| New York Suspends Mandatory
Flu Shots For Health Workers
New York public
health workers will no longer be required to be vaccinated against
both the seasonal and H1N1 flu virus, state officials announced,
prompted by a vaccine shortage.
A statement from Gov. David Paterson announced the policy change
on behalf of State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines.
Daines had originally said that public health workers must be
vaccinated for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, also known
as swine flu, by November 30 or risk discipline.
The Public Employees Federation, New York's second-largest state
employees union, sued over the requirement and was awaiting a
state Supreme Court hearing scheduled for October 30.
The vaccine shortage has defused the conflict.
The federal government had told states that, by the end of October,
an estimated 120 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine would be readily
available, according to Paterson and Daines. But the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention will have only about 27.7 million
doses of the vaccine at month's end.
"The CDC
acknowledged that New York would only receive approximately 23 percent
of its anticipated vaccine supply," Paterson said. "As
a result, we need to be as resourceful as we can with the limited
supplies of vaccine currently coming into the state." Video
Watch how Obama administration plans to tackle swine flu »
Those particularly at risk, and who are at the forefront of receiving
both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccines, are pregnant women
and people 6 months to 24 years old, the news release said.
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The CDC has revised its H1N1 vaccine goal. It had planned to
have 200 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine by the end of November,
but it now aims for 65.9 million doses nationwide.
The CDC also recently reported that increased demand has led
to a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine, according to Paterson's
statement.
* A
full list of h1n1 vaccine ingredients, alerts and warnings.
Reference Source 109
October 23, 2009
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