NY Nurses Association Opposes Swine Flu Vac.

[Guest guest]

Friday, July 24, 2009, 8:21am EDT | Modified: Friday, July 24, 2009, 8:24am

Nurses oppose mandatory immunization

Business First of Buffalohttp://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/07/20/daily47.htmlThe New York State Nurses Association has come out against a state regulation that requires every health-care worker to be immunized against influenza.

The regulation has been adopted by the New York State Hospital Planning and Review Council. It's intended as a defense against a possible fall outbreak of swine flu.

The Nurses Association called the council's action a "scorched earth" approach.

"While we encourage nurses to be immunized for the flu, we do not

agree that nurses should be required to get immunizations as a

condition of employment," said Avery, associate director of the

association's education, practice and research program.

Avery contended that the flu vaccine is not 100 percent effective.

"There is no guarantee that in any given year, the public will benefit

from mandatory immunization of health-care providers," she said.

"If you're going to ask people to take the swine flu vaccine for the common good, then let's make sure for the common good that these people will be taken care of if something goes wrong," - Paul Pennock, Medico-legal expert.

Looking for local information? Find it on Local