H1N1 Vaccine Headed to Inmates Despite Shortage

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Story Published: Nov 2, 2009 at 7:27 PM PDT

By Peter Bukowski

YAKIMA COUNTY -- A historic vaccine effort. People crowding to get theirs. And not nearly enough to go around.

"As of today we have allotted to us, not necessarily here, about 18,000 doses for 150,000 people and that's very frustrating we understand that," explained Marianne Patnode with the Yakima Health District

That means there's barely enough H1N1 vaccine to inoculate the city of Ellensburg. Mother of two, Andrea Anderson went to get her vaccine, and was denied.

"I found out that it was not available and I have been continuing to call the doctor's office requesting it and it's not been available."

Some sites have already run out of the vaccine, and more will take time to produce. But even once it's produced you may not get it. That's because the high risk groups have to be taken care of first, no matter where it is.

"Whether you be a jail, whether you be a hospital, whether you be a childcare facility, if you fall into those five high risk groups you qualify for the vaccine. So we haven't made decisions based on the locations of where you are," says Patnode.

Even if you're in jail. But Yakima DOC says it's not up to them to decide who should and shouldn't get the vaccine.

Chief Michael Williams says he has, "A duty to treat everybody equally and fairly. Simply because somebody made a mistake and happens to be in jail shouldn't be a prerequisite for denying them access to the same medicine."

But that's not a good answer for Anderson as she tries to protect her family

" Well it's upsetting to the fact that I wish there was more vaccine available. Obviously, I don't want people who need it not have it, but I would prefer my son and myself have it first," Anderson laments.

Anderson will simply have to wait and do her time wondering if a vaccine will be available for her and her family.

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