 Joint committee to take up
concerns
PEF calls for
safeguards in smallpox vaccinations for health care
workers
By SHERRY HALBROOK
If you are a PEF doctor, nurse or other member providing
health care directly to patients, you may be asked to be
voluntarily vaccinated against smallpox to protect you in
case this often deadly disease is used by terrorists in
germ warfare.
President George W. Bush has ordered a national
vaccination program to begin for health care workers who
could be on the front lines in treating the victims of
such an attack.
While the plan is meant to protect you, it has hazards.
Although smallpox vaccinations virtually eliminated this
terrible disease several decades ago, the vaccines are no
longer given in this country because they can be
dangerous for some people, such as pregnant women and
individuals with weakened immune systems.
Important to do it right
Since the vaccinations pose some risks as well as
benefits, PEF President Roger Benson wrote to George
Madison, the state director of employee relations, in
December to raise nine specific concerns the union has
regarding a possible vaccination program for state health
care workers.
“The state and PEF have a mutual interest in
ensuring this initiative is conducted in a manner that
will cause the least problems for the volunteers and the
agencies they work for,” Benson said.
“We anticipate that, at a minimum, PEF members in
the three SUNY Health Science Centers at Syracuse,
Brooklyn and Long Island, as well as members who work for
the Department of Health (DOH) will be potential
candidates for inclusion in this voluntary program,”
Benson added. “PEF representatives and staff have
already been involved in meetings with management of DOH
and SUNY Brooklyn.”
Joint committee on the spot
Madison thanked Benson for his comments and referred the
issues to the PEF-NYS Joint Committee on Health and
Safety which includes representatives of PEF and
Madison’s staff.
“Not only does this joint committee have the
personnel and expertise to deal with these health and
safety matters, but (it) can readily access the relevant
scientific information and appropriate technical
personnel,” said Madison, who called for the
committee to meet “as soon as possible.”
PEF wants the state to fully educate its employees about
the advantages and risks before asking them to volunteer
for vaccination. The union also wants the affected state
agencies to work with the unions to develop written plans
for how they would deal with a smallpox emergency.
“The solicitations should clearly spell out the
risks and benefits of volunteering including the
contraindications, the potential side effects and their
impact on volunteers, patients, and family members. Local
union leaders should be included in reviewing the
solicitations for volunteers,” Benson said.
Don’t add insult to injury
PEF insists the state institute clear guidelines
prohibiting any discrimination or retaliation against
employees who choose not to be vaccinated. And any
employee who suffers serious side effects from
vaccination should be fully covered by Workers’
Compensation benefits.
Those temporarily suffering less serious effects should
be authorized to receive up to seven days of
administrative leave to recover.
For more information on smallpox, visit the PEF website
at www.pef.org and click on health and
safety.
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