For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Administration's Latest Smallpox Proposal Still Has Problems
WASHINGTON —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, today said the Administration's long overdue smallpox compensation plan is still woefully inadequate.
"We're pleased to see some recognition by the President of the need to address the inadequacies of the Administration's Smallpox Vaccination Program. But this proposal falls far short and does not provide the basic elements needed to keep our health care workers safe. This plan still does not include basic education and screening requirements that would reduce injuries by making sure only thoroughly screened candidates receive the vaccination. And the plan still leaves cash-strapped State and local health departments to pay for and conduct screenings on their own," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee.
McEntee continued, "Not only is the Administration unwilling to screen out people who may get sick or die from the vaccine, but the proposal fails to ensure that workers have swift access to health care in the event of an adverse reaction. It is unbelievable that President Bush expects healthcare workers to accept these deadly terms."
The proposal does not protect employees from being coerced by employers to "volunteer" for vaccination, and the compensation schedule assumes that workers will also be receiving benefits under state workers' compensation programs, a premise that is uncertain in most states. The lifetime maximum benefit payable to families of deceased workers or to those who are disabled will not protect against financial ruin. For most workers, the maximum benefit payable represents only a few years of income.
Unlike the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, this proposal does not guarantee that the federal funds for compensation will be available even where a worker is awarded payment.
