I work in health care as a building operator/maintenance tech. In the beginning (before masks were even being worn) myself & others in my area went months without a day off. On-call 24-7, each isolated to a single building. I was lucky, no major outbreaks of covid in the buildings where I work, a few cases here & there, but nothing like many health care facilities have had to deal with. In other buildings we lost more lives from covid, the elderly, but also employees, one younger in age than myself, and he had no underlying health issues that I am aware of. In the early part of the pandemic it was scary times. When the vaccines rolled out we got moved to the front of the line, along with nurses, doctors, etc. I thought that vaccines would be mandatory, much like the influenza shots that we receive each year. They were not, even with the unions support, some workers refused, and still do.
What I have heard from some of the younger females that work in our buildings, that are in child bearing years - they do not want to risk the vaccine if they are pregnant, or considering getting pregnant. I completely understand if health care workers, for whatever reason choose not to get any of these vaccines. Having said that it might be time to consider a new career, or at least an area of health care that removes you from the front line, and close contact with those most at risk. When you choose a career where you care for the elderly, the weak, the sick, and/or the immune compromised, you have to sometimes consider the greater good. Vaccines are a reality in the buildings that I work in. The techs in my department have no real choice. No vaccine, no work. It's that simple.
Our company now enforces vaccines for new hires. For all other employees if you choose against a vaccine, you are sent home without pay if there is an outbreak, and one can only return when the local heath department considers the facility clear. Same with influenza vaccines, and outbreaks.
This fall/winter was the first time in the past decade where we did not have an outbreak of influenza, in any of the buildings where I personally work. I can only attribute that to the rules regarding masks, and sanitizing/washing, and social distancing. Typically every building has a good run of the flu every fall/winter. It starts in one unit, then spreads (from care staff) from unit to unit, and building to building. Every year, same thing.
I suspect, as do some of the others that I work with, that we may be wearing masks forever. As uncomfortable as it can get, especially in higher temp areas, if it saves lives I am all for it. I support the vaccines for the same reason. I think one can safely say that vaccines have proven to be effective at helping control this pandemic. They are not risk free, for 100% of the world's population, but what is?
What I have heard from some of the younger females that work in our buildings, that are in child bearing years - they do not want to risk the vaccine if they are pregnant, or considering getting pregnant. I completely understand if health care workers, for whatever reason choose not to get any of these vaccines. Having said that it might be time to consider a new career, or at least an area of health care that removes you from the front line, and close contact with those most at risk. When you choose a career where you care for the elderly, the weak, the sick, and/or the immune compromised, you have to sometimes consider the greater good. Vaccines are a reality in the buildings that I work in. The techs in my department have no real choice. No vaccine, no work. It's that simple.
Our company now enforces vaccines for new hires. For all other employees if you choose against a vaccine, you are sent home without pay if there is an outbreak, and one can only return when the local heath department considers the facility clear. Same with influenza vaccines, and outbreaks.
This fall/winter was the first time in the past decade where we did not have an outbreak of influenza, in any of the buildings where I personally work. I can only attribute that to the rules regarding masks, and sanitizing/washing, and social distancing. Typically every building has a good run of the flu every fall/winter. It starts in one unit, then spreads (from care staff) from unit to unit, and building to building. Every year, same thing.
I suspect, as do some of the others that I work with, that we may be wearing masks forever. As uncomfortable as it can get, especially in higher temp areas, if it saves lives I am all for it. I support the vaccines for the same reason. I think one can safely say that vaccines have proven to be effective at helping control this pandemic. They are not risk free, for 100% of the world's population, but what is?
