Health Care Workers Rally Against Flu Vaccine Mandate
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Health care workers rallied in Albany this afternoon against a state mandate requiring them to get the H1N1/swine flu vaccine or lose their jobs.
Under an emergency regulation issued by the state Department of Health in August, all health care workers have until November 30th to be immunized for both the seasonal flu and H1N1.
The state will get its first doses of swine flu vaccine next week; many are reserved for health care workers.
But some workers say the H1N1 vaccine has not been fully tested and they do not want to be "guinea pigs."
"I've been in healthcare for 30 years. I believe as Americans our rights are being assaulted," said one medical professional.
"It just comes down to the freedom of choice," said another health care worker. "We no longer have that freedom of choice to keep our jobs."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the H1N1 vaccine is safe and produces a powerful immune response.
New York is the first state to mandate vaccinations for health care workers.