Hospital employees told they must get flu shots

From KOB-TV.com - Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Employees of the UNM Hospital system don’t have a choice about getting a flu shot this fall if they want to keep their jobs. A new policy requiring flu shots applies to everybody from janitors to brain surgeons, and all the jobs in between. Hospital administrators say it’s all about protecting patients and visitors and employees.
     “Research has shown that higher immunization rates among health care providers reduces the risk of influenza outbreaks in hospital settings, where patients may be at a greater risk of more severe disease,” said Dr. Meghan Brett, UNM Hospital Epidemiologist. A memo to hospital employees refers to “mandatory immunization”, and warns that if they don’t get the shot by Dec. 1, they will face “disciplinary action up and including possible termination of employment.”
     Employees may file for medical exemptions, but they will need documentation from a licensed health care provider. Ditto for religious exemptions. Leaders of Local 1199 of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Workers say were never consulted about any of this.
     More and more hospitals around the country are requiring the flu shots, and some employees in other states have lost their jobs. Here in Albuquerque the local union is considering legal action to block the new policy. More

Hospital employees told they must get flu shots