NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York City health officials scrambled to explain themselves on Thursday in the wake of media reports about bankers who got scarce H1N1 flu vaccines through their employers. Members of Congress fired off letters demanding immediate explanations and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminded state and city health officers of the need to make sure the most vulnerable people get shots first.
“I am concerned that the distribution of the vaccine is resulting in favored treatment for the privileged,” New Jersey Democratic Representative Frank Pallone said. A shortage of H1N1 vaccines has frayed nerves, and public health departments across the country say they will not be able to meet the bulk of the demand until December or January. The CDC estimates swine flu has infected more than five million people and it is documented as having killed 1,000.
She said 16 of the city’s 25 biggest employers had vaccine, including Columbia University, Citi Group and others, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank, which is not among the top 25 employers.
Morgan Stanley said it received 500 doses of the vaccine for its New York City locations and 500 doses for its Westchester location in suburban New York. “We never thought we would receive doses ahead of area hospitals and once this was brought to our attention, we promptly donated the doses we received to a few area hospitals,” including Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York, a company spokeswoman said.
CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden sent out a reminder to state and city health departments that distribute vaccine. “I ask each of you to review your plans immediately and work to ensure that the maximum number of doses is delivered to those at greatest risk as rapidly as possible,” he wrote.
Good for them, they can have my dose… roll up your sleeves and load em’ up baby.
What do they know that we don’t? I smell a conspiracy.
Looks like more marketing. Show the big shots getting it before the average Joe to increase demand by the average Joe. Just like the Flames in Canada.
Up here in Canada, we have socialized medicine. The government paid for all the h1n1 vaccinations, so we expected rationing, line-ups, and so, we have a “right” to be upset by queue-jumpers.
But in the U.S., you guys still have capitalism. If you want the vaccine, all you have to do is pay for it. And if someone else wants to pay more to get it first, let them.
Good.Give m some more, they can have mine.
I’m getting my H1N1 vaccine tomorrow. It’s pretty scarce but my doctor was able to get 30 shots. I don’t want the flu again. I haven’t had it in 12 years since I’ve been getting flu shots. I’ve never had the slightest reaction from any flu shot. I had the regular flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine last week. I’m covered.
lets see..
WHRE are the state and fed agencies that are GIVING THE SHOT??
WHERE are those walking around in LOWER income areas…GIVING SHOTS
LINE UP aND get your shots, NO favoritism..
Where is it??
Funny as we made enough for the USA, and 10% went to Other countries, AND’ we are short by ??? 60-80%?? we cant even do 50% of the USA??
The vaccine is likely to harm more people than the flu itself. I say more power to them…
Um, What do you want to bet that Congress and White House critters get the stuff first?
I took the regular shot. I’m taking C and D and with a trace of anti swine flu in all those regular shots I’ve had through the years I hope to be fine.
Others at higher risk can be lab rat.
the effect of this story is to make people want the vaccine – if only to sock it to the rich
I actually don’t understand how this is even possible. Wouldn’t the “public health system” that distributes vaccines and such have a well worn procedure of who to give the meds to? And if not why not? I assume “The Biggest 25 Businesses” don’t have nurses on staff to administer these shots nor do the Businesses have the needles to administer it.
Something is f*cked up and its not the “simple fact” that somehow these Businesses jumped the line.
A few people should go to jail. The targets are too many to mention.
It’s very entertaining to watch the sheep being led to vaccinate for pig flu, when strangely, pigs aren’t getting it.
Gee I wonder what that’s about.
I would like to post more on the subject of farm animals being healthier and smarter than humans, but I first have to finish my studies on pigs and patents.
Aaah, it’s fun listening to antivax conspiracy nuts sounding off and off and off…
I will happily take my non compulsory free H1N1 flu shot next week provided by my employer and do my bit towards increasing herd immunity in the population.
I would not like to think that ANY other person had died (as they have been) because *I* had inadvertently passed the illness on to them because I thought I had a God-given right NOT to be vaccinated.
Vaccination works. Get a life, antivaxxers, or at least stop potentially taking life from others because of ill-informed paranoia.
#2 “Looks like more marketing. Show the big shots getting it before the average Joe to increase demand by the average Joe. Just like the Flames in Canada.”
I thought it was working the other way – persuade the average Joe it’s no good so there’s enough to go round the big shots.
does anyone remember the swine flu from ’76?
If this isn’t the most beautifully conceived “demand creating” marketing ploy ever..
The flip side of the story is that when the great “cull” begins, they want to be sure key peoples in key infrastructures can still come into work.
There was language to that effect sprinkled throughout the news (mostly foreign news ) during the summer..
An interesting personal note:
I have a good friend, an EMT that flew up from Australia whom i met at Ground Zero during the search and rescue phase that i still keep in touch with regularly.
He said the H1N1 fiasco down (he’s in Townsville) there was a bust. A whole lot of “the sky is falling” in the news, but relatively few deaths. “If you did not watch the news you would have never known it was anything other than a regular flu season”
Remember, they just went through their winter during our summer.
-food for thought.
The H1N1 vaccine is created the identical way the normal flu shot is created. They’ve been doing this for years.