SEATTLE, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington State Nurses Association
(WSNA), representing more than 600 registered nurses at Virginia Mason Medical
Center, strongly opposes the Hospital policy to require mandatory flu
vaccination for all registered nurses.
According to an internal Hospital memo, all VMMC staff (including
volunteers) must be vaccinated against influenza and those who decide not to
receive vaccination will face termination.
"WSNA is utterly opposed to this policy and appalled that the Hospital
would threaten nurses with termination as its first approach and not involve
us in the formulation of a sound voluntary policy. Forcing nurses to receive
the flu vaccination is simply wrong. We will take swift and appropriate
action unless the Hospital immediately ceases the implementation of this
policy," said Barbara Frye, RN, Director of Labor Relations at WSNA.
"I am shocked that the Hospital is threatening to fire anyone who does not
comply. Registered nurses understand better than anyone both the benefits as
well as the side effects of the flu vaccine and must have the personal choice
to decide whether or not to receive the vaccination. Educating nurses and
other staff about the importance of the vaccination and allowing each
individual to make a decision with regards to the vaccination is what we would
support," said Lauralee Mayorkinos, RN, WSNA local unit chair at VMMC.
Founded in 1908, WSNA is a constituent of the American Nurses
Association/United American Nurses and is recognized by the National Labor
Relations Board as a collective bargaining agent. WSNA represents and
promotes the professional development of more than 12,000 nurses in Washington
state and their economic and general welfare by projecting a positive and
realistic view of nursing, and by informing the Legislature and regulatory
agencies of health care issues affecting registered nurses and the citizens of
Washington state.
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SOURCE Washington State Nurses Association
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Related links:
http://www.wsna.org
CONTACT:
Anne Tan Piazza of Washington State Nurses
Association, +1-206-575-7979, ext. 3006, or cell,
+1-206-459-6409, or fax, +1-206-575-1908
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