Did you insist on flu shots for your nanny (for under 6 month old)

MickeyM04 · January 2014

So I know this is super advanced planning but, we were in daycare when DS was under 6 months old, and then he turned 6 months and got the flu shot and then we got our nanny around 7 months. Based on our due date we could not get DD a flu shot until about halfway through flu season (we could get the first half of the dose in Nov. and the second half in Dec. so she wouldn't be fully vaccinated until Dec.). The CDC recommends that all those caring for an infant under 6 months get the flu shot since infants under 6 months cannot be vaccinated. I have never in my life asked someone if they would get a vaccine before. Has anyone done this? How did it go over?

It's a different situation for us because by the time we got our nanny, DS was vaccinated and he gets a vaccine every year so I've never brought it up because it's really irrelevant whether she gets the flu shot or not because DS is protected. But now that won't be the case with DD and I don't know what etiquette or the rules are on this.

Thanks for your advice!

cecilyandgautam · January 2014

I think it's fair game to ask in an interview or bring up the submit with the nanny you already have. You can offer to pay for it if it's not covered by her insurance. If she worked at a center, in a hospital, or with animals, it would be requirement of the job. I think it's fair to ask that she be up to date with the same requirements for other people who professionally work with children.

If she has some medical or personal reason for not wanting to get it, it's up to you how accommodating to be about that. To your question of how people have responded, care takers have been happy to answer my questions about their vaccination status. Family was a mixed bag, but that's another story.

itsmevkb · January 2014

No I didn't insist but I don't get flu shots either. I think it's fine to ask but pior to asking I think you need to know how you'll handle it if your nanny says she doesn't want to get one.

jf198400 · January 2014

I think it's perfectly acceptable to ask her to get one as long as you offer to pay. My mom watched both of my kids as babies and I asked her to get one. As pp poster said, it would probably be a requirement if she worked at a center.

NicoleWI · January 2014

Yes, I asked about it during interviews. I also wanted them to get the whooping cough vaccine. I said I would pay if it were not covered for them. It was not an issue--they all were willing and the person we hired had been an EMT and was already vaccinated anyway.

DiveFrog · January 2014

It was a little different situation for us since my parents act as our daycare providers, but yes I actually asked my parents to both get a booster vaccination for Pertussis (Dtap) and a flu shot. They were caring for her full time at 4months.

And, I actually didn't let my brother visit last year at the holidays until he had also gotten vaccinated since DD couldn't get vaccinated until after his visit. It was kind of funny because he wasn't thrilled about it, but still did it. He texted me a photo of the dated receipt as proof

Frankly, If I was hiring a non-related Nanny I would still make it a condition of employment (provided they didn't have documented medical reason not to get one) and foot the cost if they were not covered by their insurance.

laurakaz13 · January 2014

Absolutely. I would make it a requirement of employment, along with being fully vaccinated based on the CDCs schedule.

hopefulmom81 · January 2014

laurakaz13 said:

Absolutely. I would make it a requirement of employment, along with being fully vaccinated based on the CDCs schedule.

Same here.

Maybride2 · January 2014

I would absolutely make it a requirement.

Maybride2 · January 2014

I would absolutely make it a requirement.

MickeyM04 · January 2014

Argh this is so hard. Because honestly I want to make it a requirement but I don't know that if she didn't get one that I would fire her, it's so hard to find good childcare, you know? I think PP is right that I have to decide what I would do in the event she said no before I ask. If I wouldn't do anything maybe then there's no point in bringing it up...I know she is very anti flu shot and never gets one for her or her son so I know it would not be the norm for her to get one next year either.

jetgrrrl · January 2014

Yep, when we had a nanny we required her to get it, including after the kids were old enough to be vaccinated. You can still get the flu with the flu shot (I had it this past weekend!) so frankly anything you can do to create "herd immunity" is a good idea. I hadn't thought of the pertussis booster - that's also a very good point.

DiveFrog · January 2014

Peanut2929 said:

Argh this is so hard. Because honestly I want to make it a requirement but I don't know that if she didn't get one that I would fire her, it's so hard to find good childcare, you know? I think PP is right that I have to decide what I would do in the event she said no before I ask. If I wouldn't do anything maybe then there's no point in bringing it up...I know she is very anti flu shot and never gets one for her or her son so I know it would not be the norm for her to get one next year either.

As they say it never hurts to ask. At the very least, I would push her to get a flu shot the year your child cannot due to being under 6months. And sorry but the pertussis would be a deal breaker for me. That has come back with a vengeance and unless my child was fully vaccinated against it I wouldn't leave them regularly in anyone's care that isn't up to date on their vaccination.

MickeyM04 · January 2014

Luckily my nanny just got her Pertussis vacc because she herself just had a baby, so the only one that is probably an issue is the flu shot and like you said, @DiveFrog, not sure if that's a deal breaker. Especially because DD would be able to get her vaccine as of November which is pretty early into flu season.

sillygirlio · January 2014

I think you can ask, but if she says no I don't think you can force her to get one. I've worked in child care for a decade and I've never been required by an employer to get a flu shot or any other immunization. I don't do flu shots and as such, I wouldn't work for someone who forcefully required it.

Good childcare is hard to find, so if you like your nanny I'd think twice before getting too forceful.

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