CREW calls on HHS to investigate why CDC authorized H1N1 vaccines for WALL ST when supplies are

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

short on Main St

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/43235

Today, CREW called on Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to investigate why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved the distribution of the H1NI vaccine to Wall Street firms at a time when the vaccine is unavailable to most Americans.

Recent news reports indicate 13 companies, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Time Warner, have been cleared to receive the vaccine.

The CDC is distributing the much sought-after vaccine to Wall Street firms despite reports of vast shortages. In fact, just yesterday CDC Director Thomas Frieden informed Congress that only 32.3 million doses are available, far less than the 159 million needed to cover those at the highest risk. Given the scarce supply, the CDC has recommended the vaccine be directed only to those at highest risk: pregnant women, infants and children and those up to 24 years, those who care for infants, health and emergency services personnel, and adults with compromised immune systems or other chronic health problems.

Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director, said,

Although CREW has been unable to uncover the demographic makeup of Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and JP Morgan Chase, it seems safe to assume the vast majority of their employees are not pregnant women, infants and children, young adults up to 24 years old, and healthcare workers.

[VMI Dem]

1. Where does the buck stop on this one?

Hmm.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Ralph Nader.

:hide:

[GoCubsGo]

7. The New York City Public Health Department

They're wasting their time investigating the CDC, since it was local authorities who are at fault here. Hell, even the "Toady Show" was reporting that. Had they watched, they'd know that.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33714528#33714528

[geek tragedy]

3. The vaccines are distributed by state and local agencies

who have direct contact with medical service providers, unlike HHS.

Moreover, there's been a lot of misinformation on this--the Wall Street firms got vaccines for pregnant and high risk workers just like other large employers--universities, hospitals, etc. Moreover, the firms in question got enough vaccines only for such at-risk people--Goldman's doctors got 200 vaccines--it employs 8500 people in New York.

CREW is engaging in shameless and dishonest attention-whoring on this.

This is fodder for the Glenn Beck Obama-hating people. Good Democrats should know better.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Then feel free to post that information. nt

[geek tragedy]

5. I just did. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. Where? nt

[geek tragedy]

8. Are you asking for a link?

If so, here you go:

Responsibility for developing individual vaccination plans normally falls to the states, which place all swine flu vaccine orders for registered health-care providers with the CDC. But New York's five boroughs fall under the jurisdiction of the city's Health & Mental Hygiene Dept. McKesson (MCK), a San Francisco-based health-care services and IT company, distributes all vaccination doses and the ancillary medical supplies that health providers need to administer them.

Citigroup has been supplied with 1,200 units and Goldman with 200, says Jessica Scaperotti, press secretary for the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. The agency has so far approved orders by 29 employers—including 16 that have yet to receive any vaccine—after they were cleared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Big employers that have received or are scheduled to receive vaccine so far include Time Warner (TWX), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York Presbyterian Healthcare System, and New York University.

Health-care workers at those employers are bound by the CDC to distribute the vaccine only to populations deemed to be at high risk of developing serious complications from swine flu: pregnant women, children and young people aged 6 months to 24 years, people who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months (who cannot be vaccinated), people aged 24 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications, and health-care workers and emergency medical personnel.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/nov2009/db2009112_606442.htm

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Sure, that way people can compare the information and figure out for themselves. That usually works

better than going "Glenn Beck this or that."

[geek tragedy]

10. Hope you find the link useful! nt

[Autumn]

11. That damn trouble making CREW

K/R :kick:

[geek tragedy]

12. You realize they're distorting things, right? nt

[Autumn]

13. Of course they are,

I remember when our manufacturing plant got a vaccine when it was in short supply during the Bush years. Oh wait, maybe I'm distorting that.

[geek tragedy]

14. Do you understand that the HHS only distributes it to

states, and that it's the states who decide how to distribute it?

The reason CREW is targeting the administration is because lots of people like bashing the administration and would run with the story--not so much with the NYC Department of Health.

[Autumn]

15. Some one should answer for it,

maybe she can get answers.