On the Record

By: Danny Jacobs

There has been a lot of controversy recently about the H1N1 vaccine being made available to prison populations. (Don’t believe me? I did a Google news search to prove it.)

Most notable is the 300 doses being sent to Guantanamo Bay, although the Pentagon said detainees will only get the vaccine after the “highest-priority troops and employees” are treated.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services announced Thursday it had received the first shipment of a planned 1,900 doses of the vaccine. The doses were free, courtesy of the federal government.

The agency notes it has a “constitutional obligation” to provide health care to its detainees that meets “community standards,” and every year pays for and makes seasonal flu vaccines available to “high-risk” prisoners.

Here’s how the agency will divvy up the swine flu antidote:

Individuals have been identified in priority groups, both inmates and then staff that choose the option, to receive the vaccine through DPSCS as it becomes available. Priority groups for offender populations were identified by DPSCS based on similar standards to those in the community identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). They include those who are pregnant, those under the age of 24 with underlying health conditions, and those ages 25-64 with high risk health complications.

Additionally, 600 vaccines will be offered to staff “either permanently assigned to infirmaries or a medical transportation unit,” according to the agency’s press release.

Anyone out there want to channel Roy Blunt?