NEW YORK, NY October 23, 2009 —Governor Paterson is suspending a requirement that healthcare workers get immunized against seasonal and swine flu. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

REPORTER: Paterson and state Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines announced the mandate in August. Healthcare unions and civil libertarians said vaccination should be voluntary, and hospitals and public health agencies shouldn’t be able to fire workers who declined it.

Last night, the governor issued a statement saying that due to a shortage of vaccine, the mandate would be suspended, so the available supply could be used for priority groups, such as pregnant women and young people.

They said workers should get vaccinated as a patient safety measure, as more vaccine arrives, but they didn't say whether requirement could be re-imposed. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.