Ny doh suspends vaccines?!

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Specializes in PACU, ICU,UTIL.REVIEW,INFECT.CONTROL.

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?:yeah:

ps. please excuse my thread title lower case lettering..i was too excited!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

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.

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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/nyregion/23flu.html?_r=1&ref=health

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Specializes in Oncology.

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

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

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.

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Specializes in Oncology.

My understanding is that seasonal is still mandatory.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

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.

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Specializes in CCU & CTICU.
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.

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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.

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