Editorial: Height of selfishness

Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

Earlier this month the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in response to the extreme shortage of flu vaccine this year, issued voluntary guidelines as to who should get the limited number of doses. The at-risk group most in need of the vaccine includes children six months to 2 years old, people over 65 and those with serious medical conditions. Last week Clark County's chief medical officer, Dr. Donald Kwalick, followed up by urging local companies to suspend any in-house clinics they had planned to give flu shots to their employees. Kwalick asked companies to give their doses to the Clark County Health District, ensuring that those most in need would get the vaccine.

Most companies acted responsibly and complied -- but not everyone. The Mandalay Resort Group went ahead and gave flu shots to 440 of its employees who work at the gaming corporation's properties. Someone might suggest passing a federal law to force companies to return their vaccines to local health districts in the event of a crisis, but we're not sure such a proposal would get far in our nation's capital. This week The Washington Post reported that members of Congress and their employees were getting the flu shots, even those who were young and healthy. It's too bad scientists haven't invented an inoculation yet to prevent selfishness.