As sick and elderly search for flu shots, prisons dole out doses...

[cjbuchanan]

Norman Cooper has been unable to find a flu shot for his wife who takes daily oxygen treatments for asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.

So he was incensed to learn that some inmates in the state prison 30 miles down the road were getting flu shots.

"This deal with the prisons has got me so upset," said Cooper, who also hoped to help an 80-year-old friend who was on oxygen for a chronic lung illness. "I don't think they should get flu shots over citizens who are at high risk. They're being treated like first-class citizens, and we are second-class citizens."

more at: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2857565


This article brings up an interesting question, should non-detained persons have priority over those detained?

There are a lot of points to be made on either side, however we would not even have this problem if there were enough doses to start with. Now who could have made sure there were enough doses?

[rocktivity]

1. A flu epidemic in a detainee environment could be quite dangerous

But people like Mrs. Cooper should get first priority.

:headbang:
rocknation

[samtob]

2. This is such a tough call

Fact is, there is a shortage.

Another fact, the elderly (non confined) should certainly be able to get their shots.

BUT, then you have high risk prisoners that still deserve medical care even though they are in prison.

Not much we can do about the shortage at this point. Ethically and morally, it is such a tough call on who deserves the shots more.

I would tend to lean toward the elderly that are not confined....but then, being confined does not mean you are no longer human.

I am glad I am not in the position to have to tell the elderly citizens we cannot neglect the prisoners at this point.

[Skittles]

12. I still think babies/the elderly should have first crack at the shots

including the elderly in prison

[Born Free]

20. no flu shots for cancer patients on chemotherapy thave poor immune systems

Chemotherapy really knocks down the body's immune system, it destroys many of the cells you need to keep healthy along with the cancer cells. I requested a flu shot at the oncology center, but was told they did not get any this year. Apparently people with cancer are not considered as important as say, those people working in the congressional offices. I repeat what Kerry said, if the bush coward can't even make sure we have flu shots how will he protect America from a biological attack? We all know what will happen, they will immediately point fingers and attack some third world country that had nothing to do with the biological attack but have resources the corporations want

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. People getting infected in a locked down environment could be

deadly for them and the guards and employees of the prison as well as anyone who visits that prison...if a virus breeds in a closed population it could also breed a supervirus.

[Zorra]

7. Not to mention potentially enormously expensive for taxpayers. n/t

[oneighty]

4. We Americans

are learning strange things about ourselves. Our compassion is being tested and we are losing.

It is the beginning of the "every man for himself society." Who gets the one flu shot? The baby or the grandmother?

180

[clydefrand]

5. You forgot CONGRESS!

Just heard on the news that Bush is asking that those in Congress under 65 shouldn't get the flu vaccine. But then I heard that they had already gotten them yesterday. Is he too late again?

[realFedUp]

9. Congress isn't having any problem getting them...

as reported in the LA Times this morning.

[napi21]

11. Not only is Congress getting them, THEY'RE FREE!

All House members and Senators, including their staff members, are getting their flu shots FREE!

I understand the potentioal problems is a major flu epidemic was to break out in a prison facility, so I can justify giving out the scarce flu shots there. Tell me again why it would be a disaster if our not so fearless leaders in Wash got the flu?

I think they should abide by the request of Tommy Thompson (HHS) to restrict the shots to babies, those over 65, and the at risk individuals.

[HereSince1628]

19. Well said 180. For the less needy...swallow Echinacea

it'll make you feel like you did SOMETHING even if it doesn't work.

but in a saner moment...

Hey DEMOCRATS PROTECT YOUR HEALTH!!!!

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN!!!!!! AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF YOUR EYES, NOSE, AND MOUTH! (and other orifices if you plan to cook a meal :))

[Jack_DeLeon]

22. the baby...

[american_mutt]

6. people like Norman

want the death penalty for overtime parking. No more of that nasty 'taking responsability' stuff for him or dumbaya!

[Mizmoon]

8. We take their liberty, make them "wards of the state" of sorts

and now we resent giving them flu shots. Too effin bad.

Of course I'm thinking about the non-violent offenders locked up for their affinity for certain drugs that the government finds objectionable.

Rapists and murderers, well I'll have to think about that one.

[Career Prole]

10. At first I thought, "Well, of course it'd be Texas...prisoners are a

'cash crop' here." I figured they were more concerned over the medical expenses of an epidemic in a confined environment rather than the humanitarian angle. As I read into the article I found

Texas, with one of the nation's largest prison populations, is mapping plans for doling out 1,100 flu shots among 150,000 inmates -- or less than 1 percent.

"Our infection control policy is to give a flu vaccine to chronic disease patients, HIV/AIDS patients, offenders 65 years of age and older and pregnant females," said Texas prisons spokesman Mike Viesca.

That's 1,100 shots among 150,000 inmates, using the same "need" criteria as anywhere else. I don't see an issue here at all.
There are shots being given all over DC which should be re-apportioned first.

[oscar111]

13. Sadaam gets flushot, You do not

Al Queida in Guantanamo, too.

So it appears , if prisoners get flushots. both sadaam and AQ are prisoners.

[Career Prole]

15. Doesn't bother me a bit if they do, but I quite seriously doubt they will.

Who ever heard of giving a strawman a flu shot? :eyes:

[proud patriot]

14. The most vunerable should get first dibs IMO

:grr:

[Cocoa]

16. Norman should get himself arrested

if he needs his flu shot bad enough.

[w4rma]

17. There shouldn't be an epidemic at all. This is a question that should not

even come into play.

[Logansquare]

18. My company gave out free flu shots to employees

I'm sure its not the only one that did this. The problem is allowing something that is essential for public health just become another commodity that goes to the highest bidder.

[progressivebydesign]

21. I heard an elderly group talking at the store today..

..they said that they plan to hole up in their houses once the flu season starts.. afraid to get sick and die. STILL no shots here in Washington State. Costco, bless their hearts, has done some clinics.. but have fallen way short of demand. ALL flu shot clinics in our area have been cancelled. The Health Departments have some kid doses, but are hoping to get more for at-risk adults and elderly. Right now, they're doling out shot appoitments to 500 first callers to some health departments. It's a crime.


Of course, my rightwing Mother in Law (who actually I adore, aside from her politics), was VERY defensive about the shots last night, on the phone. Her mother got a flu shot at the doctor (being in her 90's), but my MIL refused to believe that everyone who NEEDED one wouldn't get one... and that the government has more shots on the way.. yadda.. yadda. ANd that she never has flu shots, etc. You could tell it made her very, very uncomfortable. I can alsways tell the issues that will be a weakness for Bush, but how defensive she gets if you simply mention it in passing.

[Yunaleska]

23. More media bull shit

I'm not saying people don't die of the flu - but take a look at the numbers and realize you've got better odds of dieing in a car crash. I'm not losing any sleep over this.

This is just another "crisis" the media in conjunction with other corporate friends has generated. I'd be interested to see how much stock CNN/FAUX/etc executives bought up in certain pharmaceutical companies before this "story" appeared at the same time on every national network. Must be nice to have the ability to generated a massive surge in product sales whenever you want.

Once they're done with this they'll probably have shark attack crisis part deux or find some criminal case to exploit.