Nanny refusing flu shot

[Anonymous]

What would you do? We are due to add another baby to the family the beginning of December. Nanny who's been with us for a year who we like and would like to keep just told me she doesn't get flu shots. She says it makes her not able to fight other viruses as well and she'll get more sick and the only year she got a flu shot she was sick the next day. I work in health care and know the consequences for newborns who contract influenza. Don't even know what to do at this point. She is a bit of a medical exaggerator in general. Everyone is always "SO sick". My own kids when have a cold she is very dramatic about. I feel like if I force the point she'll actually end up "really sick" all winter. What would you do? She doesn't have any conditions that make her immunocompromises. She is extremely health 50 year old who over shares everything medical with me so I feel comfortable saying this.

[Anonymous]

Nanny Here. Unfortunately you can't force it nor can you say it was a stipulation of her remaining employed since it is not in the contract. Frankly I couldn't emploY someone who was dumb enough to say that the flu shot lowers her immunity so that's how I would end it.

[Anonymous]

Upon hire, did you mandate that she was to have this done annually?

Anyway, I am a Nanny & my bosses request I receive a flu shot each year. While it can be a pain to get (no pun intended here), I do it for the sake of the child I care so much about.

There are some people who have issues w/shots. I do not agree w/their views, I wholeheartedly believe in vaccines, esp. when it comes to young children.

If she won't get the shot, then you have every right to find a Nanny who will.

You will be your baby's only true advocate for his/her health so if your current Nanny refuses to comply, you can always just let her go.

I would.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

You can fire her but she will be eligible for unemployment because this was not a condition of her employment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Upon hire, did you mandate that she was to have this done annually?

Anyway, I am a Nanny & my bosses request I receive a flu shot each year. While it can be a pain to get (no pun intended here), I do it for the sake of the child I care so much about.

There are some people who have issues w/shots. I do not agree w/their views, I wholeheartedly believe in vaccines, esp. when it comes to young children.

If she won't get the shot, then you have every right to find a Nanny who will.

You will be your baby's only true advocate for his/her health so if your current Nanny refuses to comply, you can always just let her go.

I would.

Good luck.

Do they pay for you to get flu shot?

[Anonymous]

What about Tdap? Is she willing to get that one or also up to date?

If you really, really want to keep her, suggest she get the shot on a Wednesday morning, and you'll give her the rest of the week + the weekend off to "recuperate". This would be in addition to other PTO.

Otherwise, I would not allow a regular caregiver around a baby too young for the shot. I can hear the DCUM chorus of "overreaction" now, but that's how I feel.

I was happy that we hired our new nanny when I was pregnant with my last child so that we could put this in the contract.

And, I'm not so sure it would qualify her for unemployment. I think she would have to prove that it was somehow a substantial burden or otherwise problematic for her to get it.

[Anonymous]

I find it surprising that you work in health care, have an infant, know the dangers of flu to infants and STILL did not have the flu shot as a requirement for employment. What were you thinking?

It is irresponsible for you to continue to employ a nanny with such little regard for the health of your child. Between this and the malingering nature of your nanny, your best bet is to replace her with a professional who understands science and the impotance of vaccinations.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and it's $15 or something at Walmart, so sure, pay for it. I can't imagine that's what's at stake here.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny with a very robust immune system. I get a cold or two a year and that's it. I never get the flu shot and they ears I've gotten them in the past, I was very sick all winter. I won't get them anymore and the kids I care for are not sick and no one has ever had the flu.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem paying for it, giving her time off to recuperate, or more days off if she does feel she is more sick during my 3 month maternity leave. This was a surprise baby and it hadn't occurred to me that I needed to stipulate this in contract. My other kids get vaccinated so I don't care if she does. I care this year because we will have an unvaccinated child during flu season. She has no problem getting vaccines/shots and says she is current on everything else. I had no idea she was a medical exaggerator when I hired her. I've learned that over the last year. I didn't feel that was a reason to get rid of a nanny my kids love. Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I will probably tell her this is the only year I will require her to get it and if she won't then she can take a leave of abscence for 3 months during my maternity leave or quit.

[Anonymous]

Last year's flue vaccine's effectiveness was 18%. Why do you care so much?

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny I have TDAP, FLU, TB shot. Every time I got flu shot I catch cold, coughs very easily. I don't know why so I skipped the shot this year. So far nothing happened - maybe TDAP shot protecting me. I don't know.

[Anonymous]

I barely get sick and if I get sick it's ALWAYS right after I get flu shots (I used to get them every 2-3 years due to job)

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny and I'm very pro-vax. I get all my shots as required. I would make this mandatory. If she says no, fire her and get a nanny that is much smarter. I will never understand how a nanny can work around young kids, but will not be vaccinated to protect them. It's irresponsible and I would never hire a nanny who is dumb enough to be anti-vax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year's flue vaccine's effectiveness was 18%. Why do you care so much?

Not true. From the CDC for last year (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2014-2015.htm):
Laboratory analysis of circulating flu viruses this season indicates that most of the H3N2 viruses are antigenically or genetically different than the H3N2 vaccine virus. This is probably why vaccine effectiveness estimates this season show that the vaccine is not working as well as usual against H3N2 viruses. However, the vaccine should work well against about one-third of circulating H3N2 viruses and against H1N1 and influenza B viruses.

And:
Can the vaccine provide protection even if the vaccine is not a "good" match?

Yes, antibodies made in response to vaccination with one flu virus can sometimes provide protection against different but related viruses. A less than ideal match may result in reduced vaccine effectiveness against the virus that is different from what is in the vaccine, but it can still provide some protection against influenza illness.

In addition, it's important to remember that the flu vaccine contains three or four flu viruses (depending on the type of vaccine you receive) so that even when there is a less than ideal match or lower effectiveness against one virus, the vaccine may protect against the other viruses.

For these reasons, even during seasons when there is a less than ideal match, CDC continues to recommend flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk for serious flu complications, and their close contacts.