Health Workers Protest Flu Vaccine Mandate

CBS ^ | Monday, 05 October 2009 | Randall Pinkston

[Westlander]

New York (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.

[Westlander]

Messiah mandate?

[JoanneSD]

I think the first family should take the lead and all four of them, take the shot and show it on msm, just how great it is... and safe

[elizabethgrace]

Well now, abortion is a Constitutional choice, but H1N1 vaccine is not?

[Truth29]

Well, a health worker strike over this issue would certainly stir things up. Would the unions back their members against the Obama collective?

[Earthdweller]

"Would the unions back their members against the Obama collective?"

I believe these were Nurses protesting. Only two states have "unions" for Nurses, California and Massachusetts. The rest are associations. Although the SEIU has been trying to get their hands on them across the country.

[3catsanadog]

"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.

Add up all the patients in all the hospitals in New York and it probably comes to at least the million mark in one year. 160 seems like an awfully low number to find a reason to forceably innoculate workers.

[Jessarah]

I think the first family should take the lead and all four of them, take the shot and show it on msm, just how great it is... and safe

Great idea!

[Overtaxed Patriot]

I think the first family should take the lead and all four of them, take the shot and show it on msm, just how great it is... and safe

And most importantly, have a reputable 3rd party verify the contents of the vaccine to make sure its not a B-12 shot or a harmless placeba. I say let Glenn Beck monitor it.

[3catsanadog]

And if they are going to force the health care workers to get the shot, they need to make sure that all the patients' visitors have proof of vaccination also. They are insinuating that 160 patients catch the flu because they are in the hospital and it is being caught solely because of health care workers.

I work in direct patient care and see patients' families and friends literally standing right next to and hovering around and over the bed, bending over and breathing right down into the patient's face for long periods of time, spouting soothing words and petting their fevered brows - no gloves, no masks, no protective gowns. Anyone wanna bet that some of these compassionate loved ones are carrying the flu - just haven't gotten the symptoms yet?