that unfortunate person. Decent Americans would care about those less fortunate than themselves. We are a cociety-we're all in this together-it is NOT every man for himself here or anywhere that decent people exist.

[digger2222]

It's NOT a vaccine it's a drug COCKTAIL! Read it and weap or at least you ought to: http://vaxtruth.org/2011/08/vaccine-ingredients/

Besides that it's about Control and conformity.
Reports are there's "No Value in Any Influenza Vaccine: Cochrane Collaboration Study"
http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-10-05/no-value-in-any-influenza-vaccine-cochrane-collaboration-study/
U.S. government panel now pushing "vaccinations for all!" No exceptions...

http://www.naturalnews.com/029081_vaccinations_public_health.html#ixzz2HDEjEt2e

[barcar55]

My question is: Where are this nurse's latex gloves she should be wearing in the picture?

[diddy_back_again]

I see another government madate coming here probably from HHS or CDC. After all it's for the 'greater good'. Isn't that correct all you marxists? Tax flu shots and then make us get them. A lefties dream come true. It's coming.

[eyeamnotalone]

It's already here... the 2012-13 forced flu shots for health care employees are a requirement of Obamacare... 90% compliance or lose 1% this year, 2% thereafter of medicare/medicaid dollars. While saying it's "patient safety", a vaccine with little or no track record for efficacy or long term negative effects won't achieve that goal, rather it ensures full federal payments to health care institutions.

[nicmart]

We should be more concerned about the low compliance with hand hygiene guidelines by doctors and nurses. Thousands die every year due to hospital-acquired infections. And then there are medical errors...

[RJames55]

Health care workers should not be able to refuse immunizations. Any Immunizatios. They can have a health waiver if allergic or other medical reason but should not be able to refuse.

You believe in medicine or not. If you do not belive in it find another line of work no one is forced to work in a Health Care setting.

[judymar14]

A line has to be drawn on a choice, this is one. Except for an allergy to the vaccines, only the ignorant would refuse a shot to protect him/herself against a disease that can be controlled, even if only to lessen the symptons if the flu is caught. As for those who refuse - for religious reasons - they shouldn't be working in a hospital. Do they refuse to treat patients who need blood transfusions, certain medications, shots of any kind...

[aubfmet]

What else does Calhoun the nurse disagree about with her profession?

[Rafterman11]

Flu shots do not make you invincible, but they reduce your chances of getting the flu, or, if you do get it, you get a milder case in many cases. Don't believe the paranoid internet nonsense. Unless your own body chemistry causes problems with flu shots, there is no reason to not get one.

[digger2222]

Don't be a sheep, it's not paranoia to not want to get the latest drug cocktail. It's even been reported that the current flu strain is NOT a part of the flu shot. A lot of good that will do.

It's about Control and conformity. Get informed instead of being a sheep.
Reports are there's "No Value in Any Influenza Vaccine: Cochrane Collaboration Study"
http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-10-05/no-value-in-any-influenza-vaccine-cochrane-collaboration-study/

Yet there's a U.S. government panel now pushing "vaccinations for all!" No exceptions... How's that for freedom of choice?
http://www.naturalnews.com/029081_vaccinations_public_health.html#ixzz2HDEjEt2e

[Rafterman11]

...as I said. Paranoia.

LOL.