The Orbis

Although the nation-wide shortage of the flu vaccine is well known by now, controversy still surrounds the actions of many high-profile politicians for their personal stances on utilizing the flu shots reserved for members of Congress.

As of Sept. 30, reports coming from Capitol Hill began to hint at a possible shortage of the vaccine due to “recent production problems”, and an official announcement about the contaminated product was released on Oct. 7. Only 60 million doses of the vaccine were cleared for shipment to the United States, instead of the 100 million doses originally expected.

Prior to Oct. 7, the Capitol physician Dr. John Eisold voiced his recommendation that lawmakers receive the vaccination. Due to their hectic schedules during the last stretch of the presidential campaigns, members of Congress are traveling and speaking more than usual, and can come into contact with hundreds of children and senior citizens each day. According to Eisold’s office, about 2,000 shots were given to congressional members and their staff as of last week.

Although a certain number of vaccinations were specifically set aside for use on Capitol Hill, the shortage has turned the optional shot into a political mud-slinging opportunity. Controversy centers around Tennessee’s own Bill Frist, who received the shot on Oct. 5. A former physician himself, the Speaker of the House mailed a letter to the rest of the Senate inviting them to a makeshift clinic set up in Frist’s office. Frist insists that senators receiving the shot after the 7th met the federal requirements, which recommend that only people over the age of 65 with pressing medical conditions (heart disease, weakened immune systems, pregnant women, cancer patients, etc.) get vaccinated.

Several other members of the Tennessee delegation have also been vaccinated, most after the shortage was announced. Reps. Marsha Blackburn, R-Brentwood,

John Tanner, D-Union City, and Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, received shots, as well as Senators Frist and Alexander. There was no response from the office of Gov. Phil Bredesen.

None of the vaccinated Tennessee delegation meet the federal requirements, and in defense of their actions many are pointing the finger to Sen. Frist’s recommendation. As the Senate’s only physician-lawmaker, Frist cooperated with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to ensure that Congress was aware of their privileged access to the vaccination.

Alexia Poe, spokeswoman from Sen. Alexander’s office, said that the idea was simply that members of Congress needed shots, “Especially since they would be around a number of people in the upcoming weeks leading up to the election and could be both victims and spreaders of the flu.”

Many Tennessee residents are outraged at the actions of their representatives, including groups of senior citizens who have been turned away from clinics after standing in long lines for hours.

When asked about the Congressional privilege, retired nurse Marilyn Hickam stated, “I don’t think that’s right. There are plenty of seniors that should be the priority. They [members of Congress] say they’re always shaking hands and going to nursing homes. How many nursing homes do you think they go to?”

When asked the same question, Sen. Frist remained defensive about his decision: “I’ve been in six hospitals and around patients in the last two weeks. If I had the flu... I would not want to be infecting them. I think a case can be made that you don’t want to be infecting other people.”

Accusations have been made blaming both the current administration and the Kerry campaign for causing dissent about the shortage.

Frist blames the Democratic presidential campaign, insisting “They keep mentioning my name as if I had done something exceptional, when I hadn’t. That shows how far the Kerry campaign will go to try to undercut, twist, and mislead.” To date, neither Sen. Kerry nor Sen. Edwards have received the flu shot.

Anthony Coley, a spokesman from the Kerry campaign, still believes that “Bill Frist’s rhetoric doesn’t match the reality. This has nothing to do with politics, as the gentleman from Tennessee suggests. It has everything to do with the Bush administrations’ failure to do the work necessary to ensure that all Americans, including sitting United States senators, have access to the shots.”

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