Title: Health care workers opt out of H1N1 vaccinations

" In Boston's long would medical area health care workers tussle between buildings. Caring for the weakest among us some say they have no time to get sick themselves get to show us what do we -- you know who has. For Tennessee who works at Brigham and Women's Hospital is in the minority. According to the Centers for Disease Control more than half of all healthcare workers don't get the seasonal flu shot. And many we talked to don't plan to be vaccinated against the H1N1 or so called swine flu. Tennis -- colleague Leon done well -- that the Brigham. I don't believe in getting vaccinated. 0% feel as though my nieces and strong enough and we aren't singling out the Brigham. Healthcare workers from many of Boston's teaching hospitals that Israel Mass. General Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston Medical Center gave a similar responses."

" Adam didn't. And sixty years old. And that's the bad -- who's gotten swine flu whatever that thing is a lot of media I've known since the guys I've never gotten a flu shot for an have never gotten a flu."

" There reasons vary from not liking needles to fear a possible side effects from a new vaccine."

" You know so what's -- it is moving -- I don't try anything new out way to this year as it happens. Do you work with patients I do and does it make you nervous in my transmit something."

" None anyways I'll side to this. Necessary precautions. We talked to are not doctors or nurses said because they have limited interaction with patients. Is concerned. Their job descriptions preparing surgical instrument secretaries on patient floors blood bank workers having him asking -- glad you're getting -- transfusion into I just don't building that we work in the."

" But you're right next to the secretary and the nurse and doctor. And then healthcare worker who is in direct care."

" Doctor so Pelfrey is a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and one of several doctors working to spread the word about vaccination. He says everyone working in hospital from cafeteria workers to housekeeping staff can pose a risk to patients often already weakened by infection."

" That's communicated by sneezes by costs by touching by hands by briefing. And as you do your work you could give it to. A person or you could get the germs on surfaces. Or tools that will be in contact -- people at risk it's the right thing to do health care workers should be vaccinated."

" John our back is the director of the Massachusetts department of public count. He says it's critical to get health care workers vaccinated not to keep patients healthy and alive but to have a strong health -- force for what is expected to be a less deadly. But viciously contagious flu season. That said he will not follow the lead of New York State which is making it mandatory for health care workers to be vaccinated. They can either get the shot or stay home this month the Massachusetts he PH mandated that all health care centers offer the swine flu vaccination to workers. But doesn't make it condition. Point at the suggestion of the DPH the majority of basic health care centers are asked employees to sign a form. Saying maybe they're being immunized or declined to be immunized but understand the benefits and risks our -- says it's not machining tool that hopes it will encourage personal responsibility."

" For many employees."

" I I think reflecting on. That kind of form would it would make them."

" Think twice about. Getting the vaccine and voluntarily agreed with."

" In order to work in -- Massachusetts Health Care facility employees already have to prove they've gotten a number of invitations measles mumps polio. Why not and flew to the list."

" This a lot of questions whether the law should be the defining. Wave that we say you have to be in in. Injected. Protective. Cared for -- wanna keep an open mind and and see how successful these regulations are."

" So -- do you people who should presumably know better aren't getting vaccinated against swine flu how invested should -- And experts say ask ten different people what their doctors are telling them to do and you'll likely get ten different answers."

" There are a lot of questions."

" Some of them we have answers to in many we don't doctor Stephen flyers a primary care physician knew and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. He says from a public health perspective it's easy to push for broad vaccination. Especially for those groups at greatest risk for this particular flu like children pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems. But it's a much more complicated decision on an individual basis."

" Many people have to sort of way. What what did the uncertainties of the vaccine. And what are the benefits to meet personally."

" Flyer who got the seasonal flu shot and does plan on getting vaccinated against swine flu says he stance patients' concerns about a new vaccine."

" This particular preparation has not been tested in. Very large numbers of people the tests have been done on hundreds of thousands of that patients. But not on hundreds of thousands and millions and we expect to immunize millions of people. So rare complications rare side effects are expected to show up until there are very broad. Immunization. Experiences."

" This flu vaccine has recently been approved by the FDA and -- says the flu typically moves from the west coast of the south and an east."

" By the time. The vaccine is given to people in New England we are going to have seen how well it's been. Responded to end it worked and reacted to. By thousands probably millions of people."

" When mr. swine flu presented in the 1970s there were reports of Deion are a syndrome. A paralyzing -- muscular disorder that affected a small number of people who got that particular vaccine. A link was never definitively proved or disproved what a."

" There is a bad reaction -- around what you know well I think get. We need to act keep attuned to information and and lord as we go along part of our message. Is that this is a new vaccine just the way every new. Flu vaccine is a new vaccine. However it is made in exactly the same way with the same controls for the same tests. And that there's no reason to worry."

" But will there be enough vaccine health officials say yes eventually. Howard -- estimates that there are two and a half to three million people in the highest risk categories living in Massachusetts. Early indications."

" Aren't that in. First half of October we might receive. Perhaps. As much as a 100000. Doses of vaccine."

" Our next says by late November early December there will be enough for everyone. But experts warn swine flu could hit New England hard in the next six weeks."

" We're gonna have to be very careful about. Targeting the distribution of the vaccine until it into we have sufficient numbers."

" says they will likely give the first vaccines to obstetricians and pediatricians no one knows why but this one police hitting children hardest particularly kids under five."

" They have smaller bodies. They're immune system may not be a strong they may not be able to clear secretions as well."

" Public health officials say we will have to work together in an unprecedented way to keep each other healthy -- herd immunity. Daycare workers teachers parents getting unionized and until enough vaccine is available. Everyone else using good health hygiene staying home from work or school -- sick and not crowding hospital he -- Yeah ours that could be hit themselves without health care forced home with the flu. In Boston -- only NE CN."