I do not think it is acceptable for the state to mandate our taking the flu shot. I do not take the flu shot and am opposed to being forced to take it.
Sharon Sickler
RN
Southampton Hospital
Southampton, NY
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I am so glad the union is looking into this matter. I for one do not want the H1N1 vaccine, and I should not be forced to take it.
Dinnette Clarke
Mental health worker
North Shore Jewish - Long Island
Lakeville, NY
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Being a member of 1199SEIU, I am glad that our union is taking this position. It is a fact that mandating such an invasive procedure is a wanton and willful violation of our constitutional rights and both the fourth and tenth Amendments. I believe 1199 should come out swinging for the fence to protect our inherent right of choice.
I will not be taking any such forced injection, and expect my union to protect me and my fellow union members that refuse this violation against our civil and human rights. New York State may posture this measure as a "noble gesture." However, nothing can be considered noble when you are forced to give up your inherent right of choice to decide what goes in your body. 1199 must insure in a more emphatic message, that we will not accept any violation of our Constitutional right to freedom of choice.
Roscoe Peace
Respiratory therapist
NYU Langone MedicalCenter
New York City
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I believe that healthcare workers have civil rights, just like everyone else. Vaccinations should be voluntary only! Whether or not a person needs to be vaccinated should be decided by that person and his/her physician.
Victoria Noworyta
RN
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Niagara Falls, NY
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Crouse Hospital is making all employees who get the vaccine waive any claims on side effects. What will the union do to protect our freedom of choice?
Catherine Burbns
RN
Crouse Hospital
Syracuse, NY
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I believe that this vaccination has not been FDA approved as of yet. This is a good reason why some people should not be forced into getting this vaccination and should determine for themselves whether or not they should take the shot.
Carol Maggio
Secretary
Brookdale Hospital
Brooklyn, NY
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I am opposed to mandation of the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Where did my personal right to choose go? And the statement from the NY health department states this is for the seasonal flu vaccines annually! What is being/going to be done?
Mary N. Thayer
RN
Crouse Hospital
Syracuse
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As a healthcare union, we owe it to our members to develop a clearly stated position on the necessity of a strong government "public health" system, as it used to exist. Over the past three decades "private healthcare" has decimated our public health institutions and, along with them, the public understanding of their importance. It was government intervention that stopped and subsequently prevented the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis and polio, among many others. We mandate rubella, measles, chicken pox and pertussis vaccinations for our children at public schools for a reason, which is to prevent the spread of treatable disease. It should be no less in our healthcare system. But, first and more importantly, we must raise the banner for government re-intervention into our healthcare system.
Coert Bonthius
Assistant director
1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund
Syracuse
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I feel I have lost my freedom of choice, and my civil rights have been violated with the threat of losing my job. I have never been ill with the flu in my 57 years on this planet. The union was not helpful when asking for advice. I received the vaccination on 9/17/09 under duress.
Cassandra Greene
Senior health educator
Bronx Lebanon Hospital
The Bronx, NY
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NYSNA has taken a position against mandatory vaccination with the H1N1 vaccine and is lobbying the NY state health department to change the regulation to voluntary compliance. 1199SEIU should follow suit. Our concerns are that the vaccine has not received the usual testing for FDA approval and that the vaccine manufacturers have been exempted from liability for serious health consequences associated with the vaccine.
As nurses, we advocate for the rights of patients to refuse medications and treatments and we should be afforded the same rights. Nurses and other healthcare workers who choose to decline the vaccine should not be denied employment.
Horace Thomas
RN
Beth Israel Medical Center
New York City
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I totally agree and was very upset when we got the memo from our hospital president stating they would suspend or fire us if we do not comply. Please let us know immediately if we have the right to refuse without being suspended or fired.
Aurelia Garcia
Secretary
Maimonides Community Mental Health Center
Brooklyn, NY
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My patients have the right to refuse any medical treatment, yet I do not have the same right. 1199 should have taken a greater political voice in this matter, polled its members, marched on Albany, and encouraged us to contact our legislators. I feel 1199 let me down while it continued to put time/energy/finances into the political arena but not into the voice of its members. You are our voice. I will no longer contribute to the political action committee.
Liane Donohue
Nurse practicioner
Crouse Hospital
Camillus, NY
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Why should these injections be made mandatory, when they can make you very ill? What if you become ill and live with an individual who had multiple illnesses?
Carol Nicholson
Woodhull Hospital
Brooklyn, NY
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I think we should have the right to choose what we want to put in our bodies!
Brenda Mac
Clerk
NY Community Hospital
Brooklyn
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I am opposed to mandatory seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccine. It violates my constitutional rights. I do not feel secure in my person when an injection is being forced on me.
Michelle Nicaise
RN
Crouse Memorial Hospital
Syracuse
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I think the time has come to hold a rally for our rights!
Sharon Kelly
Clerk
NY Community Hospital
Brooklyn
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Mandatory flu vaccinations violates employees’ right to decline based on religious, cultural, philosophical or other personal reasons
Ho Cheung Li
Pharmacist
Maimonides Hospital
Brooklyn
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I strongly feel that it is not the right of the state or institution you work in to mandate any vaccinations. That is against our human rights and civil rights. No one can force me to put something in my body that I feel violates me. That is freedom of choice! It is disgusting and I am ready to protest this.
Christine Patsakos
Respiratory therapist
Richmiond university
Staten Island, NY
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If the workers do not want the vaccination, they should not take it. I was working for more than 10 years and I never took vaccinations.
Emily Jordan
Flushing Manor Care Center
Brooklyn
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I am retired. However, I know active employees who will refuse mandatory immunization. As a retired Delegate, I hope that the union will protect the right of workers to refuse the shot. What is the plan of action?
Alayne Cox
Retired nurse technician
New York Methodist Hospital
Brooklyn
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I will refuse to take anything in my body which is forced upon me. The swine flu is a big hoax. This is nothing more than a bail-out for Big Pharma by our beloved president.
Marcelino Valerio
Physical therapist
Metropolitan Hospital
NYC
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Please keep me informed of any rallies, protest marches or campaign efforts to fight this legislation. As professionals, we have the right to make a decision on what drugs/medications we place in our bodies. I refuse to be part of a 21st century Tuskegee Experiment. We should be able to opt out of taking the H1N1 vaccine just like we can with the hepatitis vaccine.
Fadya Casseus
Nurse
Beth Israel Medical Center
Brooklyn
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So could the Union please tell me what they are doing about it? Taking exception is one thing; fighting for the people you represent and get dues money from is another.
Kim Harris-Boyden
RN
Crouse Hospital
Syracuse, NY
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I dont think they have the right to force to take a shot that is a live virus. Plus, it rushed though FDA to get passed and they haven’t studied it very long.
Patrick Grasso
Senior PCA
Staten Island Hospital
Staten Island, NY
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