Insider Short: Flu Shots

FLU SEASON

Have you gotten shot this season? As someone who flies quite a bit, I should have done this by now, but I prefer to live on the edge. What’s that? Flu not flew. Oh, that’s an entirely different kettle of fish. Flu shot, yeah sure, I’m vaccinated, I got tired of inflating my giant plastic bubble in which I was living. Challenging to drive, too.

But, why would the United Steelworkers file a lawsuit on behalf of its members at 11 Health locations to prevent them from having to get flu shots (or be fired)? Better question - why do the Steelworkers represent medical professionals?

SHOTS HURT

It turns out that 18 states require health care workers to get flu shots, but Minnesota does not. So Essentia Health, to show a commitment to patient safety, participates each year in the state’s FluSafe program. Last flu season, 82% of employees received the vaccine. In pursuing something closer to 90 percent, “we learned from studying other successful institutions that ... we needed to move to requiring the vaccination,” said Essentia’s Dr. Rajesh Prabhu, an infectious disease specialist.

The policy the union is fighting: “Get a flu shot by November 10th or be fired on November 20th.” For what its worth, not the catchiest slogan but it is sufficient and straight to the point.

Christina Bergman, a registered nurse with Essentia for 11 years, explained in a court filing supporting the suit that “I have never tolerated vaccines well. ... The last time I had a flu shot, it left my arm extremely sore for a week.”

Well duh, it’s a big freaking needle that you, yourself, jab in at least 20 arms a day.

THE STEELWORKERS

The lawsuit said union members “have medical conditions or religious beliefs that make it impossible for them to receive the vaccine, yet Essentia has denied their exemption requests.”

Um, big fat lie. The policy states employees with medical or religious reasons can file an exemption, but who reads the fine print on these things.

The union says that Essentia has been meeting with employees in groups and “publicly shaming those who have not received the vaccine.” Is this the best you can come up with?

The union is asking for concessions, such as a vaccine mist for employees who are afraid of needles. Wait, what? Scared of needles and you chose healthcare as a career choice? The horse is now lapping the barn. 

Another request is wearing facemasks instead of being inoculated. I would think most employees would not want that kind of attention called to themselves much less what a patient might wonder. I’m just saying, watch what you wish for.

Essentia Health has 15,000 staff members in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Idaho and this policy also covers volunteers, medical students, and vendors in their facilities.

“On average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to the flu each year” in the United States, said Prabhu. “Getting a flu shot supports Essentia’s mission of making a healthy difference in people’s lives and builds trust with our patients and communities that we serve.”

Union’s response: “Employees wonder what Essentia will be able to require next” as well as having doubts about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine. Some would rather lose their jobs than a flu shot.”

We live in a strange place, and somehow unions continuously fit right in.