Some hospitals don't require vaccines

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - The decision on whether to require hospital employees to receive the either seasonal or swine flu vaccinations is up to each West Michigan facility.

Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo requires all employees to receive certain vaccinations. About 75 percent of the hospital's employees have received the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Bronson is working to ensure every employee in each department of the hospital gets his or her shots to protect against the flu.

"It was our job to protect as many employees as we could and allocate that vaccine," said Dr. Richard VanEnk, Bronson Hospital's Director of Infection and Epidemiology. "So, the key there is, you need to have all of your departments that are essential to your (business) functioning, covered and protected."

After Hurricane Katrina, Bronson upgraded its emergency preparedness plan. VanEnk said mandating vaccines is a "minimum work requirement."

At Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, about 86 percent of the employees have been vaccinated, a spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8. The hospital does not mandate shot vaccinations -- seasonal or H1N1 -- but "strongly encourages it."

Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon and Borgess Hospital have similar policies to Saint Mary's -- vaccinations aren't required but encouraged.

Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids does not require seasonal or H1N1 vaccines, and if an employee doesn't want a shot, he or she must fill out a form stating a reason.

Battle Creek Health Systems mandates vaccinations, but people can be excused for religious, medical or personal reasons. If someone is cleared to go without the vaccine for his or her reasons, the employee has to wear a mask at all times while at work and eat in a separate area. The vaccine has been mandated for about two years, said Peter Phelps, a public relations spokesman.

In 2008, 93 percent of Battle Creek's employees received the seasonal flu vaccine and 7 percent got a waiver. The specific reasons the 7 percent of employees gave are not known.