Allocation of H1N1 vaccines raises criticism

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently provided H1N1 vaccines for private organizations, including Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, NYU and Columbia University. The vaccines were given in the last week of October and beginning of November.

Some members of the media have criticized the health department's decision to give private providers the vaccine. CNBC anchor Trish Regan recently asked on the "Today Show," "Why is the government providing corporations, traders and bankers with these vaccines before those in high-risk groups?"

The DOH has refuted this criticism. DOH spokesperson Jessica Scaperotti said the reason organizations such as Citigroup and NYU were given the vaccine is because they employ a large number of people and can therefore more effectively prevent the virus from spreading. She added that private companies are required to sign an agreement ensuring the vaccines are distributed first to high-risk groups, such as pregnant women and young children.

Michael Phillips, a clinical assistant professor at the NYU Langone Medical Center, specializes in epidemiology, or public health. He confirmed that Langone will abide by the health department's rules, and will prioritize their distribution by providing the vaccine to patients and employees at a high risk for infection.

But Kieke Okma, a Wagner adjunct associate professor of health policy and management, believes that vaccines should be distributed in a way that benefits the most needy members of the community as well as those who perform emergency services, such as police officers.

"You have to sit down and think about who are the high-risk groups, and second, who do we really need to function," Okma said.

She added: "I don't think Goldman Sachs is so essential to the functioning of society."

Scaperotti said private adult providers including Citigroup and NYU have received just 7 percent of the total number of H1N1 vaccinations distributed by the health department: 20 percent of vaccinations went to hospitals; 20 percent to pediatricians; 42 percent to weekend vaccination clinics and in-school vaccinations for elementary school children; 7 percent to federally qualified health centers; 1 percent to uniform personnel; and 4 percent to other unspecified groups. (This adds up to more than 100 percent as the numbers are constantly changing but are up-to-date, according to the health department).

Despite public concern about the vaccine's availability, only 1,701 people participated in the city's first vaccinations at weekend vaccination clinics, Scaperotti said. The clinics are able to accommodate up to 4,500 people.

Okma said that although the virus has received an "extraordinary amount of attention," it is "far less fatal … than the regular flu."

Samantha Cook is a staff writer.