I'm on the fence. I completely understand why it would be mandatory. No, the flu shot does not prevent every single strain of flu out there, BUT someone in the health care profession IS a lot more likely to be exposed those particular strains in the shot, regardless what strains are most prevalent in the general population that season. Healthcare professionals are also working with people who may be at much higher risk of dying from illnesses that would be just a minor inconvenience to the rest of us. I am especially sensitive to this part because I have had quite a few friends and family members who had to undergo cancer treatment, and one friend died because of an infection that would have been minor to the rest of us. Cancer patients have no immune system, the treatment kills it. Other people have compromised immune systems for other reasons. Sick people, even with a minor illness, are more susceptible to contracting more diseases than someone who is healthy and not sick. Nurses who are working with these people SHOULD be taken every precaution necessary to keep them safe. It IS possible to be carrying a diseases and not realize it: either because your system is strong enough that you don't actually become symptomatic (or maybe you only sneeze or get a runny nose and pass it off as allergies) or because you just aren't showing symptoms yet. A healthcare professional isn't working around normal, healthy people, they are working around individuals who could potentially die from something like the cold or flu.

At the same time I don't like the idea of being forced to inject things into your body against your will. I have to face this with my child: either go ahead with vaccines, or face the waiver procedure when it comes to daycare and school. (But on this note, people also have a choice in their profession, and someone who chooses to go into the healthcare profession should also recognize the risks they pose to the people they will be caring for, and be willing to take the steps necessary to keep those people as safe and healthy as possible.) My biggest issue with the flu vaccine is the thimerosal, however there ARE thimerosal-free vaccines available.