Nanny refuses to get flu shot?

[Anonymous]

My nanny has said she does not want to get a flu shot (I've offered to pay for it).

I've got a new baby who is susceptible to the flu until she gets all her shots based on CDC timeframes, and our pediatrician says that all caregivers for our daughter (including us) should have a flu shot to protect our child from getting sick.

What would you do? I've already spoken in detail to my nanny but it just seems she doesn't understand fully the importance (I've printed out a few things for her to read).

I don't think I am willing to risk my child's health at this point (easier for me to find a new nanny who is willing to get the shot than to risk my child's health).

Mom's-would this be a deal breaker for you? Would you find a new nanny or would you allow her to continue to work for you sans vaccine? Our nanny has only been working with us for a few months so I'm not opposed to a 'break up.'

I know i can't 'force' her to get a shot but I'm also not required to continue to employ her if she doesn't meet my requirements, right?

[Anonymous]

This is something you should have discussed before hiring the nanny.

How old is your child?

[Anonymous]

I will also be refusing a flu shot. Ive had the flu shoot once and my body didnt react well to it. In addition to that why should I get a flu shot to appease my boss when preventative regular health care is what really keeps people healthy. You want your child safe from communicable diseases provide me health insurance instead of constantly mentioning how its on your to do list with sad puppy eyes.

[Anonymous]

Parent with nanny here. I really don't think it's fair to push the issue with her. It's very personal. But, I would ask her to let you know if she's sick and to please be extra careful with handwashing etc. I'm personally not getting flu shots either (my mother works with stroke victims & Guillain-Barre syndrome so I prefer to take the risk of flu).

[Anonymous]

Does it state that she must get a flu shot in your contract with her? If so, did she sign it? If not, there is nothing you can do. Do you have a contract w/ her? If not, that is your fault. I understand that you want to protect your child but it is something you should've thought of before hiring her. How many paid and unpaid sick days are you offering her? You can always tell her to err on the side of caution if she does feel ill and not come to work that day.

[Anonymous]

Why does she refuse?

I would be very frustrated, too. But some people (like my mother) are part of the small minority that must not ever get vaccinated. If your nanny has good reason, it seems hard to fire her.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. Personally I am sicker the years I get the flu shot than the years I don't. I may not get the flu when I have the shot but I seem to catch EVERYTHING else. Maybe your nanny has good reason not to get the flu shot. If she's like me she would put your baby at a greater risk if she gets the shot than if she skips it.

[Anonymous]

Just heard on the news that approx. 40% of adults are definitely planning to get the swine flu shot & approx. 40% are definitely not planning to get it. So your nanny is not in the 'small minority' mentioned by a PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it state that she must get a flu shot in your contract with her? If so, did she sign it? If not, there is nothing you can do. Do you have a contract w/ her? If not, that is your fault. I understand that you want to protect your child but it is something you should've thought of before hiring her. How many paid and unpaid sick days are you offering her? You can always tell her to err on the side of caution if she does feel ill and not come to work that day.

Of couse there is something she can do. As OP clearly stated, she is aware that she can't force the nanny to have a flu shot. However, contract or no contract, she can terminate the nanny for refusing to have the flu shot. Sure, ideally this would have been discussed prior to hiring but in reality there is no way to forsee and resolve every potential conflict. OP, only you can decide how important this issue is to you. Personally, if the nanny doesn't have some extenuating circumstance that makes flu shot a problem for her, I would be inclined to begin looking for a replacement. I generally do not get the flu shot - it makes me feel crappy for several days. But the two years that I had infants, I got the flu shot b/c the potential harm to them outwweighed the potential discomort and inconvenience to me. I really don't think it is too much to ask that a nanny do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it state that she must get a flu shot in your contract with her? If so, did she sign it? If not, there is nothing you can do. Do you have a contract w/ her? If not, that is your fault. I understand that you want to protect your child but it is something you should've thought of before hiring her. How many paid and unpaid sick days are you offering her? You can always tell her to err on the side of caution if she does feel ill and not come to work that day.

Of couse there is something she can do. As OP clearly stated, she is aware that she can't force the nanny to have a flu shot. However, contract or no contract, she can terminate the nanny for refusing to have the flu shot. Sure, ideally this would have been discussed prior to hiring but in reality there is no way to forsee and resolve every potential conflict. OP, only you can decide how important this issue is to you. Personally, if the nanny doesn't have some extenuating circumstance that makes flu shot a problem for her, I would be inclined to begin looking for a replacement. I generally do not get the flu shot - it makes me feel crappy for several days. But the two years that I had infants, I got the flu shot b/c the potential harm to them outwweighed the potential discomort and inconvenience to me. I really don't think it is too much to ask that a nanny do the same.

Really? Could health care workers be sacked for refusing to get the flu shot? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

"Nanny here. Personally I am sicker the years I get the flu shot than the years I don't. I may not get the flu when I have the shot but I seem to catch EVERYTHING else. Maybe your nanny has good reason not to get the flu shot. If she's like me she would put your baby at a greater risk if she gets the shot than if she skips it. "

Nonsense.

OP its only been a few months, find another nanny. This is not the time with seasonal and H1N1 to have a nanny who will not get a flu shot. It would be different if your child was old enough to be vaccinated and then her risk would only be to herself and sick days. It is extremely irresponsible for a nanny watching an infant too young to be vaccinated to not get a flu shot. Chances are if she does not take this seriously she also does not take other precautions. She is contagious before she shows symptoms so letting you know when she is sick is not that much protection.

The flu in an infant is serious and can easily lead to hospitalization. As someone who has been in the NICU, trust me you do not want to go there if you do not have to and do not want to be regretting keeping the nanny with the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it state that she must get a flu shot in your contract with her? If so, did she sign it? If not, there is nothing you can do. Do you have a contract w/ her? If not, that is your fault. I understand that you want to protect your child but it is something you should've thought of before hiring her. How many paid and unpaid sick days are you offering her? You can always tell her to err on the side of caution if she does feel ill and not come to work that day.

Of couse there is something she can do. As OP clearly stated, she is aware that she can't force the nanny to have a flu shot. However, contract or no contract, she can terminate the nanny for refusing to have the flu shot. Sure, ideally this would have been discussed prior to hiring but in reality there is no way to forsee and resolve every potential conflict. OP, only you can decide how important this issue is to you. Personally, if the nanny doesn't have some extenuating circumstance that makes flu shot a problem for her, I would be inclined to begin looking for a replacement. I generally do not get the flu shot - it makes me feel crappy for several days. But the two years that I had infants, I got the flu shot b/c the potential harm to them outwweighed the potential discomort and inconvenience to me. I really don't think it is too much to ask that a nanny do the same.

Really? Could health care workers be sacked for refusing to get the flu shot? I doubt it.

Depends on the terms of their employment - in many case, a health care worker would absolutely lose his/her job for refusing a vaccine. Every nanny position I have ever heard of is employment at will. So the nanny can be let go for any reason or no reason at all - at most the contract might call for some period of notice or severance (generally no more than 2-4 weeks). In this case, while it is certainly not a sure thing, I think OP even has a decent argument that the nanny was terminated for cause if she refused to follow the recommendations of her charges' ped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Nanny here. Personally I am sicker the years I get the flu shot than the years I don't. I may not get the flu when I have the shot but I seem to catch EVERYTHING else. Maybe your nanny has good reason not to get the flu shot. If she's like me she would put your baby at a greater risk if she gets the shot than if she skips it. "

Nonsense.

OP its only been a few months, find another nanny. This is not the time with seasonal and H1N1 to have a nanny who will not get a flu shot. It would be different if your child was old enough to be vaccinated and then her risk would only be to herself and sick days. It is extremely irresponsible for a nanny watching an infant too young to be vaccinated to not get a flu shot. Chances are if she does not take this seriously she also does not take other precautions. She is contagious before she shows symptoms so letting you know when she is sick is not that much protection.

The flu in an infant is serious and can easily lead to hospitalization. As someone who has been in the NICU, trust me you do not want to go there if you do not have to and do not want to be regretting keeping the nanny with the flu.

I'm the one who wrote the quoted text and no it most definitely is NOT nonsense. You're nonsensical for thinking only YOUR way is the right way. Last year I got the flu shot and was literally sick with a different bug every week for 4 months. I am not exaggerating. I had throw up viruses, diarrhea with the most intense abdominal pain I've EVER had, one cold after another (one of which caused me to spend a week in bed,) ear infections etc. Anyone with half a brain knows diarrhea and vomiting are far more dangerous for an infant than the flu, and more prevalent. I work for a physician and and specifically asked her about whether she wants me to get the flu shot and she said it didn't matter and her dh has sworn off of them and she'll get one that's it. The key is WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN, keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, mouth etc. Get off your high horse and stop trying to force people to get vaccines they know will make them sicker than if they don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Wow some of you people are pretty crazy.

Proper hand washing and other preventative measures are really the best protection. The flu shot may or may not even cover the strains that will go around this year...its a crap shoot, thus making the normal preventative measures still necessary...

If it's really a deal breaker than by all means let her go and make sure you address it with the next right off the bat. But I think you'll find that there will be many nannies who refuse the shot and that is their personal right.

I personally will not be getting the flu shot, and absolutely will not even remotely consider the h1n1 with it's complete lack of safety record and rush out to the market. Some doctors aren't even recommending it, mine included. Didn't say not to, but did say they're choosing not to provide it.

FWIW, I've had the flu exactly once ever. It was not passed on to anyone as I'm a nut about hand washing and had adequate sick leave to take off for the 3 days it took me to recover once I was starting to have symptoms of being ill. Because I had the paid sick leave I took off as soon as the sore throat started to develop, long before I knew it was going to end up being the flu.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny of an infant, I did get the shot this year. (First time ever.) I too felt that I rarely got the flu in the past and why should I. But I had two separate bouts of brief colds and run down times (although one may be traced back to being Anemic during time of the month) But it was enough for me to say, "oh what the heck" it wasn't worth dealing with my employers over it. AND, I do have insurance through work --- so that influenced things too. (got time off from work paid to get it too). PLUS they all got them too.

SO unless the nanny has a medical reason for refusing it. I would go along with what all the information says out there about caregivers getting shots.

Yes, you can do the preventive stuff for only so long and should still do that flu shot or not. But you can't control those kids and parents you can bump into that don't get them too and can pass whatever on to you.