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Governor halts mandatory inoculations, as union had hoped
Oct 29, 2009 3:09 PM
Anne Goldman (left), special representative for the Federation of Nurses/UFT, tells state lawmakers why workers should not be forced to take the H1N1 vaccine, while UFT industrial hygienist Chris Proctor looks on.
Gov. Paterson has suspended the state directive requiring all health care workers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu, citing a shortage of the vaccines. A chorus of opposition to the requirement had been growing in recent weeks, including demonstrations, heated public hearings and three lawsuits. The state directive had ordered all health care workers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu by Nov. 30.
The Federation of Nurses/UFT was among a number of health care worker groups who strongly opposed the mandate, instead supporting vaccinations on a voluntary basis.
The New York State United Teachers, the UFT’s state affiliate, was one of three groups to file lawsuits challenging the mandatory vaccinations prior to the governor’s suspension of the program.
Judge Thomas McNamara had issued a temporary restraining order halting the mandatory vaccination when the governor’s announcement made the lawsuits moot.
Along with other unions, the Federation of Nurses/UFT was part of a New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health coalition opposing mandatory vaccinations, which wrote a letter supporting voluntary vaccination and expressing strong opposition to mandatory vaccination.
In testimony before the New York State Assembly, Anne Goldman, a registered nurse and Federation of Nurses/UFT special representative, explained why nurses want voluntary — not mandatory — vaccination for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
“We strongly believe [health care professionals] should not be forced to choose between vaccinations and their jobs when they have reasonable issues and legitimate concerns,” she said, addressing the committee leaders for Health, Labor, Education and Higher Education on Oct. 13, in front of a very vocal, overflow crowd.
“Many of the professionals we represent have legitimate medical, religious and personal reasons for objecting to mandatory vaccinations,” she said, speaking on behalf of the nearly 4,500 RNs and licensed practical nurses who are affiliated with the UFT and work at two private hospitals, two home health care agencies and the Visiting Nurse Service.
“When you mandate, you do away with the histories of people who may have untoward reactions to a shot,” Goldman said.
Prior to her testimony, Assembly leaders heard from Dr. Guthrie Birkhead, the deputy commissioner for the state Department of Health, who acknowledged under questioning that New York had been the only state in the country to make vaccination mandatory for health care professionals.
Mandatory vaccination has not been called for by the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Thomas Frieden, who coincidentally was New York’s previous health commissioner.
Goldman also objected to the absence of consultation with health care professionals when the state Department of Health created its mandatory vaccination policy.
In her testimony, Goldman emphasized the importance of a comprehensive infection control program to protect employees and patients from exposure, as well as monitoring and surveillance of influenza-like illness to ensure that it is not spreading within a health care facility.
Relying on the vaccine alone, she said, could give a false sense of security and make people less vigilant in taking other preventive measures to control the spread of flu viruses.
If you are a Federation of Nurses/UFT member with questions about the vaccination program, please contact Goldman at agoldman@uft.org.
