Comments on: Hospital workers fired for refusing vaccinations http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: stephanie http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-18537 stephanie Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:59:27 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-18537 While vaccinations do prevent the spread of disease, they are also loaded with harmful chemicals. I know that I won't have my children vaccinated when I am able to have them. No one brings up this side of the story. So you would rather say that everyone should be vaccinated. & then it just so happens that a percentage that is just as large as the amount of people who would have died from a disease, die from the fact that there are cancer causing agents IN VACCINATIONS. don't be stupid. It's a touchy subject and neither you nor I have the answer. While vaccinations do prevent the spread of disease, they are also loaded with harmful chemicals. I know that I won’t have my children vaccinated when I am able to have them. No one brings up this side of the story. So you would rather say that everyone should be vaccinated. & then it just so happens that a percentage that is just as large as the amount of people who would have died from a disease, die from the fact that there are cancer causing agents IN VACCINATIONS.

don’t be stupid. It’s a touchy subject and neither you nor I have the answer.

]]> By: frustrated http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-17210 frustrated Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:08:45 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-17210 Other than those that voluntarily identified themselves as healthcare workers, I wonder how many of you actually work in the healthcare setting or have been forced to do anything against your beliefs in order to keep or to get a job? This country was founded on religious freedoms and freedom from persecution for religion. If we start giving up those freedoms when they involve seemingly minor issues, sooner or later those freedoms will be taken away for larger, more important things. Cudos to those who stood up for what they believe. The rest of us are just sheep. I'd like to see the study that identified an actual influenza virus on a healthcare worker and tracked it as it jumped to patient and infected them. The flu vaccine is 15-75% effective (depending on whose statistics one reads). Regardless of religion, should someone be forced to take something that has unvalidated effectiveness with the delusion that it will help "protect" their patients? Hand-washing and masks protect patients, period. Influenza vaccine does not always protect the person receiving it, period. People with minor cases of the flu (often those vaccinated) don't realize they have it and come to work. Those who aren't vaccinated and get the flu generally have worse symptoms and stay home. I'll take the unvaccinated group, thank you. Other than those that voluntarily identified themselves as healthcare workers, I wonder how many of you actually work in the healthcare setting or have been forced to do anything against your beliefs in order to keep or to get a job? This country was founded on religious freedoms and freedom from persecution for religion. If we start giving up those freedoms when they involve seemingly minor issues, sooner or later those freedoms will be taken away for larger, more important things. Cudos to those who stood up for what they believe. The rest of us are just sheep.
I’d like to see the study that identified an actual influenza virus on a healthcare worker and tracked it as it jumped to patient and infected them. The flu vaccine is 15-75% effective (depending on whose statistics one reads). Regardless of religion, should someone be forced to take something that has unvalidated effectiveness with the delusion that it will help “protect” their patients? Hand-washing and masks protect patients, period. Influenza vaccine does not always protect the person receiving it, period. People with minor cases of the flu (often those vaccinated) don’t realize they have it and come to work. Those who aren’t vaccinated and get the flu generally have worse symptoms and stay home. I’ll take the unvaccinated group, thank you.

]]> By: soul http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-16802 soul Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:00:42 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-16802 You will only believe patients were at risk, if you believed the hype the hospital was SELLING you. That if you are not vaccinated, you are walking around sickly. And that you are hazardous. Now if you or anybody believes that, I am going to try to sell you the brooklyn bridge. I will make out like a bandit! Also, again...Mrs.Cowlay was not located in a inpatient building! So her duties did not have to be changed to accommodate her. You will only believe patients were at risk, if you believed the hype the hospital was SELLING you. That if you are not vaccinated, you are walking around sickly. And that you are hazardous. Now if you or anybody believes that, I am going to try to sell you the brooklyn bridge. I will make out like a bandit! Also, again…Mrs.Cowlay was not located in a inpatient building! So her duties did not have to be changed to accommodate her.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-16209 Max Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:49:32 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-16209 "Only if the accommodations isn’t proven to be too costly to the employer." Placing patients at risk can be very costly to the employer if any of them die. The employee must still perform her essential job functions, so completely changing her duties would not be a reasonable accommodation. “Only if the accommodations isn’t proven to be too costly to the employer.”

Placing patients at risk can be very costly to the employer if any of them die.
The employee must still perform her essential job functions, so completely changing her duties would not be a reasonable accommodation.

]]> By: soul http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-16205 soul Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:26:08 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-16205 Regardless of what we choose to believe. Or what make sense to us, the law has it's specific criteria. Based on the EEOC guidelines, Reasonable Accomodations have to be extended to those to honor their religious beliefs. Only if the accommodations isn't proven to be too costly to the employer. Also, you do not have to belong to a organized or traditional religion to be recognized under these guidelines. Your personal beliefs, including your ethics and morality are included as well under these guide lines. For example, suppose you believed in God and have high moral standards,but like a lot a people don't belong to a particular religion. Furthermore, what if you were not religious at all? If you could not be exempt for medical reasons, you are stuck. Where would you get an exemption letter? If you are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer,you are suppose to be fair to everyone....even Athias! Regardless of what we choose to believe. Or what make sense to us, the law has it’s specific criteria. Based on the EEOC guidelines, Reasonable Accomodations have to be extended to those to honor their religious beliefs. Only if the accommodations isn’t proven to be too costly to the employer. Also, you do not have to belong to a organized or traditional religion to be recognized under these guidelines. Your personal beliefs, including your ethics and morality are included as well under these guide lines. For example, suppose you believed in God and have high moral standards,but like a lot a people don’t belong to a particular religion. Furthermore, what if you were not religious at all? If you could not be exempt for medical reasons, you are stuck. Where would you get an exemption letter? If you are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer,you are suppose to be fair to everyone….even Athias!

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-15838 Max Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:55 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-15838 I don't see the relevance of the flu shot being mandatory for the first time. If Tyrika worked in another building, why did her religion come up at all? I suspect you left something out. An accommodation isn't reasonable if it puts patients or coworkers at risk. If Tyrika worked far far away from patients, and if other religious groups were exempted, and this is just wrangling over the semantics of religion versus personal belief, then she might have a case. I don’t see the relevance of the flu shot being mandatory for the first time.

If Tyrika worked in another building, why did her religion come up at all? I suspect you left something out.

An accommodation isn’t reasonable if it puts patients or coworkers at risk. If Tyrika worked far far away from patients, and if other religious groups were exempted, and this is just wrangling over the semantics of religion versus personal belief, then she might have a case.

]]> By: Soul http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-15834 Soul Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:23:42 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-15834 Ok...Let's clear up a couple of things. The hospital for the first time told it's employees that the flu shot would be mandatory. They also said if you work in a non-patient building, you do not have to get the shot. Although Tyrika Cowlay requested religious exemption,she should have been exempted based on the fact that she worked in another building. However the hospital still tried to force her to get the shot. There is no playing the religion card! Allowing employees to be exempt for medical and religious reasons was the hospital's criteria. The problem came about when the hospital picked and chose who's religion, or religious and personal reasons was good enough. Opening it self up to be liable for religious discrimination.Please go to the EEOC website and read the guidelines. Also for reasonable accomodations. Even if the panel was religious they don't have the authority to make that judgement. However, this panel were all medical staff. Go figure! The employees fired were not the only victims. Employees who took the shot under duress because their exemption request was denied are victims as well. And they may total over a thousand. Ok…Let’s clear up a couple of things. The hospital for the first time told it’s employees that the flu shot would be mandatory. They also said if you work in a non-patient building, you do not have to get the shot. Although Tyrika Cowlay requested religious exemption,she should have been exempted based on the fact that she worked in another building. However the hospital still tried to force her to get the shot. There is no playing the religion card! Allowing employees to be exempt for medical and religious reasons was the hospital’s criteria. The problem came about when the hospital picked and chose who’s religion, or religious and personal reasons was good enough. Opening it self up to be liable for religious discrimination.Please go to the EEOC website and read the guidelines. Also for reasonable accomodations. Even if the panel was religious they don’t have the authority to make that judgement. However, this panel were all medical staff. Go figure! The employees fired were not the only victims. Employees who took the shot under duress because their exemption request was denied are victims as well. And they may total over a thousand.

]]> By: MrPeach http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-15757 MrPeach Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:06:17 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-15757 Wow, just wow. I am so completely disgusted with the medieval attitude these people have. Where were they educated that they think allowing their kids to die a preventable death is ok??? It just blows my mind. Wow, just wow.
I am so completely disgusted with the medieval attitude these people have. Where were they educated that they think allowing their kids to die a preventable death is ok???

It just blows my mind.

]]> By: The Blind Watchmaker http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-15751 The Blind Watchmaker Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:00:27 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-15751 Playing the religion card gets an unquestioned pass to easily in this country. People don't often refuse vaccines due to religious reasons, but may state this as an excuse. Fear from the anti-vax lobby and just simply being a baby about shots are the real culprits. Playing the religion card gets an unquestioned pass to easily in this country. People don’t often refuse vaccines due to religious reasons, but may state this as an excuse. Fear from the anti-vax lobby and just simply being a baby about shots are the real culprits.

]]> By: LKL http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/10/hospital-workers-fired-for-refusing-vaccinations/#comment-15720 LKL Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:11:47 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5512#comment-15720 This is Mr. Goats-on-Fire? No wonder PZ couldn't be bothered to read the whole thing. This is Mr. Goats-on-Fire? No wonder PZ couldn’t be bothered to read the whole thing.

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