New York relaxes vaccine mandate

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- New York's governor has announced the state is scrapping a mandate that all health workers be vaccinated for both the swine and seasonal flu by Nov. 30.

Gov. David Paterson says the reason for the policy change is a shortage of H1N1 vaccine, CNN reported Friday.

The federal government originally told states an estimated 120 million doses of the vaccine would be available by the end of October.

Instead, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates only about 27.7 million doses of the vaccine will be ready at the end of the month.

Patterson announced New York's policy change Thursday on behalf of State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines.

The state's second largest employees union, the Public Employees Federation, filed suit against the requirement. A hearing is set for Oct. 30 in Albany.