Slashdot Mirror
Indiana Nurses Fired After Refusing Flu Shots On Religious Grounds
Hugh Pickens writes writes "ABC News reports that Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital has fired eight employees after they refused mandatory flu shots, stirring up controversy over which should come first: employee rights or patient safety. The fired nurses include Joyce Gingerich and Sue Schrock who filed appeals on religious grounds. 'I feel like in my personal faith walk, I have felt instructed not to get a flu vaccination, but it's also the whole matter of the right to choose what I put in my body...' adding that she has not had a flu vaccine for 30 years as a result of a choice she made because of her Christian faith. Over the last several years, hospitals have been moving toward mandatory vaccinations because many only have 60 percent vaccination rates says Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Schaffner adds that nurses in particular tend to be the most reluctant to get vaccinated among health care workers, 'There seems to be a persistent myth that you can get flu from a flu vaccine among nurses,' says Schaffner. 'They subject themselves to more influenza by not being immunized, and they certainly do not participate in putting patient safety first.' But Jane M. Orient, M.D., executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, says the scientific case for flu vaccine mandates is very weak and that there is no evidence showing that vaccinated workers are less likely to transmit virus. 'The scientific and religious concerns are in a sense backward,' says Orient. 'Advocates of the mandate are full of evangelical zeal and are quick to portray skeptics as wicked and selfish. It's like a secular religion, based on faith in vaccine efficacy and safety.'"
By that logic, nobody should be allowed to drive a car. A car has the potential to infringe on the rights of others, just like refusing a flu shot has the potential to make you sick or a carrier. It's not a guarantee you will get sick or make other people sick, it just increases the odds slightly.
I wonder how many of the people applauding the limiting of these women's rights to control their own bodies when it puts another life at risk are pro-choice on the topic abortion?
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
Infecting sick people with flu where your job is to make them better seriously inhibits your ability to do your job.
Oh my oh my what did we do back in the stone age of the 50's and 60's before the flu shots?? People MUST have been dying by the millions in hospitals because all of the nurses and doctors were killing instead of healing. Honestly do you guys read what you write? Simple precautions like a mask, hand washing and staying home if sick will do more than the flu shot. I wish people that are sick would have to stay home until cleared by a doctor to return. I dont want whatever it is your carrying.
"Remember, politicians and diapers should be changed often and for the same reason."
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Since pretty nearly everyone responding has agreed that flu shots are clearly void of any potential whatsoever for adverse health effects, I thought maybe it might make sense to find out what the CDC thinks about this subject.
"Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative ... Since seasonal influenza vaccine is produced in large quantities for annual immunization campaigns, some of the vaccine is produced in multi-dose vials, and contains thimerosal to safeguard against possible contamination of the vial once it is opened ... Since 2001, no new vaccine licensed by FDA for use in children has contained thimerosal as a preservative."
So, can we dispense with the idea that ALL objection to vaccination is based on luddism / unreasoning superstition? Hey, it's only a suggestion, but it seems to me that a reasoned evaluation of the pros and possible cons of shooting substances containing mercury compounds into the bloodstream is not out of bounds. For me, I am inclined to the conclusion that the effectiveness of flu vaccines at the present state of the art are in NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES not worth a crap to the host individual, but that they may be worthwhile from a herd immunity perspective. This particular case is very much complicated by the fact that the personnel are working in close proximity to vulnerable patients whom they are sworn to protect. I think the employer in this particular case is in the right, although the science is not as clear-cut as I would like.
Finally, the CDC goes on to say "Data from several studies show the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines do not cause harm, and are only associated with minor local injection site reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site." Sounds to me like they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. They don't recommend the use of any thimerosal-bearing vaccines in children, yet they tell us thimerosal is "safe", as if safety is an all-or-nothing, either-or condition. But we know that harmful effects of mercury on the body are cumulative and are not entirely limited to children.