Legitimacy is a thorny thing when discussing medicine, especially in the context of autonomous choice. Telling someone they're stupid to believe is about as useful and productive as telling someone they're stupid not to believe. It's just shouting in a room, hoping to be the one who shouts the loudest.

Yeah, I'm actually pleased at how few OMG NO PUT OUT THE FIRE replies have been necessary in the comments. :D

Yup. See: assholes.

No, her ob/gyn didn't say she couldn't medically receive the flu vaccine. He said that her mental health was delicate. BIG difference. (And there's not really "reasonable accommodation" that can be made here.)

Time to take a vacation to North Carolina! ;-)

Aw, thank you!

Well, as a general rule, the healthy folks are going to always be further down on the list of who should receive the shot. But except in years where there are shortages (which do happen), everyone is recommended to receive them.

Yup, you should be covered. But fair point. :-) (You can also use the flu map to see if it's in outbreak in your area, if that helps making the decision.)

I know. Me and my pesky attachment to a fact-based reality. IT GETS IN THE WAY SO OFTEN!

You're wrong. :-)

Well, flu season can last until May and start as early as October. If she's always going to be refusing the vaccine because she's pregnant or may be pregnant, it seems like termination is the only option.

That, however, presumes that there's desk work available for an RN. Chances are, there aren't, and it would be an unreasonable accommodation to expect to pay her RN salary for not doing RN work during her pregnancy.

You'll probably have a more effective conversation with, uh, everyone, if you recognize that the people who actually have legit religious beliefs to exempt them from vaccines are SO tiny as to not affect public health, and the people claiming "philosophical and/or religious exemption" for their children are largely…

Nope. That has to do with labeling regulations. There's a LOT of documented evidence that the vaccine is safe for pregnant women. That she doesn't understand how this works and is a nurse? VERY concerning.

It's $25, and most people's insurance covers it for free now. Worth checking. (It takes two weeks to become effective.)

Those aren't shows for sleeping to. AHEM.

the most cherished part of my evening routine has been turning on a soothing nature documentary

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, flu season isn't nearly over, and you should do your research and then get the shot. (Flu season typically peaks in January or February, and cases go as late as May.)

As a general rule, folks whose religious beliefs legit don't allow for vaccination are a tiny, tiny minority of people, and you don't often run into the in a healthcare setting (because as a rule, they don't believe in healthcare). There are, however, many folks who abuse this (or try to), because they buy anti-vax…

Actually, it was a supply/demand thing. A lot of the rhetoric about flu shots also changed after H5N1 had the nasty habit of killing the people it was believed wouldn't get too sick from flu: healthy adults.