[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29233]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       H1N1 VACCINE FOR PRISONERS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, as we all know there is limited 
supply of the H1N1 vaccines all over our country. In Texas, there was 
news that prisoners could receive the swine flu vaccine before children 
and pregnant women. There are over 45,000 inmates who are evidently in 
the ``high-risk'' group in Texas. The correctional institutions believe 
that the convicts deserve to be vaccinated. Due to the limited number 
of vaccines available for Texas, the inmates may not receive them as 
soon as they wish.
  By what logic do you justify having inmates receive vaccinations as a 
higher priority than pregnant women and children? These individuals are 
the most vulnerable among us and should be of great concern; not to 
mention senior adults, caregivers, and many others that should be high 
on the list. When these vaccines are provided to the states it should 
go to our taxpayers before our ``high risk'' convicts. The government 
needs to step up to the plate and provide the available vaccines to the 
people who need them the most--the children.

                          ____________________