Doctors and Flu Shots | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 1/29/2013

This time of the year, everyone is being encouraged to get a flu shot. But what about the person giving you that shot? Did they get vaccinated themselves?

"In health care, our patients are getting sicker and we need to protect our staff," said Randy Schwan, VP of Trinity Health.

As of now, Trinity Health has a voluntary vaccination policy where doctors, nurses and other employees have the option to get the flu shot.

"You need to make your own choice, as your own person. But, something as simple as the flu shot, I don`t know why you wouldn`t take advantage of the opportunity," said training specialist Nadine Nelson.

About 60 to 85 percent of the hospital employees are vaccinated, even under this open policy.

Every day, employees walk through the hospital doors, knowing it`s optional to get their flu shot. Yet, Trinity Health has considered mandatory vaccinations for those employees, but their first priority of vaccinations still go to their patients.

"We first want to make sure that our patients that need it, get it. That the nursing home residents within the region, get it," said Schwan.

If the mandatory policy was put in place, there would need to be enough supply for all of their employees. But, as of now, that may not be the case.

"We have been told by our vendors, we can`t get a new supply. So, whatever we have, we have. And, we currently do not have enough," said Schwan.

That means, that not every employee will have a chance to receive a flu shot, making it difficult to enforce a mandatory vaccination.

Schwan says they are running low on vaccines and they could be completely out within in the next few weeks.

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