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Mandatory vaccination is not a new concept. Bernstein noted that state laws require vaccinations for children to enter school; many hospitals, too, require certain vaccinations for their workers.
However, health workers in New York sued when that state last year ordered them to get flu shots during the swine flu pandemic. The state's health commissioner withdrew the policy when federal officials lowered estimates on available vaccine, although the issue is still under review.
Bernstein, who also takes care of patients, says he's always gotten an annual flu shot. Colleagues who don't give the same reasons many other people cite: They worry about vaccine safety and effectiveness, they don't think they're at risk for the flu; some are even afraid of needles, he said.
Bernstein said the swine flu pandemic, which disproportionately affected children and young adults, highlighted why flu vaccinations are especially important for pediatricians.
"There's no question that we as health care personnel should be front and center and role models for the community in getting our annual influenza vaccinations," he said.
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Online:
Pediatricians' group: http://www.aap.org/
[Associated
Press;
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