Am I Suspended or Not?

As I was settling into my cubicle this morning, I noticed the gal that sits next to me was staring at me.

I looked at her.

She stared back.

I raised my eyebrows. “Morning,” I said, thinking she looked a little weird.

“Have you checked your email?”

I laughed. “I just got here, so, um, no.”

“Just read it.”

I’ve worked with this gal long enough to know that her expression? Was scared. Terrified, if you want the truth. And she looked white. As in, “I’m in shock, white.”

I signed on and held my breath.

It was an email sent out to the entire company letting them know that Springfield was on the verge of having a flu epidemic. Our flu numbers were rising and if the CDC declared it an epidemic, that would mean I would be suspended without pay.

(And so would the gal I work with).

Because you see, way back in October of last year, I was given a choice. I could get the flu vaccine, like 97% of the rest of the company, or I could refuse the flu vaccine and gamble on the fact that we wouldn’t have a flu epidemic this year. BUT, if the CDC declared a flu epidemic, than I would be suspended without pay until the epidemic was declared “over.”

I didn’t have to think about it very long.

I said HELL TO THE NO.

I’m not a big vaccine sort of person. Sure. I believe children should be vaccinated for the big stuff, and I’m okay with the tetanus shot every ten years or so, heck, I’m even okay with repeating Hep B every twenty years or so, but getting a flu vaccination every year and gambling that the vaccine you get might just be the dominant strain that season just doesn’t make sense to me. And do you know how many people actually get sick after having the vaccine? Let’s put it this way, I seriously know of MORE people getting sick after having the vaccine than of people NOT getting sick.

And not to sound all conspiracy theory on you or anything? But I don’t trust the government, ANY government, regardless of political party. Seriously. There’s no telling what sort of gunk they are injecting people with every year.

And here’s something else I find odd – the CDC is claiming that St. Louis and Kansas City are “high” on the flu epidemic radar and yet, have you read/heard any news of this “outspread?” This is the stuff that the media salivates over and love to blow out of proportion so they can scare people half to death. So, I have serious doubts about the CDC’s “reporting.”

So no. I’m not going to have the flu vaccine. And if I have to get suspended in order to keep myself healthy and gunk free, so be it.

Kevin is not too happy with me. He thinks I should just have it – what’s the big deal? But it’s a big deal to me and I just can’t bring myself to say yes to having a needle jabbed into my arm and having poison injected into my body. And even if I were to cave at this point and have the injection, I can’t afford to have a reaction and get sick – we’re going to Chicago next week.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy into this whole flu vaccine thing. And I REALLY don’t appreciate how my company is bullying me into having it. They have taken my choice away, really. Because if I don’t get it, then I will be penalized.

Okay. So I’ll be penalized. And I will remain healthy and gunk free, thank you very much.

I mean, I GET the whole we’re working in the health care industry and they just want to try and protect their employees and those they come into contact with. I get it. Truly. And if I worked around a bunch of urgent care patients, or around children, then I would probably give in and have the vaccination. But I don’t. I work in a clinic where people show up in pain, not contagious. In fact, our doctors won’t see patients who are contagious and/or have any sort of illness because you can’t do surgery on a sick person.

So I’m a bit stressed. Because I honestly don’t mean to be difficult and I know if I get suspended, then it will put the girls I work in a bind, but people, I just can’t do it. I’ve agonized over this all day – ALL DAY. I’ve gone back and forth. I’ve weighed my pros and cons. I’ve talked to Kevin several times. I’ve talked to the girls at work. I even asked our boys their thoughts on the matter and the bottom line?

I JUST CAN’T DO IT.

I don’t have a phobia of needles or anything, again, I’m okay with getting vaccinated every ten years or so. But when something like this is FORCED on me and insisted upon year after year, well, I just can’t help but be suspicious and leery.

The company is supposed to be sending out an email to the people who haven’t been vaccinated tomorrow – I have no idea what it will say. But I’m mentally prepared to deal with whatever happens.

I’m going into this with my eyes wide open and my resolve firmly intact.

Even though I love my job and I’m quite good at it (I’m thoroughly convinced I’ll be one of the best schedulers they’ve EVER had), I’m beginning to wonder if I’m in the right industry given my suspicions and distaste for this sort of thing.

ADDED: One more thing, how do you know that cancers, Alhezimers, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc aren’t somehow connected to flu shots? After all, people who get the flu shot year after year after year after year after year … that HAS to do something to a person’s body after a while, right? Sure. I don’t have any proof that the flu vaccine is a contributing factor in any of these diseases/disorders, but then again, do you have any proof to show me that it doesn’t?? Just something to think about …

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About Me

Hello! My name is Karen and welcome! I’m a mom to two young men – Blake (25) and Brandon (22). I’ve been married to the same wonderful, patient, thoughtful and generous man (Kevin) for 27 years.

I work full time in a healthcare clinic – it’s my “day” job. I squeeze in family time and blogging in between all of that. (Okay, I really spend the majority of my “down” time watching YouTube videos or trying to figure out how to play new board games for family game night).

I graduated from college with a B.S in Technical Writing – so I’m a wordy know-it-all, as well as a minor in creative writing – so don’t always believe what I write. *wink*

I believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Writing Well. (I also believe in our Constitution – Don’t Tread on my Rights, Yo).

I can be snark-a-licious, but only when provoked or when confronted with ignorant, ill-informed knuckleheads.