Court Upholds Decision that Vaccines Can't be Forced on Hospital Staff

SEATTLE - A federal judge recently upheld an arbitrator's decision that, according to its contract with its employees, a hospital cannot force its staff to receive flu vaccines. Virginia Mason Hospital v. Washington State Nurses Association. No. 2:05-cv-01434 (W.D. Wash.).

In September 2004, Virginia Mason Hospital required 100 percent mandatory flu vaccinations for its staff. The hospital cited the acute vulnerability of its patients as its reason for the decision, as well as the fact that its previous policy of encouraging voluntary vaccinations resulted in only 55 percent of its staff being vaccinated.

The hospital said the flu vaccine …