Sometimes, you must get your flu shots, or get fired

When it comes to hospitals, the last thing you need when in a building filled with sick people is to have caretakers carrying and spreading the very germs that could make things a whole lot worse. This is why many hospitals mandate seasonal flu shots for doctors and other hospital employees; it’s a perfectly reasonable practice and, if anything, it should be regulatory that anyone on hospital staff get their vaccinations. Too bad only about 40% of hospitals do so, though.

It’s understandable (though perhaps not all too wise) that most people don’t bother with flu shots; most of can can withstand a few sick days without too much trouble. But neglecting to have your flu shot taken when you work with and around ill and immunologically compromised people is just careless and reckless. And when you refuse to receive flu vaccines when you work in a children’s hospital and the best reason you have for refusing the shot is that “your religion prohibits it”, then I’m sorry, but you’re a fucking idiot and should be fired instantly for gross negligence and a serious lack of common sense.

Thankfully, this is just what happened with a handful of employees who were fired from several children’s hospitals in Philadelphia when they refused their mandatory flu shots for religious reasons.

Several Children's Hospital of Philadelphia employees were fired for refusing to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

The people who were let go said this year is the first that the hospital has mandated flu shots.

"I never thought that not getting a flu shot would result in the loss of my job," said Tyrika Cowlay.

Cowlay and her husband, Gary, whom she met while working at Children's Hospital, were among those fired for failure to get the shot.

"Our seasonal flu vaccine policy is stronger than most hospitals in our region – and it should be, because we care for the sickest of sick children," read a statement from CHOP. "Many of the children in our care have never had a chance to have a seasonal flu vaccine themselves so we have to do it for them. Many of our patients are either too young or their immune systems are too weak."

The Cowlays said they refused to get the shot for religious reasons.

"I am a Christian, and my religion prohibits me from receiving vaccines," said Tyrika Cowlay, who was a lab technician. Gary Cowlay worked in environmental services.

I’m gonna have to call “bullshit” on that one. There is nothing in Christianity, or in any of the variants that I know of, that serves to prohibit one from receiving flu shots, or vaccinations of any sort. Either this was a lie, or they have a radically twisted view of what Christianity is and says, or they belong to some anti-vaccination mindset and use “religion” as a cover to mask their lunacy. (Not that it would surprise me in the slightest.)

There’s also a video on this story, below:

I fully agree with the hospitals’ decision to terminate these people’s employment. I respect that some can think that it’s okay not to get their flu shots – hell, I never have and there’s a fair chance I never will, out of pure laziness – and I can even understand if some refuse it for religious reasons (though I do think this is one stupid reason). But when it comes to choosing between respecting people’s beliefs (especially their religion) and the health and safety of sick people, notably sick children, then I’m proud to say that I shall certainly choose the latter, every time. One's religious beliefs should not come at the expense of others’ safety and well-being.

(via Bad Astronomy)
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