Dozens of health care workers protested outside the Suffolk?s Department of Health Services Tuesday over the state?s mandate of the swine flu vaccine. Many say they have doubts about whether the swine flu vaccine is safe, but the state says health care workers have to roll up their sleeves or get the ax.

Thousands of people injected with a swine flu vaccine in 1976 contracted a rare paralyzing condition. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the vaccine is safe.

New York is the first state to mandate flu vaccinations for health care workers. The workers have until Nov. 30 to get the shot. New York State will receive its first doses of swine flu vaccine next week.