Adult MMR vaccine for hospital clearance

[Hesperia]

Please re-direct me if I am in the wrong location.

To become a volunteer at the hospital (doula), I need to have a #2 MMR vaccine. This is due to the current outbreaks of MMR in the area and the chances of me passing on the illness in the hospital to others.

I DO NOT want to jab myself with egg solution (vegan) and chemicals. Can someone break down the MMR vaccine for me, and tell me the risks involved. Is it no big deal if you are an adult?
Does anyone know a way to get around this shot for volunteering in Canada? Religion maybe? They seem pretty strict, but maybe they haven't been chalanged. I did ask once over the phone, and she basically said, if I don't get it, tough love, I can't be a doula volunteer. :

I do work privately as a doula too, so I might just drop the volunteer program if they aren't willing to allow me clearance.

Maybe I just need to catch the MM or R and than get my blood work done to prove that I'm immune.

I would prefer to only be vaxed against the outbreak applicable if possible....ugh

HELP

[Marnica]

You can check out the ingredients of all MMR's on the market here:http://www.novaccine.com/specific-va...ne.asp?v_id=21

I think it's pretty funny they want you to get a live virus vaccine that sheds and then go around having contact with sick people. Hospitals are filled with immunocompromised folks which are the ones they tell recently vaccinated people (with live virus vaxes) to stay away from!

You should be able to file a religious exemption (not familiar with Canadian laws here) but since it is a volunteer program, I bet they don't have to accept it. I wouldn't get this shot if you paid me let alone for nothing!!!

Any vaccine can be a big deal at any time. Just because you are an adult doesn't mean that it's ok to inject live viruses, human diploid cells, and antibiotics into your body!

[Fyrestorm]

You might also still have immunity. (assuming that you had the jab as a child) I would insist on having titers run.

Claiming religious exemption is also a good idea...they will more than likely require the flu vax at a later date...then maybe the DTaP etc. Having an exemption on file is a good idea.

If they deny the exemption, I think you would have a religious discrimination case (assuming that they can't deny employment in Canada based on religion)

Good luck

[just_lily]

My guess is that they are just not used to being challenged.

I would start with asking your GP to run a bloodtest to check titres. Nova Scotia does not require immunizations for school attendence, so there are no "exemptions" persay... because there is nothing to exempt yourself from.

So I think really your only option is to push back and see what happens. If one person says no, ask to speak to their supervisor. Repeat ad naseum. Point out that Health Canada has determined forced vaccination to be unconstitutional. Check out http://www.vran.org for details.

I really don't understand what kind of "threat" you would be. You will be working with women who are in labour, so even if you did expose them ruebella or something they wouldn't get sick until after giving birth... so the whole thing makes no sense. Do they require all visitors to get vaxed too?

As for risks, 25% of adults who are vaxed for ruebella develop arthritis. Given your line of work, I would think that would be a devastating reaction for you.

Good luck!

[Mylie]

My hospital does this....

When I was hired 4 years ago I had blood work done as part of my employment physical....They ran titers...I had immunity to everything but the MMR...I HAD to get the vaccine or I couldn't work in my area...They said if I was around children or paitents it was mandatory..But if I wanted to work in the laundrey house I could skip it..Uh...no thanks...I went ahead and got it..But I was a full grown adult and the only reaction I had was a sore arm for a couple days...

[alegna]

As I recall arthritis is a possible reaction in adults....

-Angela

[Hesperia]

Thanks for the help, I'm looking further into this.

So far no one has called me back. I'm going to try again on Monday.

I will get some blood work done to check for immunity(they are only concerned about the mumps), from what I know I was vaccinated for MMR when I was a child. - From what I can tell they want an UPDATED vaccine, since there has been a recent outbreak of mumps in NS. They circled MMR#2 on my paper, not #1. She said the vaccine would have had to be within the last few months.

I will not get the shot, period. So, with the help of everyone here (thank you thank you thank you) I'm going to politely push.

And, visitors don't need one. Nor can they make private doulas get one. I think it is totally flawed.

[melissabb]

I'm in Canada too. I'm pretty sure they can't force you to vax in order to work. Check www.vran.org.

I realize you are in NS and the following link cites an article for Ontario but I thought it might be of interest....

http://www.vran.org/news-art/news/ne..._rub_shots.htm

[Hesperia]

So, I have no resistance to mumps, guess the childhood vaccine didn't take :P

They are putting me through heck over my egg 'allergy', asking me every question in the book about my reactions to it (which as a reminder I'm not allergic to eggs at all, I'm just pulling out the big guns of allergy to get away from this vaccine).

Anyone know of someone with the mumps I can rub against?

I don't have a family dr here yet, nor medical coverage. I will not vaccinate myself. Because this is volunteer work not paid work, I'm having a hard time getting around it.

Ugh, I'm just so frustrated.

/vent end

[Hesperia]

Called again, I keep getting tossed around lines with these people.

I've ask for exemption without showing medical documents. She is going to call me back. sigh. At least we are moving forward.

[Hesperia]

Originally Posted by melissabb

I'm in Canada too. I'm pretty sure they can't force you to vax in order to work. Check www.vran.org.

I realize you are in NS and the following link cites an article for Ontario but I thought it might be of interest....

http://www.vran.org/news-art/news/ne..._rub_shots.htm

Thank you for this information, it really helped.

[turtlemed]

I'm wondering how this issue turned out for you. I am in California and similarly being required to get MMR for my possible hospital job, otherwise I'll fail my physical and not be eligible for employment. (I only show immunity for Rubella, not mumps or measles)

Thanks.