Stripped of our rights by vaccination rule

I do not oppose flu vaccinations. I chose to receive the flu vaccine almost every year for the past 12 years. I have encouraged other nurses and patients to get their flu shot. I have administered the flu vaccine to other co-workers. One year my children received the flu vaccine. All of these, I chose to do. This year it is not my choice.

Should the government be able to dictate to my employer, co-workers and me what will be injected or inhaled into our bodies? Without regard to one's religious belief or fear of a vaccine's components, our state, the only state in the nation to do so, has dictated this. It seems that our basic rights are being stripped away from us little by little.

I do not believe in mandatory vaccinations for New York state health care workers or anyone. If you also believe this, I urge you to contact Gov. David Paterson by calling 518-474-8390 or write him at the State Capitol, Albany.

This decision to mandate the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 flu vaccine for 500,000-plus health care providers was not voted on by our legislators. The decision was made by state Health Commissioner Richard Daines. You can contact your senator or local Assembly person to express concerns; however, they have not been given enough time to help us stop mandatory vaccinations by the deadline, Nov. 30. Employees who choose to not receive the mandatory vaccinations may face termination of their positions. Can our health care system afford this right now?

Tracy Goldthrite

Castorland