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Congress Gives Flu Vaccine Doses to D.C.

Posted on: Friday, 22 October 2004, 17:00 CDT

WASHINGTON - Seeking to address complaints of preferential treatment, Republican congressional leaders said Friday that 3,000 doses of flu vaccine intended for lawmakers, aides and other Capitol employees would instead be given to Washington's municipal health department and hospitals.

The new shipment of vaccine this week, amid a nationwide shortage, came as a surprise to Capitol physician John Eisold, according to a spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.

The vaccine arrived as some politicians and members of the public complained that lawmakers were being moved to the head of the line, offered flu shots even if they are not in high-risk groups identified by federal officials. Eisold specifically encouraged members of Congress to get the shots, saying they are at an elevated risk of getting and spreading the flu, according to Eisold's spokesman.

Some 2,500 people, including an undetermined number of lawmakers, were vaccinated in the Capitol this month. It was unclear how many of those fall within federal guidelines that give priority among adults to pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems and those over 65.

Healthy adults are being urged to skip shots this year.

The new shipment of vaccine had been ordered before federal officials announced that 48 million doses of flu vaccine made by Chiron Corp., roughly half the anticipated supply, would not be available this year, Hastert spokesman John Feehery said.

The new Capitol supply is being given to Washington's Department of Health and the District of Columbia Hospital Association, said a joint statement from Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Both men said they got flu shots before the shortage was declared.

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said he has heard from older military veterans who report being denied flu shots at Veterans Affairs medical facilities, despite being in the at-risk group.

World War II veteran George Barse, 82, said he waited most of an afternoon last week at the VA hospital in Washington before he was told he was ineligible to get a flu shot because his income was too high. Barse said his regular doctor has received no vaccine this year.

The Bush administration barred higher-income veterans last year who have no service-connected injury or disability from enrolling in VA health care.

"Since we have such a shortage, it seems to me they shouldn't apply how much money you make, if all you want is a flu shot," said Barse, a retired Defense Department worker who lives in Rockville, Md.

VA spokesman Phil Budahn said the agency has a sufficient supply for those among the 7 million veterans in the VA system who are in high-risk categories. Even for a flu shot, however, "you have to be enrolled in the VA system," Budahn said.

Van Hollen asked VA Secretary Anthony Principi to waive the requirement for elderly veterans who are unable to find vaccine elsewhere.

The government now expects that Aventis Pasteur, the other major vaccine producer, will make 58 million doses by January. The flu season typically peaks in January or later.

In addition, MedImmune has agreed to produce 3 million doses of its nasal spray FluMist vaccine. However, FluMist, which contains weakened live virus, cannot be used by those at highest risk for flu complications. It is only approved for healthy people aged 5 to 49.

Health care workers and people who care for high-risk individuals are being encouraged to use the nasal spray.

The Capitol medical staff dispenses flu vaccine free of charge to lawmakers, their staff, other Capitol employees and reporters who regularly work there. Last year, 9,000 people received flu shots in the Capitol.

Like most public health workers and doctors, Eisold had been hoping to increase that number this year, but that was before the shortage became known.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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