by RNsckofit

Someone please confirm for me. I was not paying total attention to the news but did I hear correctly that the NEW YOR STATE DOH has suspended the mandatory flu vaccines?
PS. please excuse my thread title lower case lettering..I was too excited!!!!!!!!

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

Yes, I heard that Paterson stated that NY was going to keep the available vaccines for the most vulnerable--pregnant women and young adults/kids with health issues.

Personally, I think they knew they would lose that lawsuit that was brought up against them.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

Yes, they suspended it.

According to the NY Times

"Claudia Hutton, a spokeswoman for the State Health Department, said in an interview Thursday night that the regulation had been suspended because of a shortage of H1N1 vaccine. She said that the state wanted to concentrate its vaccination efforts on pregnant women and children."

Complete article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/ny...r=1&ref=health

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

I really want the vaccine. I hope I am still able to get it.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

Is the regular flu vaccine still mandatory? Was it ever mandatory?

I'm across the lake from Plattsburgh, and I hope to get the H1N1 vaccine. It's hard enough getting the regular flu vaccine here. Quebec is distributing the regular flu vaccine after H1N1, so Canadians have been coming here for the regular flu shot, worsening the shortage.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

My understanding is that seasonal is still mandatory.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

NY forced to do this for 2 reasons:
a. Lawsuit
b. Flu vaccine shortage: both regular and H1N1

My employer home health agency received notice that our second shipment NOT coming due to 2 manufacturers stoping regular flu production in July to convert to H1N1. Can't make someone take immunization if supply not available.

Since Medicare requests home health agencies to provide flu vaccine AND now report immunization rates of patients told VP patient services we need to TRIPLE order for next year.

I was lucky to have routine DRs visit and got shot.. One of my staff left work yesterday and stood in line 3 hrs at grocery store flu clinic to get shot--I have 15 staff that want vaccination. Mgmt now trying to see if health system has any remaining to share.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

Originally Posted by blondy2061h

My understanding is that seasonal is still mandatory.

Nope.

Is the regular flu vaccine still mandatory? Was it ever mandatory?

Not anymore but it was.
According to NYSDOH both were mandatory initally.

Here's Gov. Paterson's press release about the suspension and NYSDOH's blurb from last week.

Re: Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

Originally Posted by NRSKarenRN

NY forced to do this for 2 reasons:
a. Lawsuit
b. Flu vaccine shortage: both regular and H1N1

My employer home health agency received notice that our second shipment NOT coming due to 2 manufacturers stoping regular flu production in July to convert to H1N1. Can't make someone take immunization if supply not available.

Since Medicare requests home health agencies to provide flu vaccine AND now report immunization rates of patients told VP patient services we need to TRIPLE order for next year.

I was lucky to have routine DRs visit and got shot.. One of my staff left work yesterday and stood in line 3 hrs at grocery store flu clinic to get shot--I have 15 staff that want vaccination. Mgmt now trying to see if health system has any remaining to share.

If you read my past post I do believe I said on a antivax thread that the real problem was a vaccine shortage not people being forced to take it against there will. The trick is having enough for people that want it, so often lately that is not the case. Walgreens just announced they are out.