Congressional flu shots stir some anger

Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- President Bush didn't get a flu shot. Neither did Democrat John Kerry. The presidential candidates said they passed up vaccinations because of a nationwide shortage.

But in Congress, a number of lawmakers took the advice of Capitol physician John Eisold and received flu shots from a supply set aside for them and their staffs. That has generated controversy as people nationwide scramble to find vaccinations.

Two of Nevada's five lawmakers in Congress got the shot: Democrats Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelley Berkley. Reid and Berkley said they received the shots days before the flu vaccination shortage was announced Oct. 5, although they could not say exactly what day they received the shots.

They would not have received the shots had they known of the impending shortage, Reid and a Berkley aide said.

Reid, 64, said he received his shot in September.

"I was happy to get it," Reid said. "I like to get it early."

Reid said Congress should step in to fix the problems that caused the shortage, possibly offering financial incentives to U.S. manufacturers to encourage more production.

Berkley, 53, got her shot around Oct. 1, aides said, but she got the flu anyway. She has been battling the bug for about two weeks.

Berkley has gotten a flu shot from the Capitol physician every year she has been in Congress, Berkley spokesman David Cherry said. Members pay for some Capitol health services and get health insurance.

Republicans Sen. John Ensign, and Reps. Jim Gibbons and Jon Porter do not intend to receive flu shots this year, their aides said.

Aides to the five Nevada lawmakers said they were not aware of any staffers who received the flu shot from the Capitol supply of 2,000 vaccinations.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., allowed his office to be used as a makeshift clinic for dispensing shots to senators on Oct. 7.

Frist, a heart surgeon, extended the invitation before the Oct. 5 disclosure that roughly half the 100 million doses that U.S. officials had expected would not be available this year.

Capitol physician Eisold had recommended that all lawmakers get the shot because they frequently come into contact with children and older people and could spread as well as catch the flu. More than one-third of the 100 senators are older than 65; other senators have medical conditions.

There was no shortage of lawmakers who sought to distance themselves from any perception of preferential treatment, particularly as older people are standing in lines for shots around the country and the election is approaching.

"Obviously, I wouldn't have gotten it if I had known there would be such a shortage," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., 52.

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., wrote to Eisold: "It seems to me members of Congress who are not at risk should not receive the vaccine ahead of the general public who are part of the at-risk population."

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., said neither he nor his family will get a flu shot this year. As for his colleagues, Bayh said, "That's a matter of conscience for them."

Bayh was among 10 Democrats and two Republicans who introduced legislation Oct. 8 to respond to the vaccine shortage.

"If members of Congress and their staffs cannot reserve flu vaccine for those most in need, how can we ask the American public to do so?" Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said at the time. Kennedy, 72, got a flu shot.

Among congressional leaders, Frist, 52, and Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., 62, were vaccinated. The Democratic leaders -- California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, 64, and South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, 56 -- were not. Vice President Dick Cheney, who has a history of heart disease, was inoculated at the advice of his doctor, a spokeswoman said. Kerry running mate Sen. John Edwards did not get a flu shot.

Sun reporter

Benjamin Grove and the Associated Press contributed to this story.