Statement by Sandra Feldman,
President, American Federation of Teachers/AFT Healthcare
on President Bush's Smallpox Vaccination Plan

America must be prepared to prevent or appropriately respond to possible future attacks on the United States and its citizens, whether conventional, chemical or biological. However, the rushed pace with which the Bush administration wants to implement its plan—to vaccinate more than 500,000 healthcare workers within 30 days of the executive order—seems hasty, especially if there is no, as President Bush said today, imminent danger of a smallpox attack.

This approach could lead to unnecessary loss or risk of life, and costly oversights due to the rush to action, which in turn could threaten our already strained healthcare system. At the very least, there needs to be a comprehensive preparedness plan that includes the use of safe needle devices, free medical screening, and training conducted before the administration of vaccinations to avoid any potentially deadly mistakes.

Healthcare workers’ rights also must be protected, including the right to decline vaccination, as well as paid administrative leave for workers who may require time off due to the vaccination’s potential side effects, and a possible period of contagiousness.

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