AIBU re Flu Jab for healthcare professionals

[Libitina]

My Trust is now asking all managers to provide a list of who has had the jab and who hasn't in their department? They have also stated that if we have not had the jab and then contract flu, we will be invited to speak to the chief nurse of the Trust. They offer prize draws as an incentive, use peer pressure to get people to comply and blackmail by stating the sequin payment the Trust will get for a specific percentage of staff being innoculated will "pay for X amount of nurses" that I know we will never actually see.

AIBU to tell them to mind their own business?

I think YABU. A flu vaccine is a safe way to ensure you are not at work spreading flu to potentially vulnerable people (as you are infectious before you are symptomatic) Flu is a killer if you have an impaired immune system, so pregnant, old having chemotherapy etc.
Is it the vaccine or your privacy you are concerned about?

That sounds like a huge amount of pressure. I work for the NHS and take up in my trust for the flu jab is very low, something like 24percent. We have constant reminders to get it but no one has been threatened with consequences as far as I know.
I don't know why more NHS staff don't have it, especially being exposed to so many members of the public day in and day out. On the other hand, it sounds like your trust is trying to scare people into doing what they are told which is not a good way forward. Not sure what I think really (helpful)

I don't know why you wouldn't get the vacc?

Yanbu. I don't have the flu jab. I'd be furious if I was invited to speak to the chief nurse but I would sure have a lot to tell them.

It isn't risk free......ask Stratters for a start!

To be fair, if you get flu and didn't have the jab when offered, they've got a point, so YABU.

Yes, I know it's not 100% effective.

Yes, it is a bit heavy handed.

I can understand the logic to ask that people working in health care (possibly exposed to others who are already ill and at greater risk and the flu could be very serious) get inoculated. Having said that I don't think any employer should have access to your medical records, it's an invasion of privacy.

Unless a person has a genuine reason for not getting a jab, allergies maybe? I don't see why it is unreasonable request. Perhaps it's a bit like if a patient has HIV that they make a point to declare it for the protection of the staff.

You are being unreasonable. You risk passing flu to those who are at greatest risk. Be grateful your trust is proactive.

I believe it's a mandatory CQUIN this year, my trust is not going to make it.
I've had mine!

YANBU - they can't and shouldn't force you to have it.

Anyone who is vulnerable would surely have had the vaccine themselves., so unlikely to pick it up via an uninoculsted NHS staff member. And if they did do then that shows the vaccine is ineffective.

I reckon it's more to do with not wanting staff off sick.

I would object to the tone of the email. Prize draws? I will never willingly have any injections and I wouldn't be prepared to discuss my reasons so I think YANBU to tell them to mind their own business.

CQC insists upon it - any non-compliance results in a black mark against the organisation.

I resisted for many years, because I don't catch much & the clever flu virus is usually several jumps ahead anyway.

I did start toeing the line a couple of years ago.

YANBU .

I have not said whether I have had the jab or not. However, I don't believe it is any of their business. Having the jab will not prevent me from potentially carrying the infection to my patients. Good hand hygiene will do that.
I dislike what I perceive to be bullying tactics though.

At my Trust we receive a "£2 off voucher" for our canteen if we get the jab

You have a canteen?!?

To be fair, it sounds like you haven't had the jab, otherwise why did you post? That said, I'm on the fence. On one hand, I don't see why you should be pressured but if you have genuine medical reasons, you shouldn't be penalised or forced to disclose person info.

Apparently there were many extra deaths from flu at our nearest hospital trust, last winter. It got to the point where staff morale went down and PHE took interest. I can't really fathom why a clinical health professional wouldn't want the annual jab.

You get lunch breaks?

It is their business, though. The vaccine is one of the infection control measures to reduce the spread of flu in the hospital.

BTW look at your Trust's Occy Health policy - you might find it defines acceptable breaches of confidentiality for monitoring purposes (common for health surveillance exercises).

You can't be obliged to disclose what treatments you have had. Just ignore them.

It isn't risk free......ask Stratters for a start!

Tbf, I think Stratters would still encourage as many people as possible to get the jab.

I think I'd have an issue if my trust were to do this.

We had this at work too (NHS worker)

Frontline healthcare workers are more likely to be exposed to the influenza virus, particularly during winter months when some of their patients will be infected. It has been estimated that up to one in four healthcare workers may become infected with influenza during a mild influenza season- a much higher incidence than expected in the general population.

Influenza is also a highly transmissible infection. The patient population found in hospital is much more vulnerable to severe effects. Healthcare workers may transmit illness to patients even if they are mildly infected.

Above is nhs England justification.

I used to be pissy about it to and then accepted that it's good practice to behave in a way that reduces risk to patients. And hand hygiene is not sufficient to eliminate risk from airborne viruses. You can pose as a campaigner for personal freedom or you can do your best to protect vulnerable people from harm