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Can employer force you to get flu vaccine?

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artvscommerce said:
You are ignoring the fact that the flu is far more dangerous than the vaccine. If one in 5 million people get a neurological condition from the vaccine, but 1 out of 1000 die from the flu, it's pretty clear that worrying about the safety of the vaccine is ridiculous.
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^ Almost as bad as the people that think Gardisil doesn't cause mental retardation and promiscuity among all those young women vaccinated.
 
Its a really simple equation for me. In the past 10 years I've gotten the flu maybe once (twice?). The cost of the flu vaccine would be about $25/year. I hate needles with a huge passion, and knowing my luck, would probably feel like crap the rest of the day from the shot.
So assuming I stay consistent in my actions, either I'll take the vaccine every year, or I won't. So over 10 years if I take the vaccine I will pay $250, feel like crap for a total of 10 days (1 for each year with the vaccine) and get the flu 0 times (assuming its effective).
Or I don't take the shot, get flu once, maybe twice in 10 years, feel like crap for 2-3 days each time, total of 4-6 days, no cost.

So my cost/benefit analysis says I am not getting the vaccine.

But I work at home, and have minimal contact with the young or elderly. If my working/living conditions were different then my analysis would likely change and I'd probably get the flu shot. Also, if they finally make the vaccines effective without shots, I'd happily take them. But as I recall the nasal variety is not as effective
 
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Quite a few hospitals have a policy that if you don't get a flu shot and you get the flu, you aren't going to get paid time off for it. Its permissible.

Technically in at will states they can fire you if they wanted to make that policy.
 
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Alone said:
I don't consider myself a nutjob, but I don't get the vaccine either. Not that I have anything particularly against it, I just don't feel the need. If I get sick, I'll take a few days off work and get over it on my own. I've been fine doing that for the past 24 years, so something inside me must be doing its job.
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Pretty selfish attitude. Y'know, cuz these things spread and don't just infect YOU.
 
No, they can't force you to get it, but they can penalize or fire people that don't get it. I don't agree with them having that right, but there it is.

I am not against reasonable immunizations with a proved track record in general.
I have not had a flu shot and probably never will. It's just not necessary in most cases. Any immunizations that ARE required as a matter of public policy should be required to be produced and administered at NO PROFIT to anyone. Not talking just about beyond salaries, I'm talking about absolutely ZERO PROFIT. No one should EVER benefit financially from a law.
 
randomrogue said:
I think all the nutjobs who are refusing to get normal vaccines should be required to take a biology course on their own dime. It's honestly starting to get retarded.
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Pretty much this. Why are people so obtuse. ZOMG the gubbernmen is trying to make me sick or do studies on me in secret!
 
My first thought was "no, unless you work in a hospital or something"

And you do... so get it and everybody else can STFU or get employment elsewhere.

I personally don't find the need for it. Like other folks if I get sick, then I get over the worst at home in a couple days. Doesn't really phase me.
 
Haven't had the flu shot or nasal version in ~3 years. Don't intend to either.


Despite the arm chair doctors on ATOT, I always became sick when getting the flu vaccine. Sometimes more than once, if I got my show a couple weeks off from everyone else. May not have been the flu, but getting heavy flu-like symptoms for a week during marathon season is brutal to my training.
 
brainhulk said:
(I work in a hospital btw) My answer is yes. Some coworkers are complaining that it's illegal for the hospital to force employees to get it (or else they will be forced to wear a mask at all times on hospital grounds).

We're working in a damn hospital! full of sick people that we are exposed to daily. I think it's imperative that such places do everything they can to prevent exposure to ourselves and patients.

Anyways, ATOT lawyers, let's hear your thoughts.
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They are not forcing anyone to get a shot they can wear a mask... I agree with you.
 
blinblue said:
Its a really simple equation for me. In the past 10 years I've gotten the flu maybe once (twice?). The cost of the flu vaccine would be about $25/year. I hate needles with a huge passion, and knowing my luck, would probably feel like crap the rest of the day from the shot.
So assuming I stay consistent in my actions, either I'll take the vaccine every year, or I won't. So over 10 years if I take the vaccine I will pay $250, feel like crap for a total of 10 days (1 for each year with the vaccine) and get the flu 0 times (assuming its effective).
Or I don't take the shot, get flu once, maybe twice in 10 years, feel like crap for 2-3 days each time, total of 4-6 days, no cost.

So my cost/benefit analysis says I am not getting the vaccine.

But I work at home, and have minimal contact with the young or elderly. If my working/living conditions were different then my analysis would likely change and I'd probably get the flu shot. Also, if they finally make the vaccines effective without shots, I'd happily take them. But as I recall the nasal variety is not as effective
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Don't most employers give flu shots free? Mine does every year.
 
Bateluer said:
Haven't had the flu shot or nasal version in ~3 years. Don't intend to either.


Despite the arm chair doctors on ATOT, I always became sick when getting the flu vaccine. Sometimes more than once, if I got my show a couple weeks off from everyone else. May not have been the flu, but getting heavy flu-like symptoms for a week during marathon season is brutal to my training.
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there's a nasal version?
 
shortylickens said:
Wait, flu shots make women horny?

😱
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Gardisil is the HPV vaccine. some righty nutter--I'm pretty sure it was Bachman, was claiming that Gardisil caused some girl to become retarded (an outright lie--she actually pulled that out of her ass on the spot), in order to attack Perry's vaccination policy.
 
zinfamous said:
yes, it uses live virus, though.

You can't really use it if you work or operate anywhere near immunocompromised patients, as you will be "shedding" live virus for a few days.

or something like that
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:hmm: that sounds like you're just giving yourself the flu... but I don't know anything about such things
 
IceBergSLiM said:
It sounds like it isnt being forced at all. You either get it or wear a face mask at all times. This seems more than reasonable policy
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The face mask at all time requirement is to protect the patients and more importantly, it easily identifies the selfish asshole idiot employees who don't give a shit about the patients or their co-workers.

If I ran the hospital I'd add a dunce cap requirement as well.


ETA: Although I'd rather fire the jackasses on the spot.
 
gorcorps said:
:hmm: that sounds like you're just giving yourself the flu... but I don't know anything about such things
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It is. The virus is allowed to propogate in a non-human (usually tissue culture or egg) host. In infecting the culture, the virus mutates to adapt to the new environment, but these genetic mutations make it less effective at infecting humans. This "new", related virus is then used as the live vaccine.

It's much more similar to the old inoculation against smallpox using cowpox than the flu shot. There is a chance of a real infection, especially if the patient is immunocompomised, but it also tends to provide slightly better immunity.
 
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Numenorean said:
So I can learn about cool things like antibodies which fight disease and generally keep me healthy without medicine and vaccines?
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And, so you can learn how that if you catch the flu, while your body is doing a good job growing lots of antibodies and waging battle on the virus within your body, you're also spreading the flu to patients in the hospital - patients whose immune systems are often compromised and who are at significant risk of dying from the flu.

Anyone who doesn't understand this and works in a hospital deserves to be fired for incompetence.
 
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