Goldman, Fed, Citi Getting Preferential Allotments of H1N1 Vaccine

Posted: 05 Nov 2009 02:50 PM PST

It should come as no surprise that those at the top of the food chain get preferential treatment on all levels. But this still stinks to high heaven. Employees of the Goldman, the Fed, Citigroup, and other banks are getting H1N1 vaccine allotments out of proportion to what can be justified from a public health standpoint. In particular, Goldman has gotten more than Lenox HIll hospital, which needs it not just for the sick but more important, for workers (not only does the public need to keep front-line health care workers in as good shape as possible, but if they get the infection, they become disease vectors fast, given the number of people they see).

Then again, banks have become parasitic, so why should we expect anything different? And although Business Week broke the story, it did it press release style:

To the list of hundreds of schools, hospitals, and community health centers that have received limited allocations of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, you can now add some of New York’s largest employers. In the past week or so 13 companies, including Citigroup © and Goldman Sachs (GS), have begun receiving small quantities of the vaccine, according to city health authorities.

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.

Yves here. Welcome to the class system in action. If you don’t work for a big, influential company, go to the back of the queue. Why should companies be the nexus of distribution for vaccines? I guarantee no Goldman MD gets much of his routine medical treatment from the GS health workers on staff (emergencies or a fast diagnostic like a strep test are different). But if you work for a less privileged employer or are self-employed or between jobs, tough luck, go to the back of the queue, you have to try to get yours (assuming you can) from vaccination centers in New York City. How easy do you think that will be? The difficulty and queuing are certain to be much worse than for any of the big financial players.

And please, it strains credulity to think that someone on the payroll at these companies won’t bend to pressure to make allotments at the margin according to who is most powerful. Do you think if Lloyd Blankfein or another member of the management committee was in a risk category that he would be denied it, assuming the firm did not have enough to go around? (and that is likely). Now given the brouhaha, Goldman may bend over backwards not to abuse this overmuch now that there is media pushback. But this serves to illustrate how the system has been suborned on just about every front. To wit, Goldman is getting 200 doses of the vaccine, the same number as Lenox Hill Hospital.

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/11/gol...n1-vaccine.html

"Poll: One-third can find, get swine flu vaccine"

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

6 NOVEMBER 2009

ATLANTA – Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a new national poll.

That's true even for people are at extra risk for severe complications and should be at the front of the line.

The numbers are about the same for parents who tried to get the vaccine for their higher-risk children, the Harvard School of Public Health poll found.

Swine flu vaccine has been available in the United States for about a month.

But supplies have been limited because of manufacturing delays.

The shots are only supposed to be go to those at high risk of complications.

The Harvard School of Public Health telephone poll also found that half of those who tried couldn't find information about where to get the vaccine.

The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted last weekend and the results released Friday.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Swine flu is widespread in 48 states, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

CDC officials said 129 children have died from swine flu complications since the virus was first identified in April.

The government does not keep a close count of all swine flu deaths, but estimates the number is above 1,000.

Many millions of Americans have been infected with the virus, though most suffered only mild illness, health officials say.

Hey Graham, please tell me you didn't get your shot from the GS, Citi, Morgan Stanley allotment.

no
I am in no way connected to any of them (and I don't own stock at all).

Citi by the way, supposedly gave away their entire 2000 stash, (only after it became public)...

now that the election is over, bet in the next week or two there will be enough for anyone who wants one nationwide
I think the Bushies had their friends create a situation to influence the elections (especially in VA).