After writing a story about a group of hospital workers who were dismissed after they declined to take flu shots, comments started popping up online. Some lauded the hospital employees for their choice while others took the stance that patient safety should be the top priority, not personal convictions. Here are a few comments that appeared on The Elkhart Truth’s Facebook page:
I also received a few emails from readers about the article, including the one copied below. The reader gave me permission to share their comments but wanted to remain anonymous, citing concerns that they would be terminated from their job for speaking out. The email is kind of a long, but it gives an interesting perspective. Here are that reader’s comments:
I feel exactly like these employees in the article – I also felt God-led to not take the vaccine, but I ultimately failed when they looked me in the eye and told my with “Heartless passion” that I would be terminated. I also filed a religious exemption and was denied, I asked that doctor how he can say that my religion is less than someone elses – as I had heard that some got a religious exemption. He would not answer. I held out to the end filing exemptions, spent 2 days writing a letter to one of the doctors in charge (which he never read), praying for a miracle to happen. In the end I scheduled 3 days off and I cried for hours after the shot – it was very emotional for me. I truely feel violated – given the vaccine against my choice.
I in no way believe that their main concern is for the patient safety – as your article states there are other ways to protect the patient. I also feel exactly like Sue Schrock when she says this experience has changed her outlook on IU Goshen Health and “I don’t care if I ever walk through those doors again” and ” I work with a phenomenal group of people” – only I still work there and some of those phenomenal people are now gone. I know all hospitals are starting to require this, but how can they make medical decisions for us. I don’t care that you have a medical degree – that doesn’t mean you know what is best for everyone…no one knows their body better than that person.
I want you to be aware that there was a panel of 4 doctors at IU Goshen that were put in charge of the exemptions and one of those doctors is the head of the Elkhart County disease control (very bias) isn’t that a conflict of interest?
I also want you to know that I know I am not alone….there are many others like me that in the end folded, because of the economy, where are we going to go out and get a job tomorrow, where are we going to get insurance tomorrow. Our rights are being taken away from us….it is a sad day when we are not allowed to choose our own medical care.Indiana University Health Goshen Mission and Values Statements
The mission of Indiana University Health Goshen is to improve the health of our communities by providing innovative, outstanding care and services, through exceptional people doing exceptional work.COMPASSION – and commitment to serve with empathy
ACCOUNTABILITY – with integrity and action
RESPECT – through treating others as you wish to be treated
EXCELLENCE – in all we doApprarently our mission statement does not apply to employees.
Email me at abarbazon@etruth.com. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
We need to keep fighting against this tyranny about forced vaccines. I am a nurse and our patients always get more sick after the flu shot is given and MANY people have their immune systems more compromized and get guillen-barre, pneumonia and have even been paralyzed. Some of our employees have had family members get seriously ill and their physical well being damaged forever from these vaccines. The benefits of these vaccines are all lies by CDC and the pharmeceutical companies.
The thermosal in vaccines is absolute poison to our bodies. This nonsense needs to be stopped immediately.
1. Flu shots are any help to only 1% of persons who receive them. Therefore they do nothing to improve patient safety.
2. Receiving a flu shot has been shown in some recent studies to increase a person’s chances of getting the flu. Therefore having staff take flu shots actually erodes patient safety.
3. Flu shots contain 250% of the maximum safe level of mercury as established by the EPA. They give those who receive them, a tremendously elevated risk of brain lesions, cancer, auto-immune disorders, in children autism, etc. Therefore having staff take flu shots further erodes patient safety as caregivers become slightly less capable.
4. Only a staff who is a raving idiot, or completely uninformed, could possibly considering taking a flu shot.
5. The leadership is either made up of raving idiots, or completely uninformed people, or people who are “on the take.” After all, mass flu shots makes certain rich people much richer. It’s a scam.
6. Bravo to each of those brave staff members who refused the shot and figured their lives and their families and their futures were more important than a lousy job. Congratulations to them! We need more smart folks like them in healthcare.