Nursing union sues over required flu shots
Nursing union sues over required flu shots
Mandatory flu shots spark a backlash from health care employees every year, and the publicity over the H1N1 flu virus has prompted more health systems to require vaccination. Nurses in Washington state are resisting, with a union representing 16,000 registered nurses filing a federal lawsuit against MultiCare Health System in Seattle for implementing a mandatory flu vaccination policy.
Judy Huntington, executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association, issued a statement saying, "This new policy will force nurses to get the flu vaccination or to wear face masks as a condition of employment and may result in the firing of nurses who do not comply with the policy."
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the policy from being implemented at both Tacoma General and Good Samaritan hospitals. The nurses' union said in a statement that it supports a voluntary vaccination program, but that any mandatory policy should be overseen by the state or federal government.
The union said MultiCare's proposed plan would require unvaccinated nurses to wear a surgical mask at all times while on duty, even though there is a lack of research showing that masks actually prevent flu transmission.
Susan Messier, a spokeswoman for MultiCare, tells Healthcare Risk Management that the hospital has not had time to review the complaint and does not have any comment.
Mandatory flu shots spark a backlash from health care employees every year, and the publicity over the H1N1 flu virus has prompted more health systems to require vaccination. Nurses in Washington state are resisting, with a union representing 16,000 registered nurses filing a federal lawsuit against MultiCare Health System in Seattle for implementing a mandatory flu vaccination policy.Subscribe Now for Access
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