Workers suspended for refusing flu shots

The Abington Health System this week suspended without pay more than four dozen employees for failing to get a seasonal flu shot.

The suspended employees have two weeks to be vaccinated or they’ll lose their jobs under the vaccine requirement implemented this year.

The Montgomery County health system, which includes Abington Memorial and Lansdale hospitals and several outpatient centers, is among roughly 60 U.S. hospitals or health care systems that mandate all employees get a flu shot.

The new Abington policy, announced in September, requires most of the more than 8,000 employees, volunteers, medical students and outside vendors who provide services to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

The hospital granted fewer than 25 exemptions for medical reasons, such as an allergy to vaccine ingredients, Guillain-Barre Syndrome or religious reasons, said Meghan Patton, vice president for human resources.

More than 120 Abington employees remained unvaccinated on Monday, the last day before suspensions took effect. As of Thursday, 56 employees remained suspended, down from the initial 70 suspensions.

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