NY officials rescind mandatory flu shot order

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The state Health Department is rescinding its controversial order mandating swine flu shots for all health care workers, saying the vaccine supply is limited and should be reserved for the highest-risk groups.

Health Commissioner Richard Daines' earlier order that health care workers receive the H1N1 vaccine brought protests from workers who claimed it was unfair to force them to put a substance into their body.

On Thursday evening, Gov. David Paterson's office released a statement saying New York would be getting only about 23 percent of its anticipated vaccine supply by the end of the month, and that should be reserved for those most at risk for serious illness and death. That includes pregnant women and people under 24 years old.

Just read this and thought I'd share

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I have a friend who is pregnant and can't find the vaccine anywhere. Her midwife's advice is to avoid kids.

Meanwhile my school is providing enough vaccine to cover the entire health professions school. I just got vaccinated, but if pregnant women are among the highest risk groups, it seems like the ball has really been dropped on allocation. Why isn't the vacc being sent to all OB practices? Clinics set up for pregnant women?

She is so stressed out and worried about this. Our local DOH doesn't have any information on when there will be vaccine clinics open to the public.

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Specializes in ED.

Excellent. Not only will this allow nurses to have a choice in whether they should be vaccinated, it will help allow those who really want and need to be vaccinated to find vaccine. There is no point in wasting vaccine on a healthy person with no risk just because they might come in contact with a patient. The mandate didn't even specify "vulnerable" patients, it was for any patient contact. So the nurse at the dermatology clinic would be forced to use up a vaccine that could have gone to a pregnant woman. This decision is best for everyone.

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

They forgot we were a democracy

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Specializes in ED.
They forgot we were a democracy

We're not a democracy.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

This does not surprise me at all.

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We're not a democracy.

true, never were, we were foundd as a rebpulic.....

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DO you have the orginal link to that article? And do you know if it applies to the seasonal vaccine we are required to get as well or just the H1N1.

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YAY! Hopefully everywhere else will follow. That was ridiculous anyways.

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Specializes in ER CCU MICU SICU LTC/SNF.
DO you have the orginal link to that article? And do you know if it applies to the seasonal vaccine we are required to get as well or just the H1N1.

Googled

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

YAY! Mandation was an over reaction. Now they really do have choice.

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