The nurses union says it will file formal grievances after Duluth-based Essentia Health fired about 50 employees for not getting flu shots per mandatory company policy. Essentia says it’s to prevent spreading illness to patients, but Minnesota Nurses Association spokesman Rick Fuentes says other precautions work better. Fuentes says, “What we know is 100-percent effective is wearing protective equipment, washing hands, keeping sick people away from patients, making sure that measures are taken, such as foaming in and out of rooms.”
Essentia officials are not commenting on the dispute with the nurses union, but note that over 99 percent of their employees either got flu shots or have requested exemptions which are being considered.