If allergic to eggs, one can get the Recombinant Flu Vaccine... one has to ask their doctor.
Where I do volunteer work at a regional hospital, everyone needs to have the flu shot, including security, kitchen personnel, office personnel, cleaning staff, etc. No one thinks twice about this, they just get their flu shots. We also need to be TB tested once a year. During flu season, visitors are asked to wear a mask, and no child under 16 is allowed in a patient's room.
The Independent/Assisted Living facility even required outside paid caregivers to have their agency show proof of TB testing and flu shots. All the employees and all the residents needed to have their flu shots.
All it takes is one visitor to start spreading around the flu by one sneeze or even talking, people with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. What is real scary, some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons can spread the virus to others.
Imagine a retirement facility with a boat load of ill residents with the flu, some taken to the hospital never to return due to complications.
CMS (federal) requires vaccination be offered to the nursing home residents and refusal is documented. Here in NY, nurses are not required to be vaccinated, but several different vaccines are highly recommended besides Flu, including TdaP, Hep B, MMR, Varicella and Meningococcus. The facility itself will have policies and in the event of an outbreak, they may quarantine all unvaccinated personnel from entering the facility.
Interesting implications for patient confidentiality, too. How's the facility supposed to check?
The best reason for employees to have the 'flu shot is so they're less likely to get 'flu. Enough incentive in itself, without threatening them with unemployment.
It isn't and if it was I would be totally against this. What about my dear friend who is a nurse and is allergic to eggs, which means she can't receive the shot...does that mean she shouldn't be a nurse any more? The best prevention is washing hands, and wearing a mask if you have symptoms.
It it isn't, it should be! An ounce of prevention and all! I guess that ther might be a logical reason why someone wouldn't get the Flu Shot, like an allergy or a previous bad reaction, and then, I think that person should be let off the hook. There is no perfect solution for every problem.
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Where I do volunteer work at a regional hospital, everyone needs to have the flu shot, including security, kitchen personnel, office personnel, cleaning staff, etc. No one thinks twice about this, they just get their flu shots. We also need to be TB tested once a year. During flu season, visitors are asked to wear a mask, and no child under 16 is allowed in a patient's room.
The Independent/Assisted Living facility even required outside paid caregivers to have their agency show proof of TB testing and flu shots. All the employees and all the residents needed to have their flu shots.
All it takes is one visitor to start spreading around the flu by one sneeze or even talking, people with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. What is real scary, some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons can spread the virus to others.
Imagine a retirement facility with a boat load of ill residents with the flu, some taken to the hospital never to return due to complications.
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The best reason for employees to have the 'flu shot is so they're less likely to get 'flu. Enough incentive in itself, without threatening them with unemployment.
Angel
If it isn't mandatory, I would think wearing a white mask would frighten some of the residents at Assisted Living.