Forced to take vaccine or be fired

[rossetta]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

Is it legal for my place of employment to FORCE me to have a flu vaccination? I understand the need for TB vaccinations and Hep B vaccinations, but a "flu shot" every year? They don't even know what strain of the flu will hit our area or when, it's all a big guessing game, and now I am to be forced to have that serum shoved into my arm or be fired. I can't see how this is right. Supposedly I can only opt out if I had a _severe_ allergic reaction in the past or for religious reasons (and I need written documentation of this from a doctor or priest/pastor).

I had a moderate allergic reaction to a shot about ten years ago, but it happened over a weekend and there is no documentation about it as I was not hospitalized, I was only very ill and missed a day of work the following week.

I do not go to doctor's and I do not injest medicines over the counter or otherwise. I had the major vaccinations that I am required to have, and this year they added a yearly flu vaccination to the list of required vaccines.

What do you think?

 

[lealea1005]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

Is it legal for my place of employment to FORCE me to have a flu vaccination? I understand the need for TB vaccinations and Hep B vaccinations, but a "flu shot" every year? They don't even know what strain of the flu will hit our area or when, it's all a big guessing game, and now I am to be forced to have that serum shoved into my arm or be fired. I can't see how this is right. Supposedly I can only opt out if I had a _severe_ allergic reaction in the past or for religious reasons (and I need written documentation of this from a doctor or priest/pastor).

I had a moderate allergic reaction to a shot about ten years ago, but it happened over a weekend and there is no documentation about it as I was not hospitalized, I was only very ill and missed a day of work the following week.

I do not go to doctor's and I do not injest medicines over the counter or otherwise. I had the major vaccinations that I am required to have, and this year they added a yearly flu vaccination to the list of required vaccines.

What do you think?

Do you work with or around people who are immuno-compromised?

 

[LeeHarveyBlotto]

I think unless they pull a gun, no one is forcing you to do anything but make a choice. A choice that is 100% legal.

 

[Beth3]

If they want to require their employees to get a flu shot, they can. You are free to refuse. They are free to fire you. End of story.

 

[rossetta]

For the great majority of the time I work with outpatients, so I am not in an area that directly deals with the immunosuppressed/immunocompromised. But, on occasion, I am sent into the inpatient area of the hospital for a few hours to help out if they are swamped with work and I have outpatient appointment cancellations. So, yes, I am around the immunosuppressed/immunocompromised occasionally.

I guess I have to take this vaccine or find a new job, huh?

I'm already in trouble for using too many sick days in a six month period because my infant son was sick, so if the shot makes me sick again, I could be fired for missing work. Rather a catch-22 I'd say.

:c(

Oh well.

 

[Betty]

Yes, you have to take the flu shot or suffer whatever consequences the employer decides to take for not taking the shot. I can definitely see why they would want you to take the shot where you work.

Were you not eligible for FMLA when you took time off for your sick infant?

 

[ecmst12]

If you actually get the flu, you'll miss a lot more then one or 2 days, and your chance of exposure is already higher. I don't get flu shots and have never had the flu, but if I worked in a hospital, I'd probably WANT to get one.