Hospital workers refuse flu shot, resign

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Vaccine

Tags:

state

GREENSBORO -- Three workers at a Greensboro hospital resigned from their jobs after failing to get the seasonal flu vaccination.

Moses Cone Hospital told its employees they had until October 31 to get vaccinated. It was the first time the hospital made the shot mandatory. The hospital also requires employees to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.

Moses Cone has not released the names or the positions of the employees who resigned.

Hospital spokesman Doug Allred said more than 8,000 employees and volunteers took the seasonal flu vaccine. He said employees take vaccinations for other illnesses including the measles and mumps.

National fears about vaccine

As millions of people worldwide begin getting the new swine flu shot, public health officials have had to combat rumors about dangerous side effects linked to the vaccine.

Pundits from Rush Limbaugh on the right to Bill Maher on the left have fanned public suspicion of the vaccine because it was rushed into production.

But health officials say of the thousands of people so far who have received the swine flu vaccine worldwide, no side effects more serious than a sore arm, fever, or muscle pain have been reported.