Med chief critical of resort’s flu shots

Stephen Curran

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

The Mandalay Resort Group this morning defended its position to offer flu shots to 440 employees, even as other major Strip resorts have either donated their supplies to local clinics or suspended the benefit.

Meanwhile Dr. Donald Kwalick, Clark County's chief medical officer, said he was "concerned" about the casino chain's decision to ignore the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's voluntary guidelines urging companies to suspend their clinics.

"It's a voluntary decision to be made, but I can't say I'm happy with those corporations that have access and are not following CDC's guidelines," Kwalick said. "It's a voluntary program, but you would think companies and individuals who are part of the community would want to protect the people who should be most protected and not feel, 'Well I got mine."'

The Clark County Health District, facing a nationwide shortage of the vaccine, was forced this year to restrict the shots to those deemed most at-risk. The health district controls about 15,000 doses of the vaccine, Kwalick said.

Gordon Absher, a spokesman for Mandalay Resort, said 440 employees received the vaccine at a self-pay clinic. Absher declined to comment about the company's decision but said in a statement that the company encouraged younger, healthier employees to skip the vaccine.

"During flu shot clinics held at Mandalay Bay, many employees opted to heed the vaccine shortage guidelines," he said in the statement. "We observed a great deal of self-regulation -- the young and healthy skipping vaccinations so older employees or employees in poor health could make the best use of it."

Mandalay Bay employs about 6,000 people.

Kwalick said he doubted Mandalay's share of the vaccine would have seriously impacted the county's shortage but added "every little bit helps."

MGM Mirage, which each year operates a flu vaccine clinic for its employees, announced last week it would donate 4,000 doses to the health district, Yvette Monet, a spokeswoman for MGM Mirage, said this morning.

The Venetian followed suit Monday, donating its 600 doses to a health district-run clinic scheduled Oct. 30 at MountainView Hospital, Lisa Johnson, a Venetian spokeswoman, said. Harrah's Entertainment suspended its contract this year with a private clinic that has administered the vaccine for the past three years, company spokesman David Strow said.

A Caesars Entertainment spokesman was unavailable for comment.