Texas clarifies plan for inmates' vaccinations
Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN – Facing public criticism over plans that some convicts might get swine flu shots before law-abiding citizens do, state health officials clarified on Wednesday that no widespread inoculations are expected to take place in Texas prisons anytime soon. At the same time, they said that pregnant inmates could get shots "to help protect their unborn children." The state Department of Health Services said, "A limited supply will be going to the prison system to vaccinate those most at risk." It provided no details. The Austin American-Statesman, quoting prison officials, had reported that thousands of prisoners could get swine flu inoculations before many law-abiding Texans because they fit the criteria for priority inoculations. Those officials said more than 45,000 convicts considered to be at high risk of developing the flu have been targeted to receive vaccines, which they said could start arriving as soon as next week. Officials also said they would inoculate more than 40,000 correctional officers and medical personnel who work with prisoners and are considered to be at high risk. On talk shows, blogs and Internet postings, critics blasted the plans, which prison officials said were designed to prevent a swine flu outbreak in Texas' massive prison system – it's the second-largest in the United States and houses more than 150,000 convicts. Health officials who were asked Tuesday about allocations of the vaccine said they could not immediately provide details. But Wednesday the agency provided a statement: "Texas has not allocated any swine flu vaccine to prisons at this time. Prisoners are not a priority group to receive the vaccine and will not be vaccinated ahead of the general public." The statement said a limited supply will be provided to the prison system to vaccinate those most at risk. Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services, said she has no estimate of how many doses will be provided to the state prison system. There is no date for when those doses might start arriving, she said. Austin American-Statesman