# Opinion on Vaccinations for Hospital Workers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 30, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661 "2021-07-30T19:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/41 "2021-08-04T11:18:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yesterday, on public radio, I heard that Walmart was going to require vaccinations for office employees but not for retail and warehouse employees. That seemed odd to me, as the retail employees are exposed to the general public to a greater extent. The reporter suggested the reason for not requiring the vaccine was because people might quit. I suspect it’s also because office workers are more highly valued and harder to replace than retail drones. Yes, I am cynically suggesting that Walmart simply doesn’t care if their retail employees get sick and die, they can always hire someone else, and likewise they don’t care if a customer gets sick and dies because they’ll simply get another customer, or they have enough living customers left. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/42 "2021-08-04T11:26:48Z")
As far as I’m concerned, any hospital worker who declines vaccination has a death wish which, in and of itself, doesn’t bother me. What concerns is that they create a greater risk to society in general and their hospital patients in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/43 "2021-08-04T13:11:07Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I suspect it’s also because office workers are more highly valued and harder to replace than retail drones. Yes, I am cynically suggesting that Walmart simply doesn’t care if their retail employees get sick and die, they can always hire someone else, and likewise they don’t care if a customer gets sick and dies because they’ll simply get another customer, or they have enough living customers left. Maybe if the office workers aren’t vaccinated, the other office workers will quit. But if the warehouse workers have to vaccinate, then they quit. Just demographics in the employee groups. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/44 "2021-08-04T16:32:20Z")
I work in retail. While there are a few who are resistant to vaccines the vast majority of my coworkers were ready and willing to roll up their sleeves at the first availability of the vaccine. Why are you assuming all the peons in retail are stupid? Who do you think has been doing the getting sick and/or dying all this time? The office workers were able to become at-home workers. The rest of us were on the front lines the whole time getting coughed on. I was lucky - my employers actually gave somewhat of a damn about us and did what they could when they could to help us. Walmart plain doesn’t give a damn about their peons. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/45 "2021-08-06T16:13:26Z")
My daughter is coming up on her Junior year at college. She’s been in an accelerated Nursing program from her Freshman year. The university got her jabbed twice before summer break. Then over this summer she had to get tested for TB and get a HepB shot because she will be following rounds at the UofI hospitals. I’m sure they will want her to get a flu shot once they decide which flu to target this Fall. I saw yesterday that UnityPoint hospitals and clinics in Iowa are requiring their personnel to get vaxxed. This reddit link has a link to the DesMoines Register about this… but the thread also has pointed out how dismal Iowa is right now with regards to vaxxing and the cases of Delta variant: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Iowa/comments/oyruje/unitypoint\_hospitals\_clinics\_will\_require\_workers/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Iowa/comments/oyruje/unitypoint_hospitals_clinics_will_require_workers/) ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/46 "2021-08-06T16:34:32Z")
The hospital I work at has set a deadline for all employees to be vaccinated or their employment will be terminated. But then they made an allowance where employees can apply for an exception for “sincerely held personal beliefs.” I’m very much against forced vaccinations but I see no point whatsoever to doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/47 "2021-08-06T16:43:27Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > apply for an exception for “sincerely held personal beliefs.” Personally, I would not want to be anywhere near a health professional that held personal beliefs (even “sincerely held”) that go against scientific and medical evidence. What’s next? “Oh, I have a sincere belief that shaking this stick with honey and paprika over your gushing wound will help heal it.” No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/48 "2021-08-06T16:59:20Z")
Even though I was a mental health therapist at the time, every hospital I worked for required recurring TB assessment and HepA/HepB vaccination unless you signed all sorts of liability waivers. Even then, there was recurring reassessment and encouragement to get the hepatitis series. I had a previous positive TB test and half a year of prophylactic treatment. This means a time test will always be positive. I had to have a chest x-ray every two years to keep my job. None of this “sincerely held belief” stuff. Want to work with humans? Tine tests or chest x-rays. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/49 "2021-08-06T17:11:30Z")
A great example of a totally toothless rule. “You need to be vaccinated for your protection and that of patients and fellow employees, or you’ll be fired, unless you opt out for some nebulous reason, in which case nevermind.” What kind of dimwit in administration thought that was a good idea? I hope that local media are giving the hospital the publicity it deserves. \*it’s not unusual to have opt-outs based on "sincerely held _religious_ beliefs, never mind that major religions have been supportive of vaccination. Incorporating the Church of Me which believes immunization is a sacrilege, can be a tricky proposition. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/50 "2021-08-06T17:36:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > A great example of a totally toothless rule… I couldn’t agree more. I suspect their thought is to put the policy in place now then eventually remove the personal exception but it seems pointless. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/51 "2021-08-07T03:44:41Z")
The hospital my wife works at recently mandated vaccination or else termination. My wife is vaccinated, believes everyone should be vaccinated, believes there is no good reason NOT to be vaccinated…but is totally against this policy of requiring it. I personally dont see how you can hold both of those ideas in your head at the same time. Some of you may recall my wife as the one who a couple months ago was opposed to giving cash bonuses to those who got the vaccine as she believes that is unethical. She believes it is unfairly coercive…that someone who didnt want the vaccine would be tempted by the reward and thus forced to compromise their principles.i would argue that the prospect of losing ones job is at least as coercive, so at least she’s consistent. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/52 "2021-08-07T08:20:29Z")
For people like your wife, so concerned with freedom… A person’s right to be wrong stops when being wrong puts other people in danger. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/53 "2021-08-08T19:20:11Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > While I agree, I saw an article about the same problem with workers at nursing homes. The problem is that these jobs are hard to fill, and firing the idiots might cause the places to be understaffed. Last I saw the average wage at nursing homes is just over $11/hour. I bet if they paid more they’d find that it was easier to fill their staffing needs, vaccine requirement or not. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/54 "2021-08-08T19:51:13Z")
Ontario has the highest number of Covid cases since June. Although elderly Canadians have largely been fully vaccinated, too many middle aged and younger Canadians have too much Covid fatigue and are saying no to the first or second shot, even when they really know better. It’s not the same as the American surge, where average cases have increased nine-fold since early July – the highest average in nearly six months, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Houston, we have a problem. Florida and Louisiana are in trouble. But the time has probably come to require vaccinations to work in schools or hospitals. Canada is a trading nation. If the US sneezes and cases skyrocket than eventually Canada will catch a cold. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/55 "2021-08-08T19:51:27Z")
My opinion: Allowing unvaccinated hospital staff (even administrative) is not a lot different than making hand-washing there optional. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/56 "2021-08-08T20:25:11Z")
Tell your wife that in an ideal world, people wouldn’t need to be forced to get vaccinated; most people would do their civic duty and just do it. Unfortunately, we live in a society that has forgotten the importance of being a good citizen. Forced vaccinations are the way out, the way to avoid more lockdowns, lost businesses, lost schooldays, fewer packed ICUs. It’s just common sense. And of all people, healthcare workers must be the ones to be the good example. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/57 "2021-08-08T20:27:22Z")
Exactly. I mean why wear scrubs? Why wash hands? Let’s make changing and washing bedsheets optional, too? Who needs sterilized medical equipment? I think some people just like having contrarian views, for the sake of being a contrarian. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/58 "2021-08-09T02:57:44Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Last I saw the average wage at nursing homes is just over $11/hour. I bet if they paid more they’d find that it was easier to fill their staffing needs, vaccine requirement or not. Give them a break. They managed to kill a lot of their customers, so their financial situation must be perilous without giving big raises to allow their employees to eat and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/59 "2021-08-09T16:04:47Z")
I have a question- are health care personnel required to keep other vaccinations up to date? Like say… MMR, tetanus, flu shots, and all the other vaccines we all get as children and then occasionally as adults? If so, then there’s ample proof that they’re already requiring vaccination, and this is just one more. If not, then I’d have to ask why not? I mean, yes the COVID vaccine is very important at the moment, and I’m all for employers of all kinds requiring it, but I’d want to know why health care people wouldn’t be required to be vaccinated for everything possible in non-pandemic circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661/60 "2021-08-09T16:13:08Z")
They definitely require or at least encourage people to get the annual flu vaccine and there are periodic TB tests. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-on-vaccinations-for-hospital-workers/947661.md?page=4)