Article published November 19, 2009
Finkbeiner staffers get swine flu vaccination
While public waits for shot, aides don't
By TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
While most Lucas County residents had to stand in long lines for hours to get their swine flu shots — if they could get one — members of Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's staff just needed to come to work.
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department sent a nurse to the 22nd Floor of Government Center Nov. 10 to administer the vaccine for the H1N1 virus, to coincide with the mayor's weekly staff meeting.
Larry Vasko, deputy health commissioner, said the vaccine is for tier-one individuals, which includes medical responders, caregivers, children, and adults with health conditions.
The mayor did not get a vaccine that day. Neither did Police Chief Mike Navarre, who said yesterday he doesn't get vaccinated for personal reasons.
Chief of Staff Robert Reinbolt received a vaccine because as Toledo's safety director he qualified as a first responder.
“We were able to take it over and do it there. It wasn't very disruptive to us,” Mr. Vasko said. “If you can work with your sister agencies like that, that's a good thing.”
He said the nurse went over planning to do 30 vaccinations but ended up doing fewer than 12.
One who got the shot was Tom Kroma, assistant chief of staff.
“I did get one. I was told they'd be available,” Mr. Kroma said.
He said it would be more to the city's benefit for its officials to be able to work than to be out with the flu.
Fire Chief Mike Wolever said emergency workers in the city have all received the vaccine if they wanted it.
He said there is a protocol called “continuity of operations” under which critical government agencies and officials receive vaccination or prophylactic treatments so government can keep operating in an emergency.
Mr. Vasko said the department has a schedule that includes offering the vaccine in Washington Local, Ottawa Hills, and Toledo Public school districts through the end of next week.
Mr. Vasko said vaccines will be administered seven days a week through Dec. 12, except for Thanksgiving Day and the day after the holiday.
The county has ordered 260,000 doses of the vaccine and hopes to vaccinate about 230,000 people, but he said the vaccine “is slow in coming.”
“Two weeks ago, we were getting more vaccine than we are now,” he said.
Part of the reason the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department didn't get as many H1N1 doses this week is that some went to private doctors, said Dr. David Grossman, health commissioner.
Contact Tom Troy at:tomtroy@theblade.comor 419-724-6058.
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