Paterson Suspends Flu Vaccination Rule

David A. Paterson

Under pressure, the Paterson administration on Thursday evening backed away from a health regulation that would compel hundreds of thousands of health care workers and hospital volunteers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu.

Claudia Hutton, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Health, said in an interview on Thursday night, “Since the vaccine is so scarce right now and since the virus has proved especially difficult for pregnant women and young people — there have been deaths — we felt that the best use of the scarce amount of vaccine right now is for those populations.”

In August, the state health commissioner, Dr. Richard F. Daines, issued a regulation ordering health care workers to be vaccinated by Nov. 30 or face fines. But last week, a judge in Albany halted enforcement of the rule in response to a lawsuit filed by three nurses who asserted that the requirement violated their civil rights.

However, Gov. David A. Paterson insisted that its reversal was unrelated to the lawsuit or the temporary restraining order issued by the judge.

Instead, the governor pointed to a statement by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said that only about 23 percent of the anticipated vaccine supply would be available by month’s end. “As a result, we need to be as resourceful as we can with the limited supplies of vaccine currently coming into the state and make sure that those who are at the highest risk for complications from the H1N1 flu receive the first vaccine being distributed right now in New York State,” Mr. Paterson said in a statement. (New York is estimated to receive 6 percent to 7 percent of the national vaccine supply, based on its population.)

Terence L. Kindlon, a lawyer for the three nurses, said on Thursday evening, “This is a good result, because the decision whether or not to be vaccinated is one that should be made by the individual. That’s all we ever wanted to establish here: the right to make that choice.”

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What part of “public health” don’t these nurses understand?
Vaccination is not just a matter of protecting their person, it’s a matter of protecting their patients. Any nurse who opts not to get the vaccine should be required to wear a mask so their patients are protected.

A good decision. Even health care workers are entitled to freedom of choice.

In the meanwhile, doctors in the city are seeing large number of patients with influenza-like illness, most of whom have H1N1. They are receiving large number of inquiries from patients waiting for the arrival of H1N1 vaccine, which is being delayed. Finally, there is extensive shortage of seasonal flu vaccine.

This is a win for all healthcare workers who don’t want to be guinea pigs for testing of a new vaccine that the government has rushed out and allowed the manufacturers immunity against any lawsuit resulting from those vaccines. That doesn’t sound like anything that I would want in my body so I don’t blame them for not wanting it in theirs either.

While the DC policy wonks think about the public option, etc. where is the H1N1 vaccine? People are dying, we are zooming toward a pandemic. Too much thinking, not enough effective action by the Administration!! Get with it!!

Stop with the bashing of nurses. As far as i know there is no conclusive study that either shows that patients get the flu from hospital nurses or that given the vaccine to healthcare workers will prevent a flu outbreak. You have a greater chance of getting the flu taking the subway, bus or going to your child’s school. I do not hear anyone saying we should mandate vaccinating those groups.

Here is a dirty inside secret, although the nurses filed a suit to block the flu vaccine rule, the majority of hospital doctors were unwilling to receive the vaccine also.

The reason these health workers are up in arms is not JUST their freedom to choice – it’s that they KNOW what’s in these TOXIC vaccines! If the vaccine was REALLY healthy and good for us all then there wouldn’t even be any mandates or requirements because we would know in our hearts and minds it was a good thing and we’d all be getting it. The issue is that vaccines have NO double-blind placebo testing to even prove they work at all, the current H1N1 vaccine has no long-term testing and the last “fast-tracked” vaccine (Gardasil – HPV vaccine) has caused 15,000 reactions, 3,000+ injuries and over 50 deaths. If you’re in the medical field – you’ve HEARD this and understand there are MAJOR risks in getting a vaccine – more than getting the disease in many cases!

All the SHEEPLE lining up right now don’t look at the vaccine inserts, aren’t asking any proper questions – even simple ones like “what are you injecting directly into my bloodstream?” Health care workers KNOW there is squalene, thimerisal, formaldehyde, octoxynol 10 and polysorbate 80 – NONE of which are healthy for ANYONE – Google them.

All this shortage is just a way to induce more panic and fear of loss to stimulate demand – they hope. I just hope that, like in 1976 where MORE people died from the vaccine than the flu, people see through the hype and fear-mongering.

There are SO many great natural ways to boost your immunity and avoid the flu – without side effects. And if you do get sick, take care of yourself but know this – your body is sick for a reason – it must get rid of toxins it does not want.

For the most part, people are tired of being bombarded with such massive amounts of propaganda – enough already!

Any health care worker who refuses to be vaccinated is criminally negligent and if they infect a patient they should charged with reckless endangerment and then to prison. If they are so fearful of being vaccinated that is clear evidence of medical incompetence and they should be forced to leave the profession.

The Governor cannot “reverse” a rule adopted by the Department of Health. My impression is that he has instructed Commissioner Daines to allow the rule to expire on November 10th.

This is an extremely good decision; pregnant women and the severely obese are the most at risk, and a vast majority of health care workers have already been exposed to H1N1 already in the course of their daily work..

Plus, there was that whole issue pesky issue of autonomy involved. I think that the vaccine shortage was used as an excuse by Patterson to do away with a bad policy. Bioethicist and Health Law expert George Annas thought it was bad policy too.

//www.medpie.com/Conversations/featured-articles/annas.html

Good work Patterson!

I accept that some health care professionals may choose to decline immunizations. However, will they tell us as patients so we can choose to have them care for us?

Govenor Paterson’s decision is surely the right one under the circumstances. But that does not mean that the nurses should prevail. It is perfectly reasonable that being vacinated against the flu should be a condition of employment in a job where you regularly come in contact both with carriers of the flu and people who are unusually suceptible to it. Yes, the nurses can chose not to be vacinated but if they do, they should find other employment.

I accept that some patients may choose to decline immunizations. However, will they tell us as health care professionals so we can choose to treat them?

i am so happy!! i think this has important implications regarding personal choice in health care. one size does not fit all. every person must have a doctor they can talk to and an opportunity to decide what is best for him or her.
nurses and health care providers are not responsible for the decisions their patients make. if you are worried about the flu then go and get the shot…… end of story. i am thrilled. i have been a nurse for 27 years have never gotten the flu shot, never had the flu and never gave it to a patient! nurses and health care workers are exposed all day long to diseases far worse then the flu. wishing you all good health and respecting your choice.

Kudos to Gov. Patterson for reversing this very bad policy. I agree however, this was likely a face saving action in response to widespread opposition. The issue of forced immunization of a select population (healthcare workers) forces one to ask why other groups with high exposure rates to large groups (teachers, law enforcement) were not to be forced to submit to immunization. Perhaps due to the fact that they have very strong political clout in the form of unions that would kill any such plan?

For those who decry as irresponsible the desire by healthcare workers to not be forcibly immunized, I say this – this issue is bigger than my health, or the health of any one patient. This issue is about our civil rights as citizens, about autonomy over our bodies and what is injected into them.

Having said that, I will now be immunized for H1N1, now that I once again have a free choice to accept or decline. Immunizations are, in general, good things that have saved many, many more lives than have been lost due to their adverse effects. Those who claim otherwise are simply too young to know otherwise, or too lazy to research infectious disease morbidity and mortality before the development of certain vaccines.

Pathetic, pandering, simpering, craven, ignorant, sad, infuriating, and ultimately risking much suffering and death…Patterson should be ashamed…

I’ve had swine flu and I’ve had a vaccine reaction. I’ll take swine flu anyday over a vaccine reaction. If these workers are not free to make their own choices over what they feel will keep themselves healthy, how can anyone expect them to be your advocate and respect your wishes? This commissioner needs to be replaced. I bet Merck would hire him after this stunt.

Please everyone ignore the paranoid and false-statement-saturated post by Alex. Not a single death has been attributed to Gardasil, although it is true that 26 million doses of Gardasil have been distributed in the U.S. and there have been 27 confirmed deaths among people who had received the vaccine at an earlier point. As per the CDC:

“Experts have not found a common medical pattern to the reports of serious adverse events reported for Gardasil that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine.” //www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm

If you gave 26 million young people vitamin C then you would be guaranteed to have some people die at some point in the days/weeks/months after receiving the vitamin C. Why?? Because people die (even people who don’t get vaccines!).

His analysis of the flu vaccine is actually even more more bizarre, but I’ve run out of energy to address it.

I hope I have addressed the concerns of anyone who was mislead by Alex. I am not trying to change Alex’s opinion since I only have facts and and delusion always ‘wins out’ over facts.

I’ll try posting my comment again but it seems quite apparent your publication has no interest in the truth. Could this be why the traditional media is biting the dust?

What a coincidence! Just today an Albany radio station reporter (WGY) infuriated Dr. Daines when she asked if it was a conflict of interest that his wife works for Goldman Sachs who has acted as broker for billions of dollars of vaccine deals including FluMist by MedImmune. He never mentioned the vaccine shortage at the flu panel discussion this morning. I’m also confused by the NYT stating in copy that there is no mercury in the shots when the literature that comes with each dose states they do in fact contain mercury or a mercury derivative. Don’t tell me Judith Miller is back with her Yellow Cake accounts.

The nurses have no problem injecting that poison into babies and children, but won;t take it themselves.

For those of you who are able to think what does that tell you.

The real issue is principle, either vaccines are safe and protect or they are not safe and don’t protect.

We know they are not safe, because of all the vaccine damaged,disability and death caused by this blood poisoning. And we know that no one has ever proven any vaccine to prevent disease. Its only a belief that has been promoted by those who will profit at the expense of the ignorant.

As for the scientist, you are right there are people who will end up in jail, but it won;t be the anti-vaxers.
Jim O’Kelly
Founder of S.I.N.B.A.D.
Shots in bodies are dangerous.

Certified in common sense.

Knowing that a health care person did their own analysis and either chose to be vaccinated or declined, gives me more confidence in their qualifications and capabilities as a medical professional.

So they’d rather incubate the virus and pass it along to their patients. These people have no business being in health care, they should move to a field where they won’t be hurting people because that is exactly what they are doing. I think they should be able to refuse vaccination only by taking full civil and criminal liability for anyone they may infect.

In a real emergency, health care workers would be absolutely necessary to improving survival rates for the general populace. Requiring them to be immunized in advance so the maximum workforce is available and unlikely to sicken additional patients is perfectly reasonable. I don’t think we’ll be allowing policemen to opt out of carrying a gun and I think health care workers, especially in public institutions should be fired for putting their personal preferences above public health. It should be a requirement for employment.

I think I was one of the last New Yorkers to support Patterson, and now I can no longer. What a wimp! He is unconcerned with the public health, and I would now love to see him go.

I’ve heard these nurses on the radio saying the flu is no big deal, they have great immune systems, they’ll recover quickly, etc. This is nonsense and obscures the real issue.

If there is an outbreak, and a nurse gets sick with this flu, he/she has two choices — to go to work, or to stay home. If he/she goes to work, there is a strong risk of infecting patients. If he/she stays home, there is a strong risk we will be without trained nurses in the middle of an epidemic.

Either choice shows a view that public health is trivial. I think they best choose a different profession.

What a coincidence! Just today an Albany radio station reporter (WGY) infuriated Dr. Daines when she asked if it was a conflict of interest that his wife works for Goldman Sachs who has acted as broker for billions of dollars of vaccine deals including FluMist by MedImmune. He never mentioned the vaccine shortage at the flu panel discussion this morning. I’m also confused by the NYT stating in copy that there is no mercury in the shots when the literature that comes with each dose states they do in fact contain mercury or a mercury derivative. Don’t tell me Judith Miller is back with her Yellow Cake accounts.

If this is so important for health care workers in NY to have, including EMT’s and Paramedics who were also forced to get this, why not FDNY? The EMT’s and Paramedics are often the fist ones to initiate care to a patient. Beyond that the FDNY engine company, CFR get to ALS calls before the paramedics. If this is all about the patients why were they exempt. All Paramedics and EMT’s, except for the ones operated by FDNY were required. Why? Why not the engine company? So, it is not all about the patients and protecting the public, is it?