Wall Street Gets Swine Flu Vaccine Before Many High Risk Groups

[Litigatrix]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

meh. They are NOT "first line" and it was a big accident, the county apologized and said they were incorrectly issued. The guards were supposed to get them, not the inmates. Sorry, but those dudes should be last in line IMO.

It is unfortunate that the inmates got the vaccines if they were intended for the guards. I can see how COs could be high risk the same way that hospital workers are. And again, it's not really about who is "worthy" to live or die, but what is the most EFFICIENT use of the vaccines, at least in my mind. If vaccinating 200 scum-of-the-earth inmates saves more taxpayer money and more lives (after all, these people do get to visit with their presumably innocent family members, including children, their lawyers, etc.), then I am for it. You would not believe how many children their are in a jail visit waiting room on a given day. It is really sad.

[BigPurseSue]

Originally Posted by ami kio

If that was the case, I'd have no problem with it; however, I am dubious whether this is the case. A couple of years ago, there was a normal flu vaccine shortage, and there were regular stories about elderly people who wanted the vaccine but couldn't get it. Many large companies who ordered the vaccine for their employees still went ahead and gave it to all their employees instead of donating some of it to local nursing homes et al. In short: I am dubious of the ability of Big Business to think of the greater good.

So maybe Mr. Rich Banker Who Crashed the U.S. Economy goes to the Goldman Sachs nurse and demands a flu shot even though he's not in the high-risk population. He roars "If you don't jam that needle into my arm I'm going to fire your ass!" So he gets a shot when he shouldn't. But I still think Goldman Sach's vaccinating pregnant employees and asthmatic/heart/HIV compromised employees is doing enough social good to make it worthwhile for the CDC to have given them vaccine.

Remember it was CDC epidemiologists who decided that large corporations in New York should be given doses of the vaccine to administer to high-risk employees so there would be fewer people flooding the health care system for vaccinations and more at-risk people would be vaccinated. (The CDC early in its planning didn't foresee a shortage.) And these corporations essentially agreed to vaccinate their employees at no charge to the employees or the government.

And Litigatrix is right. You can't just take vaccine you get from the CDC and donate it to some cause.

[BigPurseSue]

Originally Posted by Litigatrix

It is unfortunate that the inmates got the vaccines if they were intended for the guards. I can see how COs could be high risk the same way that hospital workers are. And again, it's not really about who is "worthy" to live or die, but what is the most EFFICIENT use of the vaccines, at least in my mind. If vaccinating 200 scum-of-the-earth inmates saves more taxpayer money and more lives (after all, these people do get to visit with their presumably innocent family members, including children, their lawyers, etc.), then I am for it. You would not believe how many children their are in a jail visit waiting room on a given day. It is really sad.

Totally agree. When you vaccinate inmates you're also protecting the guards and the families, as well as saving taxpayer money down the road. (It amazes me how many people don't think prison guards are as worthy of workplace safeguards as other types of employees.)

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

It's the guards I think should have gotten it VERY worthy

[LV-PRADAfanatic]

this is not right....

[ami kio]

Originally Posted by Litigatrix

I'm sure there are MANY reasons why a business could not just go and donate vaccine to a nursing home. Vaccines are regulated, after all. If I ran a business, and I managed it well enough to order vaccine and protect my employees, you can bet I wouldn't go around giving it away to some other business that was poorly enough managed that they didn't manage to get vaccine on their own. What exactly makes you dubious? Do you doubt that there are pregnant women on Wall Street? Do you doubt that people work on Wall Street who have asthma or other high-risk factors? Seriously, 200 doses is just not that many. What exactly are you dubious about?

I guess that my problem is equally with Big Business & the CDC. If the CDC gets the vaccines and realizes there's a shortage, they need to redo the allotment to everyone -- Big Business & clinics. Conversely, if there's a shortage, I think it'd be generous of Big Business to return "extra" vaccine to the CDC. Certainly it's not required, but IMO that leads to the tragedy of the commons.

And I am dubious of Big Business -- for the record, not just Wall Street -- of standing firm on who should & should not get the vaccine. I've worked for big companies all my life, and I've got a jaundiced eye. There are perks to working for big companies, but they definitely have their faults. Yeah, a couple of @sshole execs who get the vaccine when they shouldn't isn't a big deal in the long run -- but it still pisses me off.

[Kiss Me Deadly]

I work at a very busy hospital in NYC, and we received about 500 doses this week. Most people are so angry about the allocation of the H1N1 vaccine, because there are strict laws that the vaccines go to high risk people (pregnant, asthma, children)- not even the elderly.. mind you.. None for the staff, which is fine as patient care is first.

The Wall Streeters are not typical high risk, as its just kids from infants to age 24 years.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr064-09.shtml

SMH...

[shanam]

Originally Posted by Allisonfaye

I think it is because all WS people are evil and they all lie, therefore, there are not pregnant women getting the vaccines. I am sorry. I am just so seriously tired of the all WS execs are bad mentality. While my husband doesn't work on WS proper, he is an exec in a corporation. He is a good, honest, decent, hard working man. I know. That flies in the face of all the corporate haters. Just doesn't seem possible, does it? Sometimes I wish I could share specifics with you. Geez, the man won't even tell me what the company's earnings are beforehand. I just think there are more serious issues and problems in this world than if some WS execs get shots.

My intent in posting this was not whether there are more serious problems than WS getting shots. I had/have no intention of singling any one out personally. I am sorry that you seem to be taking it that way. It was simply a news item that I found interesting and could provide different points of view.

[dr. twiggers]

I work at a university.....I got vaccinated earlier this week. I'm not in a high risk group, but it was being offered, so I took it (and for free)!

People are just up in arms about this because it's Wall Street. My university has high risk individuals (i.e. people who work in the med center), but the majority of the employees are not....nothing in the newspaper about that.

[GhstDreamer]

Originally Posted by dr. twiggers

I work at a university.....I got vaccinated earlier this week. I'm not in a high risk group, but it was being offered, so I took it (and for free)!

I think it's kind of sad that university employees are considered as a group to be high risk - I mean educators in elementary, special education and preschools aren't placed in high risk category - considering an elementary school is one of the dirtiest places to work.

A huge controversy in Canada is that the Calgary Flames (NHL players) got their shots prior to high risk groups. I seriously don't think professional athletes should have taken priority over "regular" people.

[BigPurseSue]

According to the morning network news it was the New York health department, not the CDC, which decided to give the vaccine to New York city corporations before giving it to hospitals and medical clinics.

And Morgan Stanley donated their 1000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine to an area children's hospital. (So Litigatrix and I stand corrected: it is possible to donate the vaccine.)

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this, Shanam, this is becoming an interesting discussion!

[lovingmybags]

Makes me so happy to see big corps extending charitable acts

[Allisonfaye]

Originally Posted by shanam

My intent in posting this was not whether there are more serious problems than WS getting shots. I had/have no intention of singling any one out personally. I am sorry that you seem to be taking it that way. It was simply a news item that I found interesting and could provide different points of view.

No, I am sorry, Shanam. I should have been more empathetic and let it pass. I shouldn't have even made that post. It has been a hard year but that was no reason to risk offending you or anyone. Again, my apologies.

[shanam]

Thank you Allisonfaye. The really reat thing about this forum is that we can all participate in discussions with differing views yet not get personal and if we do overstep we realize it and offer an explanation so there are no hard feelings. hoping for better days for you.

[Jahpson]

Originally Posted by Litigatrix

I'm sure there are MANY reasons why a business could not just go and donate vaccine to a nursing home. Vaccines are regulated, after all. If I ran a business, and I managed it well enough to order vaccine and protect my employees, you can bet I wouldn't go around giving it away to some other business that was poorly enough managed that they didn't manage to get vaccine on their own. What exactly makes you dubious? Do you doubt that there are pregnant women on Wall Street? Do you doubt that people work on Wall Street who have asthma or other high-risk factors? Seriously, 200 doses is just not that many. What exactly are you dubious about?

some businesses like nursing homes aren't poorly managed, they simply don't have the funds to do what big businesses do.

just saying (even though this has nothing to do with the topic)