Health workers under pressure to get flu shots

This Sept. 2, 2009 photo shows Sandra Morales, a registered nurse, outside Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Morales, a labor and delivery nurse in New York City, had her last flu shot 16 years ago. She says she got the flu anyway. She objects to New York's new law, requiring all health workers to get immunized against seasonal and swine flu, saying it infringes on free-choice rights. 'It's crossing the line and I'm opposed to that.' (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

Tens of thousands of health care workers who typically avoid flu shots are under more pressure than ever to get vaccinated as hospitals and clinics prepare for a spike in swine flu cases this fall and winter.Roughly half of health workers skip the immunizations, raising two concerns: If doctors and nurses get sick, who will treat what could be millions of Americans reeling from seasonal or swine flu? And could infected health workers make things worse by spreading flu to patients?New York, the first state to be hard-hit by swine flu, is requiring all health workers to get immunized against both types of flu. Other states are weighing whether to follow suit....