W. Va Hospitals Will Fire Unvaccinated Workers

[Carly_Roach]

I saw this one coming.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/stat...spitals_will_fire_unvaccinated_workers/29542/

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia’s largest hospital plans to fire any employees who haven’t been vaccinated against seasonal flu.

Charleston Area Medical Center spokesman Dale Witte says workers have until Friday to get the shots.

The policy was announced last summer. Hospital officials say mandatory vaccines for workers protect both patients and employees.

The hospital allows exceptions for employees with medical reasons for avoiding the shot, such as allergies.

Witte wouldn’t say how many employees risk being fired. He did say it amounts to “a handful” of the hospital’s roughly 6,000 staffers.

CAMC is one of a small number of hospitals in the U.S. to require flu vaccines, although required immunizations against other illnesses is common.

We've seen employers terminate workers for using tobacco, and many cheered. We've discussed other states have mentioned raising insurance rates for overweight workers and many said why not? The obese cost us more in insurance dollars.

The next level? Accept an invasive chemical in your body or you're fired.

Slippery slope, folks.

 

[FireDancer]

I hope this is fought in the courts and over turned. I believe that anyone who wants to get a vaccine should be able to get it (pending availability of course) and anyone who doesn't want the vaccine should be able to pass. I don't feel any medical procedure should be forced on any adult.

 

[sbell111]

I have no problem with it.

If people don't want the vaccine, they are free to find new jobs.

 

[SydSim]

My job mandated both vaccines - and I held out until the last possible moment, hoping there would be some sort of lawsuit brought (and then I wouldn't have to get it) But no such luck. I need my job. First time that I ever took the flu vaccine.

 

[scottishduffy]

I bet that will be fought in court and turned over.

I know in my ICU only about 1/2 of the nurses actually took the Flu vaccine when offered.

 

[Jennasis]

I saw this one coming.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/stat...spitals_will_fire_unvaccinated_workers/29542/



We've seen employers terminate workers for using tobacco, and many cheered. We've discussed other states have mentioned raising insurance rates for overweight workers and many said why not? The obese cost us more in insurance dollars.

The next level? Accept an invasive chemical in your body or you're fired.

Slippery slope, folks.

The vaccine isn't a chemical (unless you are counting the solution in which it is suspended). Technically you would have to accept a "weakened or dead organism into your body", no?

I get vaccinated, so I don't get the hubbub.

 

[lillygator]

we're mandated to have the hep shots at the hospital I work for. not the flu shot so far but it is offered.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I am surprised any worker would not WANT the vaccine with all they are exposed to.

When I go to the ER, I have always assumed that the people treating me have "their shots" - Hep A, Hep B, Menigitis, Tetanus, flu, H1N1.

In my opinion unless there is a true medical reason for not taking the vaccine, it is extremely paranoid to be unvaccinated.

 

[DizBelle]

It seems to me that requiring heath care professionals to take measures to prevent illness in themselves that could be fatal to those for which they care (which is their job) is a reasonable request.

I get that some people don't want to get the vaccine. But, perhaps those folks shouldn't be in professions where their choice could kill someone else.

 

[Jsme]

I saw this one coming.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/stat...spitals_will_fire_unvaccinated_workers/29542/



We've seen employers terminate workers for using tobacco, and many cheered. We've discussed other states have mentioned raising insurance rates for overweight workers and many said why not? The obese cost us more in insurance dollars.

The next level? Accept an invasive chemical in your body or you're fired.

Slippery slope, folks.

If a person is working within the health care field I can see the view point that employees should be vaccinated for diseases. Sometimes police and fireman have to do some health care type work so I can this falling within the health care field. I do not agree about the firing due to the flu vaccination. That is subjective for each person.

 

[SydSim]

I am surprised any worker would not WANT the vaccine with all they are exposed to.

When I go to the ER, I have always assumed that the people treating me have "their shots" - Hep A, Hep B, Menigitis, Tetanus, flu, H1N1.

In my opinion unless there is a true medical reason for not taking the vaccine, it is extremely paranoid to be unvaccinated.

I can understand your feelings. In the area that I work, and I only work part-time, I feel that my exposure is about the same as when I'm out and about in real life - at stores, church, etc. Because I'm a healthy young woman, my risk, although present, is extremely small for severe complications from the flu. Personally, I don't feel paranoid, just that if I don't need to take something, then I'd rather not Highly recommending to be vaccinated, I could see. Mandating, well, I'm just not comfortable with that.

 

[Planogirl]

Their workplace, their rules. I can understand their reasoning when it comes to those who provide healthcare. All workers at a jobsite are usually required to follow the same rules so I can see extending it to everyone even if they don't deal with the public.

I can also see the slippery slope argument though.

 

[Piecey]

I don't blame them.

CAMC is not the only hospital in Charleston, it's just the biggest. They should be able to find jobs elsewhere- I have friends that live here (an hour from Charleston) and drive there to work because the hospitals are so desperate they pay better.
If I went to do an amnio or CVS or a Level II ultrasound with this pregnancy, I would get sent to CAMC to do it.
So they have a ton of people going in and out of the hospital. Everyone knows this state has a lot of lower income people, people who weren't vaccinated, etc. and it's a risk.

I'm glad they did it. It's not like they're making the H1N1 mandatory- just seasonal. Think of the cost they'd have when a flu outbreak hits and half their employees either call off or come into work with flu symptoms (thus causing a panic amongst some patients).

More power to them.

 

[Sanchez]

The OP is confusing state/government action with private action. In my mind, the "slippery slope" argument applies to the former and not the latter. Private company=private rules, so long as the rules are not discriminatory. The real question is whether requiring an employee to get the vaccination is discriminatory. It seems as if there is a reasonable basis for the requirement.

 

[PattnFmly]

My problem is with the "changing" of the rules. These people weren't hired under those rules, so there should be a grandfather clause or something. I don't get flu shots myself, and if I had to get one or lose my job, after 22 years there, I'd go crazy. That's a lot of benefits to lose for that! I am so phobic about needles, the last one I had, I was lying down, passed out anyways, and was sick for 3 days. That's 3 days out of work all because I got a tetanus shot! I'm not allergic, just totally phobic!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

If someone doesn't care if they get the flu, then I don't care whether they are immunized against it. Having the vaccine does not mean a person cannot carry it around a hospital.

It sounds like the Disney security lines. A lot of show.

 

[SydSim]

Their workplace, their rules.

I can also see the slippery slope argument though.

I can understand that too. If it had been mandatory when I was applying for my job there, 23 years ago, then I would wholeheartedly agree. Now, in this econmy, it's a little hard to just up and quit and find another job due to an added requirement for my job. But I do understand the concern with the epidemic, though.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree it's a slippery slope.

I hope that those who advocate mandated vaccines for health care workers are comfortable with having their children vaccinated by mandate in school, because that could well be next.

Here's what the ACLU has to say on the matter. I'd say it's all going to be a legal mess for a while.

 

[Planogirl]

My problem is with the "changing" of the rules. These people weren't hired under those rules, so there should be a grandfather clause or something. I don't get flu shots myself, and if I had to get one or lose my job, after 22 years there, I'd go crazy. That's a lot of benefits to lose for that! I am so phobic about needles, the last one I had, I was lying down, passed out anyways, and was sick for 3 days. That's 3 days out of work all because I got a tetanus shot! I'm not allergic, just totally phobic!

They did say that they would allow exceptions. Hopefully being phobic about needles would be one of them.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I don't blame them.

CAMC is not the only hospital in Charleston, it's just the biggest. They should be able to find jobs elsewhere- I have friends that live here (an hour from Charleston) and drive there to work because the hospitals are so desperate they pay better.
If I went to do an amnio or CVS or a Level II ultrasound with this pregnancy, I would get sent to CAMC to do it.
So they have a ton of people going in and out of the hospital. Everyone knows this state has a lot of lower income people, people who weren't vaccinated, etc. and it's a risk.

I'm glad they did it. It's not like they're making the H1N1 mandatory- just seasonal. Think of the cost they'd have when a flu outbreak hits and half their employees either call off or come into work with flu symptoms (thus causing a panic amongst some patients).

More power to them.

It is easy to be flippant about other people's jobs, isn't it? Have you looked at the unemployment rate of your state?

Besides, you and your babies are at as big a risk at the local Kroger's or Mommy and me group as you would be from a worker at the hospital. Probably one heck of a lot more. And if you have had your shot, you needn't worry anyway.