For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 16, 2003
AFSCME Urges Bush to Delay Implementation of Smallpox Vaccination
Comprehensive Program to Educate, Screen, Monitor and Treat Vaccine Recipients Needed
WASHINGTON —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO today urged President Bush to delay the implementation of the Smallpox Vaccination Program until a number of health and safety issues are addressed.
In a letter sent to the Administration, AFSCME pointed out serious concerns that the Smallpox Vaccination Program is being implemented without a comprehensive program to educate, medically screen, monitor and treat vaccine recipients, and to educate and treat affected family members, co-workers and patients. The letter also highlights that the Smallpox Vaccine Program fails to establish a compensation fund to those who will suffer serious and lifetime injuries from the vaccination or exposure to the vaccinia virus. Concerns were raised because the Program fails to implement the use of safety-designed needles to protect those administering the smallpox vaccine and provides no safeguards to prevent employers from improperly coercing employees to receive the vaccine.
"With vaccinations scheduled to start in less than 10 days, there are still too many serious issues left unresolved. Front line public safety and healthcare workers should not be asked to roll up there sleeves for the vaccinations, until the Administration rolls out a safe, fair and comprehensive plan that takes all aspects into account," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee.
McEntee continued, "The Bush administration's recent decision to address some of the questions of the questions of liability, is a good but small first step. But now President Bush needs to propose an equitable way to compensate those who are infected, before our nation's healthcare workers jeopardize the safety of their families and their patients."
AFSCME is the largest public service employees union representing over 1.3 million members.
