Should people working in the health care field be required to get vaccinated against the flu? New York has struggled with this question for the past few years.
Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new approach in which health care workers who are not vaccinated against the flu will be required to wear surgical masks while near patients ("Flu shot or mask for health care workers," Aug. 20). This plan sounds like a fair compromise.
Every year, there seems to be a shortage of flu vaccines. The mask policy will not "waste" vaccines on people who are strongly against them and prevents people from having to break any religious beliefs.
With the new mask policy, vaccines will not be forced upon those who really don't want them but are required to have them, due to their line of work. This way those opposed individuals can wear the masks and vaccines can be used for people who actually want them.
Although the mask policy grants people more freedom, it may be less effective. The mask only helps to contain the flu in the workplace, while the vaccine strengthens peoples' immune systems and helps contain the flu at all times.
The masks, depending on how often they are changed, may also trap germs and make the health care workers more susceptible to illness. Most health care workers will probably end up getting a flu vaccine to avoid the hassle of the mask, but this way people have a choice.
Emily Lawrence
Averill Park