N.Y. companies receiving doses of H1N1 vaccine
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Published: November 6, 2009
NEW YORK — Some of New York City’s largest employers — including Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs and big universities — have started receiving doses of the much-in-demand swine flu vaccine for their at-risk employees.
The government-funded vaccine is being distributed to states, where health departments decide where to send the limited doses. In New York, health officials are allowing businesses with onsite medical staff to apply for the vaccine. Doctors for large companies can ask for the vaccine along with other doctors but must agree to vaccinate only high-risk employees such as pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses, said Jessica Scaperotti, a spokeswoman for New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Last month, the city began offering vaccine to schoolchildren, as well as the offices of pediatricians and obstetricians that asked for it. Scaperotti said only half of the pediatricians in New York City have requested vaccine "As the vaccine became more available we expanded it to adult providers,” Scaperotti said. She called the large employers "a great avenue for vaccinating people at risk.” But a critic said Wall Street firms shouldn’t have access to the vaccine before less wealthy Americans. "Wall Street banks have already taken so much from us. They’ve taken trillions of our tax dollars. They’ve taken away people’s homes who are struggling to pay the bills,” union official John VanDeventer wrote on the Service Employees International Union Web site. "But they should not be allowed to take away our health and well-being.” The union has about 2 million members, including health care workers.
36M doses available
The swine flu vaccine has been in short supply nationwide because of manufacturing delays, resulting in long lines at clinics and patients being turned away at doctor’s offices. The vaccine started trickling out in early October, and there are now nearly 36 million doses available.
Rules vary by state on how the vaccine is distributed. For example, Illinois and Chicago’s health departments are initially excluding businesses. Others, like New York, said they would allowing businesses with medical staffs to vaccinate those in the priority groups.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not review and sign off on the decisions of state and city health departments as to which doctor’s offices and businesses will be sent vaccine doses, said spokesman Tom Skinner.
Swine flu — which scientists call the 2009 H1N1 strain — is widespread throughout the country now, much earlier than seasonal flu usually hits.
Other big New York City employers that have received doses of the vaccine include Columbia University, Time Inc., the Federal Reserve Bank and several hospitals. The distribution was first reported by Business Week.
Related Topics:
Health and Fitness, Business, Contagious and Infectious Diseases, Vaccines, Medical Treatments and Procedures, Jobs and Labor, Labor Unions, Influenza, Swine Flu, Children's Health
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