09-12-2009, 06:14 PM
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Local Nurse wont comply with State vaccination Order
By Casey J. Bortnick
Video:
A vaccine for the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, is still a month away at best. But health care workers are already being bumped to the front of the line.
Those who work in health care are being strongly urged by the federal government to get immunized once the swine flu vaccine is available. The state of New York is taking it one step further by making vaccination a requirement.
Health care professionals do have an obligation to protect their patients, but at what cost? For one health care worker the new state directive intended to stop the spread of H1N1 goes too far.
Just a word like pandemic is enough to scare anyone in the health care field. For registered nurse Deborah Gerhardt, there are words even scarier.
"Whenever you hear mandatory required, you start to get a little bit anxious, "says Gerhardt.
She's been a nurse for 15 years and has never had a flu shot.
"I feel that everyone should have a choice," says Gerhardt.
She recently learned she doesn't have a choice.
"It was one day we were told you will receive the flu injection," says Gerhardt.
The New York State department of Health is ordering tens of thousands of health workers be immunized against seasonal and swine flu.
More on this Story
Local Nurse wont comply with State vaccination Order
By Casey J. Bortnick
Video:
A vaccine for the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, is still a month away at best. But health care workers are already being bumped to the front of the line.
Those who work in health care are being strongly urged by the federal government to get immunized once the swine flu vaccine is available. The state of New York is taking it one step further by making vaccination a requirement.
Health care professionals do have an obligation to protect their patients, but at what cost? For one health care worker the new state directive intended to stop the spread of H1N1 goes too far.
Just a word like pandemic is enough to scare anyone in the health care field. For registered nurse Deborah Gerhardt, there are words even scarier.
"Whenever you hear mandatory required, you start to get a little bit anxious, "says Gerhardt.
She's been a nurse for 15 years and has never had a flu shot.
"I feel that everyone should have a choice," says Gerhardt.
She recently learned she doesn't have a choice.
"It was one day we were told you will receive the flu injection," says Gerhardt.
The New York State department of Health is ordering tens of thousands of health workers be immunized against seasonal and swine flu.