NYC giving H1N1 vaccine to employers

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Only a small percentage of the available swine flu vaccine has been distributed to private companies, New York City health officials said Friday.

Those companies getting the vaccine have included high-profile financial firms like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, The New York Times reported. Under the program, the companies are supposed to distribute the vaccine to those employees most at risk, including pregnant women and people with other health conditions.

Distribution of the vaccine against the H1N1 influenza strain, popularly known as swine flu, has been slowed by production problems. In New York City, officials say the emphasis is on getting children vaccinated with 39 percent of the vaccine allocated to schools and 21 percent to pediatricians in private practice.

Michael Osterholm, a public health specialist at the University of Minnesota, said he was not worried that some of the vaccine is going to banks.

"They're not going to be giving it to the top bankers," he said. "There's no reason a high-risk person should get it at a public clinic instead of at work."