Readers’ Corner
October 16, 2012
More about those mandatory flu shots!
Since our article on the flu vaccine being forced on health workers, readers have been sharing their own stories of discrimination, workplace pressure, and mandatory vaccinations for hospital employees.
To shield their identities, we have changed all names in this article.
Bryan reports that in one South Carolina hospital system, not only healthcare workers but contractors as well—plumbers, electricians, even photographers—anyone who performs work “in clinical areas” (whether doctors’ offices, medical office buildings, or the hospital) are required to provide documentation that they have received their annual flu shot.
Eleanor says that in one Wisconsin health system’s facilities, all employed staff, licensed independent practitioners, contract workers, volunteers, clergy, students, residents, interns, fellows, and product vendors, must either get a flu shot or must wear a mask at all times—regardless of whether there is direct patient contact or whether they are directly employed by the facility. “Here in Wisconsin we have religious, medical, and philosophical exemptions. However, none of them can be used because our hospital claims that it is not forcing us to take the flu shot….Not only do we have to wear a mask at all times, but we also are forced to wear a huge pin that points us out! ”
Anne writes, “Two years ago, the flu shot became mandatory for all employees involved in patient care. It was stated if you work where patients are seen, you must get the flu shot. As I work in the pathology department, I am not directly involved in patient care. Yet this year we were given one month to get a flu shot. Refusing to comply results in disciplinary action—a write-up. Four write-ups can result in suspension/termination. I currently have two write-ups, and will be getting another this year. There are three ways to be exempt: religious belief (verified and signed off by clergy), medical (signed off by an MD or DO only), or philosophical (which is ALWAYS REJECTED).”
June writes, “I work for a large multiple-hospital corporation in Ohio. They require us to get flu shots. In order not to be forced into being immunized, you must provide a documented allergic reaction or other excuse they deem ‘valid.’ If you refuse the vaccine, you have two options: wear a mask at work the entire flu season, or take administrative leave (which is unpaid and comes with no job protection).”
Remember that the drug companies—and the governmental agencies that make the guidelines—are the ones who profit from mandatory vaccinations, not the patients.
We encourage our readers to continue submitting their stories about being forced to take a flu shot (which in the US still contains mercury) in the comments section below.
People Take a Stand Now, it’s only going to get worse. http://www.bhmpc.com/2012/07/healthcare-compliance-the-joint-commissions-influenza-vaccination-for-licenses-independent-practitioners-and-staff/
I am 72 and have never had a flu shot. I have had the flu at least once, but I was just very sick for a few days and got well, without going to the doctor. My husband is going to be 84 and the only time he had a flu shot, he got the flu and never got another one. I think that the drug industry started out many years ago, with the lofty goals as there was this idea that science would solve all our problems. There may be many reasons people become ill, one of them being lack of good fresh food and water. Good genes don’t hurt. But I think much illness comes from the way we take good health for granted. Most people take better care of their cars or pets than they do themselves. I don’t believe that all the mfg. food we eat today promotes health at the cellular level. The lack of outdoor activity and just-for-fun exercise doesn’t help either. Those people who do exercise sometimes become fanatics and I don’t think that is necessarily in their bodies best interest.
I am an RN in a hospital in Arizona where we are also being required to get the flu shot as a condition of employment. I am against forced vaccination but like most others don’t want to lose my job. I have researched the issue of Mercury in the vaccine. I was told by employee health that the individual doses that they are giving do not have any Mercury in them. I also checked the information from the manufacturer and it also says they do not contain Mercury. The reality is that Mercury is used in the processing of the vaccine and then filtered out. Check with who you are being vaccinated by to found out what they are giving.
I have gotten a flu shot every year for at least the last 35 years; except for one year (2005) when there was a shortage of the vaccine, and that was the one time that I got the flu. If someone is only sick for a day or two, then that is not the flu. In my case I had a fever for a week, and I did not return to normal for almost a month. I will continue to get a yearly flu shot. That is what works for me.
Flu shots are one of the more dangerous shots in that they DO still contain mercury AND they are now a combo shot which includes the H1N1. Most people don’t even know the dangers … they’re just handed a form and told to “sign off” on them, which excuses the drug companies from lawsuits if people have allergic reactions or neurological problems, etc. It limits or takes away a citizen’s rights to a legal remedy in a court of law and basically (if I understand it) lets the drug industry “regulate” itself. Since we’ve got Autism in the family with TWO children out of five biological babies born into the family (opposite ends of the country) in 2001 when the vaccinations STILL were being used that contained mercury. We NOW have a situation where shots are not given separately, and when they are “bundled”, they DO contain dangerous preservatives that can cause neurological disorders, etc. I’m 63 and have NEVER had a flu shot and don’t expect I will EVER take one. I had shingles last year for the first time after a prolonged period of stress … but I won’t get the shingles vacs either. Anything that is stored in the brain and causes neurological damage, I’m not taking. After spending the last 11 years caring for a child with Autism, you become real careful and you don’t believe people who stand to make a profit off the drugs they are shoving down our throats. Back when I was a kid growing up, we didn’t have all these vaccinations, except for the polio shots that came out and for smallpox. We didn’t have Autism and Parkinsons & Alzheimers were rare and almost unheard of.
I work for the UC Davis School of Medicine at their Sacramento campus. Even though I do not have patient contact and work on the 3rd floor of a building in a cubicle all day, I will be forced to wear a mask for the entire flu season for refusing to take the flu shot jab. I enter the building via a stair well that leads directly to my office area without interfacing with patients who come to the lower two floors (by elevators) which have clinics. Regardless, there is no way that they can affirm that visitors or patients have had their flu shots, but they continue to inflict this discriminatory practice on all workers whether they have patient contact or not. This began two years ago. I have worked here for over 30 years and never had to deal with this sort of harassment previously. I am forced to sign a form saying that I have refused the flu shot which contains many false statements including “flu shots are safe and can’t give you the flu”. Then, why is it that when they start rounding everyone up for their shots, employee absenteeism rises immediately because they have come down with ‘flu-like symptoms’. Even more despicable is the bribery involved in getting compliance. Everyone who gets their jab is entered into a contest to win an I-Pad. Those of us who decline are treated like black sheep with scarlet letters.
From page 7 of the book, “Malignant Medical Myth” by Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D. 2006.
….”Hepatitis b vaccine carries 12.5 micrograms per dose; influenza and other common vaccines carry 25 micrograms per shot, over 830 times the amount in a can of tuna. It has been reported that vaccines said not to contain the mercury compound thimerosal, still might have it (PCDs, 2003). The long duration of the diet studies makes it very clear that the mercury content of fish, in general, is not shortening life.
Note: The above is the reason I am wary of any vaccine.
Mary Rash
There are soooo many ways to prevent the flu that work as opposed to a vax that doesn’t work time and time again.
In the State of Utah, also, it is now mandatory for all health care workers to submit to a annual flu shot, if not, intimidation methods are in force, wearing a mask while working, however, in the jargon to protect the “patient”, patients don’t have to have flu shots, visitors to patients, don’t have to have a flu shot, can’t upset the medical establishments obscene profits…I’M MAD AS H*** AND I DON’T WANT TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!
Do not take this harmful brain damageing shot. Dentists stoped useing Mercury a long time ago. Mercury has nothing to do with the flu. The flu is a lie anyway
does anyone have a copy of the letter to be given to the flu shot administer-er that asks them to assume all personal liability for any adverse consequences?
Harri, I wouldn’t bother with that-they don’t have to sign it, and you are still mandated to get the flu shot.
Our agency just instituted the mandadory flu shots. We can have a medical or religious exemption-it remains to be seen how restrictive they become with these. I have contacted an attorney to assist me in completing my religious exemption, as this seems to be a somewhat tricky area for exemptions. The attorney’s fees are very! reasonable, and I consider it money well spent.
It is time for all healthcare workers to stand up and refuse. No one! has the right to determine what goes into my body-and especially when that substance contains know toxic substances.
of course not
How can this be happening? Being required to wear a tag? A mask? Isn’t this against Hippa laws that are supposed to protect my privacy in regards to my medical information privacy? Someone needs to pitch a fit! This is clearly in violation of my medical privacy and is unconstitutional to boot!
you are very correct
I am blessed in that I work for myself and no one tries to force me into submission. That is what we are dealing with here -submission. If I did work in that environment, I would wear my pin proudly that stating I will not compromise my beliefs for anyone. I have taken care of my own medical needs for over 40 years and the only time I felt the need for a doctor was to birth my children. At 59, I am drug free, doctor free, pain free, healthy and happy. What else do we require?
Hi Linda, I am right with you! At 57 I am drug free, pain free, healthy & happy, and I safely delivered my two children at home so as to keep them from receiving unnecessary inoculations at birth. The flu vaccines are really not effective, which makes this mandate even more ludicrous.
I birthed my kids at home too at age 19 and 21, doctors are Rarely needed in the childbirth scene, especially if you are a healthy woman! I recommend Ina May Gaskin’s books to all women,
I do not work in the health field, but when I went to my doctor for the PreOp workup before my hip surgery, the first thing he asked me was “did I get the flu shot”? I told him no and that I do not intend to because I’ve been reading it is not necessary and has many side effects, his demeanor changed and gave me a lecture about all that is nonsense, it is not dangerous, who is the dr here? my doctor told me if he didn’t administer it, the hospital where I would have the surgery will require it anyway, etc…but next year I am just gonna tell him, yea I had it at Walgreens, CVS, etc…or not go to see him around flu season…Doctors do not want knowledgable patients !
My friend while in the hospital was quietly told by a memeber of the staff don’t take the flu shot. The staff was getting sick from them. The nurse who told my friend had gotten sick with the flu shot and was out of work for 3 days. She did not like that health care facilities are making them mandatory.
I have not taken flu shots for years. My immune system is what I want to keep built up no some drug happy drug company along with someone telling me I have to take this or that, wear a mask at all times etc.
When I was employed by a hospital many years ago, got the flu shot. While on duty 24 hours later I passed out in the ER, the doctor asked if I had taken the flu shot, yes. He said no more flu shots for you.
So why are we not standing up to the medical “bullies”?
I will not take the shot so may have to not serve at a local hospital as a volunteer until flu season is over. That hurts.
Thank you all take a stand it is time to keep our freedoms not loose them
I am an RN and was told by a Nurse Educator at a hospital at which I used to work that if hospitals have 100% compliance with the employee flu vaccination program, then the hospitals receive a financial bonus; and that is the main reason for mandatory vaccination. We were also told if we refused the vaccination we would have to wear a mask at all times while at work. It is sad that it is coming to this. Medical staff used to be able to decline Hep B vaccinations and sign a waiver. It seems strange since hepatitis is a far more dangerous disease to catch than an illness like the flu.
Here at a large healthsystem in Nebraska where I am employed all emplpyees are required to get a flu shot as of last year. Even those who do not work in a clinical or hospital setting. I work in the buisness office which is in another part of the city and not attached to any clinic or hospital and I have no patient contact whatsoever. Yet I am required to get a flu shot. Refusal is considered a resignation and you will be terminated. There is no philosophical exemption in the state of Nebraska. Alot of us are just furious over this.
most every state has a religious exemption-but you’ll probably need to check with an attorney experienced in vaccine exemptions.
I would love to have more information on the topic of mercury in the flu shot. I must have missed that.
Now mankind wants to persecute those who are aware or the dangers of getting flu shots. May God have mercy.