Uproar over Bears receiving flu shots
By Melissa Isaacson and David Haugh
Tribune staff reporters
October 21, 2004, 11:45 PM CDT
The executive director of the Lake County Health Department reacted with outrage Wednesday to news that Bears players have received flu vaccinations despite a shortage that has caused the shutdown of all 16 flu clinics in the area and has left countless senior citizens still waiting for shots.
The Bulls also received the shots, but two days before the shortage was announced on Oct. 6, according to a team spokesman.
Dale Galassie said his office had sent letters to the CEOs of the top 50 corporations in Lake County, where the Bears and Bulls train, asking that if flu vaccines were purchased for their employees, they be distributed only to those in high-risk categories and that the remainder be donated or sold to the county.
Though the Bears did not receive a letter, Galassie said he would have hoped that young, fit professional athletes would not be offered the vaccine.
"I certainly wouldn't anticipate them meeting the Centers for Disease Control's high-risk category unless they interpret that they're under risk because of an extreme travel schedule," he said. "But they have their own plane. Everyone should be stepping up and giving it to those who need it. I'd like to know why an athlete in top shape is being given a flu shot."
Though the Bears' official stance is that all matters of medication and treatment are private, a team official said only those players who might be at risk with "asthma-type conditions" received the vaccine. The rest of the vaccine, he said, was returned to the distributor.
But Bears players indicated all of them were given the option of receiving a shot. Less than half of the roughly 60 players received one, which is typical. Some declined on moral grounds.
"It's offered to everybody, but some guys are like, 'You know what, other people deserve to get it more than we do,'" said Michael Haynes, a second-year defensive end.
"I didn't get one because with what's going on everywhere, I shouldn't. A lot of guys were like that. I looked in there and there was a nurse giving shots [Wednesday] and I was like, 'I don't even want it.' I don't need one as bad as some people, so I said no."
The vaccine, the team said, is available to players throughout the National Football League. Bears offensive tackle John Tait said he refused as well.
"It's not for me," he said. "It's a personal decision, and I guess I'd let someone else have one because of the shortage this year."
Bulls players received the vaccinations on Oct. 4, as part of their routine training-camp physicals.
"We absolutely need them," veteran Eric Piatkowski said. "The way we travel, we're going in and out of cold and warm climates. Our bodies get worn down too. I won't say we need them more than some 85-year-old person, because obviously we don't. But I'm glad we got them."
Galassie said Lake County originally ordered 8,500 doses of flu vaccine and that it still is hoping to receive 50 percent of the order in early December, thanks to CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding redistributing 22 million flu vaccines. In the meantime, Galassie said his office is getting "upwards of 200 calls a day from seniors and those who meet the standards of the high-risk categories with no access to the vaccine."
Those considered a priority group for the vaccine include children 6 to 23 months old; adults 65 and older; those ages 2 to 64 with chronic medical conditions; women who will be pregnant during the flu season; and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Though a handful of states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, have threatened doctors and other health care professionals with fines and even jail for giving healthy people the vaccine, Illinois has not, said Tom Schafer, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
In Michigan, health care workers found giving flu shots to healthy residents are guilty of a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $200, or both.
In Washington, D.C., administering a flu shot to a child or adult not in the risk categories could bring a misdemeanor citation and a $1,000 fine. But lawmakers in Washington have been the subject of debate over whether it's appropriate for those not at risk to receive shots under the recommendation of their Capitol physician. Neither President Bush nor Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards received shots.
According to a Tribune survey, several members of the Illinois congressional delegation received flu shots, some before the shortage was announced, because of a medical condition or because of overseas travel.
Approximately 36,000 Americans die from flu each year, mortality rates that rise to 51,000 if other health complications are included.
Throughout the nation, seniors have waited in lines for the flu shots, enduring waits in Lake County lasting as long as nine hours. Around the Chicago area, seniors and chronically ill adults crowded grocery stores offering the shot and flooded clinics with phone calls, desperate to find some vaccine.
"If I don't get the flu shot it will do me in," said Dan Diasparra, 68, of Lake Forest, who sat with his oxygen tank for a wait of more than seven hours at the Dominick's in Mundelein earlier this week.
Galassie said that after the fact, there is little that his office could or would do in response to the Bears' action.
"But come on, what's the point here?" he said. "What we're saying is just do the right thing. Look at the PR value of the Bears saying we have 100 doses we're willing to donate in lieu of this situation. It's regretful at best."
Trine Tsouderos and K.C. Johnson contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-041021flushots,1,39349.story?coll=cs-home-headlines
By Melissa Isaacson and David Haugh
Tribune staff reporters
October 21, 2004, 11:45 PM CDT
The executive director of the Lake County Health Department reacted with outrage Wednesday to news that Bears players have received flu vaccinations despite a shortage that has caused the shutdown of all 16 flu clinics in the area and has left countless senior citizens still waiting for shots.
The Bulls also received the shots, but two days before the shortage was announced on Oct. 6, according to a team spokesman.
Dale Galassie said his office had sent letters to the CEOs of the top 50 corporations in Lake County, where the Bears and Bulls train, asking that if flu vaccines were purchased for their employees, they be distributed only to those in high-risk categories and that the remainder be donated or sold to the county.
Though the Bears did not receive a letter, Galassie said he would have hoped that young, fit professional athletes would not be offered the vaccine.
"I certainly wouldn't anticipate them meeting the Centers for Disease Control's high-risk category unless they interpret that they're under risk because of an extreme travel schedule," he said. "But they have their own plane. Everyone should be stepping up and giving it to those who need it. I'd like to know why an athlete in top shape is being given a flu shot."
Though the Bears' official stance is that all matters of medication and treatment are private, a team official said only those players who might be at risk with "asthma-type conditions" received the vaccine. The rest of the vaccine, he said, was returned to the distributor.
But Bears players indicated all of them were given the option of receiving a shot. Less than half of the roughly 60 players received one, which is typical. Some declined on moral grounds.
"It's offered to everybody, but some guys are like, 'You know what, other people deserve to get it more than we do,'" said Michael Haynes, a second-year defensive end.
"I didn't get one because with what's going on everywhere, I shouldn't. A lot of guys were like that. I looked in there and there was a nurse giving shots [Wednesday] and I was like, 'I don't even want it.' I don't need one as bad as some people, so I said no."
The vaccine, the team said, is available to players throughout the National Football League. Bears offensive tackle John Tait said he refused as well.
"It's not for me," he said. "It's a personal decision, and I guess I'd let someone else have one because of the shortage this year."
Bulls players received the vaccinations on Oct. 4, as part of their routine training-camp physicals.
"We absolutely need them," veteran Eric Piatkowski said. "The way we travel, we're going in and out of cold and warm climates. Our bodies get worn down too. I won't say we need them more than some 85-year-old person, because obviously we don't. But I'm glad we got them."
Galassie said Lake County originally ordered 8,500 doses of flu vaccine and that it still is hoping to receive 50 percent of the order in early December, thanks to CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding redistributing 22 million flu vaccines. In the meantime, Galassie said his office is getting "upwards of 200 calls a day from seniors and those who meet the standards of the high-risk categories with no access to the vaccine."
Those considered a priority group for the vaccine include children 6 to 23 months old; adults 65 and older; those ages 2 to 64 with chronic medical conditions; women who will be pregnant during the flu season; and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Though a handful of states, including Michigan and Wisconsin, have threatened doctors and other health care professionals with fines and even jail for giving healthy people the vaccine, Illinois has not, said Tom Schafer, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
In Michigan, health care workers found giving flu shots to healthy residents are guilty of a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $200, or both.
In Washington, D.C., administering a flu shot to a child or adult not in the risk categories could bring a misdemeanor citation and a $1,000 fine. But lawmakers in Washington have been the subject of debate over whether it's appropriate for those not at risk to receive shots under the recommendation of their Capitol physician. Neither President Bush nor Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards received shots.
According to a Tribune survey, several members of the Illinois congressional delegation received flu shots, some before the shortage was announced, because of a medical condition or because of overseas travel.
Approximately 36,000 Americans die from flu each year, mortality rates that rise to 51,000 if other health complications are included.
Throughout the nation, seniors have waited in lines for the flu shots, enduring waits in Lake County lasting as long as nine hours. Around the Chicago area, seniors and chronically ill adults crowded grocery stores offering the shot and flooded clinics with phone calls, desperate to find some vaccine.
"If I don't get the flu shot it will do me in," said Dan Diasparra, 68, of Lake Forest, who sat with his oxygen tank for a wait of more than seven hours at the Dominick's in Mundelein earlier this week.
Galassie said that after the fact, there is little that his office could or would do in response to the Bears' action.
"But come on, what's the point here?" he said. "What we're saying is just do the right thing. Look at the PR value of the Bears saying we have 100 doses we're willing to donate in lieu of this situation. It's regretful at best."
Trine Tsouderos and K.C. Johnson contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-041021flushots,1,39349.story?coll=cs-home-headlines
that's not such a bad idea...
