H1N1 vaccine distribution questioned

Distribution of the H1N1 vaccine - or a perceived misallocation - is getting political.

Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, sent a letter Thursday to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, in response to reports that Wall Street companies received H1N1 vaccine shipments.

“Not only have these companies wiped out our Treasury, now they are wiping out our flu vaccine supply,” Braley wrote. “I am very concerned that our government is looking out for the health and wealth of Wall Street executives while thousands of Iowans are left in the cold.”

Some of New York's largest employers, including Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, have received vaccine, but because of the current shortage, are bound by the same guidelines for distributing the vaccine to high-priority groups, according to a BusinessWeek report.

Braley took issue with the vaccine going to the companies while counties across Iowa and America experience shortages.

“It is beyond the pale that Wall Street companies have been given the vaccine while thousands of people across Iowa have been told they will not be given the same access,” Braley wrote. “The vaccine should be distributed based on risk and need, not based on wealth, profession, or zip code.”

Eleven Iowans, including one child, have died from H1N1 flu and thousands more in Iowa are at high risk, Braley noted.

Both Linn and Johnson counties are offering H1N1 vaccine in public clinics for priority groups this week, including one today at Hawkeye Downs.

Doug Beardsley, director of Johnson County Public Health, said he could not speculate on why the Wall Street businesses received vaccine.

Beardsley questioned the CDC Thursday about its vaccine distribution to states.

Some states, such as Alaska, Vermont and Illinois, have received disproportionate amounts of H1N1 vaccine. Allocations are based solely on population, he was told, but distribution may be delayed in some regions.

Johnson County Public Health is taking appointments for its vaccine. Beardsley said some callers are upset that they don't qualify.

“Everyone thinks they're entitled to it,” he said.