Health Workers Protest Flu Vaccine Mandate

(CBS)  The first doses of the H1N1 vaccine are expected to be released this week. While that is bringing relief to some Americans, it's also helping to ignite a controversy for one group, as CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston reports.

Outside New York 's capitol building, health care workers - shouting "Give me liberty!" - vowed to fight an unprecedented order from state health officials: a requirement for every health care worker to get seasonal and H1N1 flu shots or face the possibility of being fired.

Physical therapist Carole Blueweiss is weighting that risk.

"I'm healthy and I have a strong immune system and I don't want to feel like someone is telling me what to put into my body to protect me," Blueweiss said.

But the state maintains the objective is to reduce the possibility of infecting patients.

"Every flu season, in New York for example, we have about 160 outbreaks of flu inside healthcare institutions," said New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Richard Daines.

In past years, when vaccination was voluntary, only 40 percent of the state's 925,000 health care workers get vaccinated.

"That's kind of intolerable that patients should come to a hospital and not know that the healthcare workers are vaccinated," Daines said.

But Carole Blueweiss - who plans to give her son the seasonal flu vaccine - doesn't trust the H1N1 vaccine for him or herself.

In her 15 years as a physical therapist at a large New York hospital, she says she's never gotten a flu shot and never had the flu.

"We are health care workers and we are not even given the credit or the respect to make the decision," Blueweiss said. "It's outrageous and it feels criminal and anti-American."

While New York has the only state-wide mandate, a number of private and public hospitals are also requiring employees to take flu shots, including: the 273 facilities of the Hospital Corporation of America; Emory hospital in Atlanta; the University of Pennsylvania hospital; the University of Maryland hospital; and the Loyola University health system in Chicago.

There is also a strong resistance from the general public. A new Harvard University poll shows only four in 10 adults intend to take the vaccine themselves. Only 6 in 10 plan to give it to their children.

[swtmedic]

I believe we should have the to opt out of the vaccination of the flu vaccine. We as healthcare providers can opt out of taking the hepatitis vaccine shot - why can't health providers opt out of the flu vaccine. It should be a choice not a requirement to the point of losing your job over. Some people can't even have the flu vaccine - if you are allergic to eggs, chicken, or egg products - the vaccine is made with preservatives with these ingredients. Some vaccines contain Thimerosal which can cause a bad reaction. Some brands of the vacines also contain polymyxin or neomycin - many people get reactions from that also...even having an allergic reaction.

The vaccine is not a cure for the flu. The vaccine is not effective against all strains of the flu virus. People who have GBS are not recommended in getting the flu vaccine.

So I would say it should be an option to get the vaccine not a requirement! Its an American Freedom Choice!

[Billybeantown]

This is criminal & abuse of constitutional ammendmants. Dr. Richard Daines is simply forcing his radical extreme philosophy upon American Citizens in an egotistical manner. He should prosecuted for his reckless intentions. To face such unfair, unjust pressure to take a foreign substance into their bodies is appauling! May the OMNI Present Spirit be with you Health care workers.

[care4unow]

it's simply not that simple
the cdc does NOT have any documenation regarding those that die from the flu or even just become ill and whether they were vaccinated or not. they simply can not support the statistics they give of it's risks and it's benefits unless they do this kind of follow through and they don't nor do they plan to.
i've been a nurse for 22 years. we're not "whining"-- we are educated as to the risk of vaccinations and there are vaccinations with risks greater than the potential benefits. There's great research out there if people are willing to look for it that supports that chronic illnesses for some stem from vaccines themselves and that pandemics in the past may well not have been from the disease but from our choices to use aspirin,motrin or tylenol and prevent the fever which is our bodies own natural immunity effort.
We're not afraid but simply have enough experience to ask more questions and see the other point of view.

[care4unow]

it's simply not that simple
the cdc does NOT have any documenation regarding those that die from the flu or even just become ill and whether they were vaccinated or not. they simply can not support the statistics they give of it's risks and it's benefits unless they do this kind of follow through and they don't nor do they plan to.
i've been a nurse for 22 years. we're not "whining"-- we are educated as to the risk of vaccinations and there are vaccinations with risks greater than the potential benefits. There's great research out there if people are willing to look for it that supports that chronic illnesses for some stem from vaccines themselves and that pandemics in the past may well not have been from the disease but from our choices to use aspirin,motrin or tylenol and prevent the fever which is our bodies own natural immunity effort.
We're not afraid but simply have enough experience to ask more questions and see the other point of view.

[eyeoweanna]

This is just slightly ridiculous. I have known -more- people who have gotten the regular Flu Vaccine that have actually GOTTEN the Flu than those who tough it during the Fall/Winter Season without it. What good is it going to do to MANDATE people to take this new H1N1 Vaccine if its #1 Brand New and #2 Only been tested on a few people. Do they not realize that if someone with an extremely low immune system takes this shot they could possibly end up WITH the Swine Flu and then end up DEAD. I'd rather take my chances without the shot. Hey here's a little hint for everyone: Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer if you don't have the time to run to a sink to do so.

[mary_moran]

Regardless of the existence of a vaccine, we need to get serious about hands-on prevention, which is why I must share this tip: My child came home from school saying they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. And this is effective regardless of the existence of a vaccine.

[lls64]

Does anyone else find it interesting that people in the health care field are against this vaccine?? I take their opinions very seriously and if they are refusing to put this vaccine in their bodies, so am I.

[baileyccc]

This mandate by the health workers should tell the general public that vaccines are the "snake oil" of western medicine. But the uneducated public will stand in line and let Big Pharma put this unproven poison in their system forever. Posted by Baileyccc

[MzSoniaV]

If healthcare workers are reluctant to get the shot, knowing their exposure to sick and healthy people.....tells, me alot and scares the heck out of me.



svivar9087

[rocketjl]

OK,OK. Health care workers are saying that health care medication is bad. They are also arrogant enough to say if you want me to care for you, it has to be my way. History of patients being infected with various illnesses while in medical facilities should be ignored. People who deal with the public do have an obligation to the pubic. Food workers need to be vaccinated also. Bottom line here is really, 'I have the right to not put things in my body that I don't want to' and 'you do not have the right to ask me to not infect you with any disease that I may contract'. I am glad that if you health care folks do infect me, you agree to pay for my medical care and you will compensate me for my pain and suffering. After all, even though we supported your right to not take 'the shot', you kept on making the big bucks!!!!!

[rutroscoobyg]

First off it is not a medication , it is a vaccination, they are different, most medications leave your system in 4-8 hours, vaccinations stay in your system for at least a year wreaking havoc and potentially causing irreversible damage, HeathCare Workers are not the enemy or the cause of this problem , It is simply the flu, the same people are affected year after year , the same group of people have complications year after year , the problem is the media got a hold of it and is making it a far bigger deal that it is , forcing more people to Emergency Rooms because the media is scaring them and this is what is spreading it, not the health care workers.