Suspension of Mandatory Flu Vaccination
Oct 23, 2009 11:56 AM
THE FEDERATION OF NURSES/UFT IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SUSPENDED THE MANDATORY FLU IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT FOR NEW YORK HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Through an intensive lobbying effort, letter writing and phone campaign, as well as state senate hearings, we are pleased this mandate has been suspended. “We have worked tirelessly to have our message heard and to suspend the mandatory requirement” said Anne Goldman, Federation of Nurses/UFT. Now we can focus in an appropriate manner on the issue of treating and responding to a public health issue.
The first line of defense in a public health issue is to educate, communicate not mandate vaccination for workers who have various health profiles and should choose “individually” in consultation with their physician whether or not vaccination is the best choice for them. The mandation caused disciplinary penalties to be announced and implemented in many facilities. This ranged from immediate suspension ending in termination. Choosing between the most appropriate health choice for the individual nurse and loosing your job was certainly counterproductive.
The Federation of Nurses/UFT encourages the NYSDOH to develop a more effective approach that incorporates a comprehensive infection control program to protect employees and patients from exposure as well as monitoring and surveillance of influenza-like illness.
Health care personnel, including registered nurses can acquire or transmit influenza to patients and co-workers. Unvaccinated health care personnel can be a key source of outbreaks of influenza in heath care settings. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports seasonal influenza causes 36,000 deaths and over 200,000 hospitalizations per year due to complications of season influenza.
The Federation of Nurses/UFT supports voluntary vaccinations and strongly encourages members to receive the influenza vaccines for both seasonal and HINI flu if you are medically able and both vaccines are available.
There are some contradictions for the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines. For more information about the vaccines go to: http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Federation of Nurses/UFT at 212-420-7981 or go on our website at www.uft.org and then click on the “Federation of Nurses” link.
