Wall Street Gets Swine Flu Vaccine Before Many High Risk Groups

[shanam]

Why am I not surprised.

http://blogs.democratandchronicle.co...h-risk-groups/

After fleecing billions out of the public, Wall Street corporations miraculously obtains doses of the H1N1 vaccines via the New York City Department of Health. According to a report on the Today Show, Goldman Sachs, Citi, and other Wall Street corporations recieved 200 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, while Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City also received 200 doses. The result is that Lenox Hill Hospital is turning pregnant women, children and other high risk groups away. This is simply shameful.

Distributing vaccines to the corporate elites, further perpetuates the notion that those with big loot can influence governmental agencies to do things without considering what is best for the public. Additionally, after the masses bailed out the “best and brightest” on Wall Street, shouldn’t we expect them to anxiously wait in lines for their dose of H1N1 like the rest of us? The Wall Street elites should do the right thing and decline the doses. Hospitals and those who are vulnerable should have priority to the vaccine.

As the mother of a five year old with asthma who has to wait well into flu season to get the H1N1 vaccine, I find it disheartening to know that a healthy Wall Street 20-something trader will probably get the vaccine before my daughter.

[nooch]

After reading this I think I need someone to help me pick my jaw up off the floor.

Actually the more I think about it I am disappointed in myself for being naive enough to be shocked at this.

[shanam]

^^^Don't be nooch. I felt the same. The question is why and how this happens.

[~Fabulousity~]

unbelievable!

[BigPurseSue]

The original story ran in BusinessWeek:
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...112_606442.htm

The CDC has been distributing vaccine to a number of large corporations for employees that are in the high-risk category. Time-Warner is another business in NY that has received vaccine. They're distributing it to companies with vaccination programs that have placed orders with the CDC. I don't think this is unusual. Employers don't want high-risk employees to take off from work to stand in line for hours to get vaccinated, and they don't want employees to get sick and come to work with the flu.

What's seems to be happening around here is that a lot of people are getting sick with a very low-grade version of H1N1 and going to work in spite of it.

[ami kio]

I can't read any news article that talks about Wall Street anymore -- my blood pressure can't take it.

ETA: For the record, I'm not searching out the H1N1 vaccine b/c IMO there are probably people out there who need it more than I -- a relatively healthy person in their 30s -- do. Many of those in the Wall St corps who are getting the vaccine can afford to take time off b/c they have timebank. It's their own selfishness that has them going in to work when they shouldn't be. I don't care if you "need that vacation time" for your summer holiday -- stay home if you're contagious!!

[Jahpson]

^ so wall street is a high risk group?

I think children should be getting the vaccine first.

[BigPurseSue]

One of the highest risk groups for H1N1 are pregnant women. When a pregnant woman contracts H1N1 her immune system shuts down. There has been an extraordinarily high rate of death among pregnant women from H1N1. I have no problem with Goldman Sacks or Citigroup administering the vaccine to pregnant employees or employees in any of the other high-risk categories--those with chronic respiratory or pulmonary disorders. It means a few less medically compromised people will be standing out on the cold street for hours waiting to get vaccinated and honestly I think that's a good thing no matter who does the vaccinating.

[Litigatrix]

Originally Posted by BigPurseSue

One of the highest risk groups for H1N1 are pregnant women. When a pregnant woman contracts H1N1 her immune system shuts down. There has been an extraordinarily high rate of death among pregnant women from H1N1. I have no problem with Goldman Sacks or Citigroup administering the vaccine to pregnant employees or employees in any of the other high-risk categories--those with chronic respiratory or pulmonary disorders. It means a few less medically compromised people will be standing out on the cold street for hours waiting to get vaccinated and honestly I think that's a good thing no matter who does the vaccinating.

I agree. Certainly 200 doses is not very many compared to the number of employees these companies have overall. And believe it or not, pregnant women, people with asthma, and other high risk people work on Wall Street just like the rest of us. I don't see anything terribly outrageous about this.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

it's like the jail that gave close to that many inmates the vax too. . . WTF?

[ami kio]

Originally Posted by Litigatrix

I agree. Certainly 200 doses is not very many compared to the number of employees these companies have overall. And believe it or not, pregnant women, people with asthma, and other high risk people work on Wall Street just like the rest of us. I don't see anything terribly outrageous about this.

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.

[Litigatrix]

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.

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?

[Litigatrix]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

it's like the jail that gave close to that many inmates the vax too. . . WTF?

Jail, like schools (perhaps even more so than schools) is a place where communicable diseases can run rampant. Can you imagine if there were an outbreak of swine flu at a jail? It could certainly cost taxpayers a lot of money to deal with that. Unlike schoolchildren, you can't just send inmates home until they recover.

[Allisonfaye]

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 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.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

Originally Posted by Litigatrix

Jail, like schools (perhaps even more so than schools) is a place where communicable diseases can run rampant. Can you imagine if there were an outbreak of swine flu at a jail? It could certainly cost taxpayers a lot of money to deal with that. Unlike schoolchildren, you can't just send inmates home until they recover.

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.