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New York Rescinds Mandatory Flu Shots For HCWs

 

# 3872

 

 

Citing a shortage of vaccine, New York State officials overnight announced a suspension of newly enacted rule requiring HCWs (Health Care Workers) to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu. 

 

Although unstated, one can’t help but wonder what effect pending lawsuits, employee protests, and growing unrest among the ranks of HCWs had on this decision.

 

While New York was the only state to mandate flu vaccination for HCWs,  the suspension of that ruling doesn’t mean the issue has gone away. 

 

  • Some hospitals around the nation have adopted mandatory vaccination – or require the wearing of masks by unvaccinated workers during flu season.
  • APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) has been promoting the idea of mandatory flu shots for HCWs for over a year (see APIC Seeking Mandatory Flu Shot For HCWs)
  • And the New York State Health Department indicates that they will pursue mandatory vaccination again in 2010, assuming adequate vaccine supplies are available.  

 

I strongly support the idea that HCWs should get vaccinated, but I fall short of wanting to see that mandated. At least for now. (See Public Support For Mandatory HCW Vaccination). 

 

Forcing vaccinations during a time when the majority of workers perceive the vaccine to be `untested and unsafe’ (it isn’t) seemed to me to be terrible timing and almost certain to backfire. 

 

That said, I fully expect to see other facilities, and states, pursue mandatory vaccinations in the years to come.  Like it or not, this appears to be the wave of the future.

 

Some of my recent blogs on this subject include:

 

HCWs: Refusing To Bare Arms
NY: Considering Mandating Flu Vaccinations For HCWs
BJC: Mandatory Flu Shots For HCWs

UK: Unvaccinated Health Care Workers Spread Flu

Ongoing Debate: Mandatory Flu Shots For Health Care Workers?

 

 

This report from the AP on the lifting of the mandate for flu shots.

 

 

NY officials rescind mandatory H1N1 flu shot order

By VALERIE BAUMAN (AP) – 8 hours ago

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state health officials have suspended a ruling that would have forced health care workers across the state to get vaccinated against the swine flu by the end of November or risk losing their jobs, saying in a decision issued Thursday that they did so because the vaccine is in short supply.

 

New York will be getting only about 23 percent of its anticipated supply of the vaccine for the swine flu virus — also called H1N1 — by the end of the month, and that should be reserved for those most at risk for serious illness and death, according to Gov. David Paterson's office.

 

"New evidence is showing that H1N1 can be especially virulent to pregnant women and young people — so they should get vaccinated first," said Dr. Richard Daines, the state health commissioner.

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