Safety

Federal court sides with nurses against mandatory flu shots

OSHA Healthcare Connection, January 17, 2006

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The U.S. District Court in Seattle ruled in favor of the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), which fought against the Virginia Mason Medical Center's attempt to impose mandatory flu shots or face dismissal.

The medical center sought to make flu shots a condition of employment and fire RNs who did not comply, according to a January 7 news release from the WSNA.

The WSNA supports flu vaccination and strongly encourages nurses to get them. However, it opposes any healthcare facility threatening to fire employees if they do not submit to the mandatory vaccination, especially in the absence of a declared public health emergency and a recommendation for mandatory vaccination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The WSNA represents more than 600 registered nurses at Virginia Mason Medical Center.



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