The fact that Goldman Sachs received the same number of doses of H1N1 vaccine as Lenox Hill hospital has been widely publicized in newspapers and on television. For those already angry with Wall Street for accepting bail out funds and then rewarding executives with excessive compensation, this is more fuel for the flames. But aside from ideological outrage, I'm not sure that the human impact is truly appreciated.
I work as a primary care physician in the Bronx. I take care of high risk patients with chronic illness (such as HIV or emphysema) and I have not been vaccinated against H1N1. Three of my colleagues are currently out with the flu (one has an infant at home), and therefore many of our patients have been put at risk.
Our clinic has been so limited in its supply of vaccine that we are only able to offer vaccination to the highest priority groups: pregnant women, health care providers, parents with infants under 6 months old, children 6 months to 4 years old, and children 5-18 whom have chronic illnesses that put them at risk. Today, a patient of mine whom is 73 with heart disease and part of his lung surgically removed was sent home without a vaccine because he does not meet the "highest risk" criteria. While I imagine that there are employees at Goldman Sachs who are pregnant, it's hard to believe that these women would not have access to the vaccine through their obstetrician.
Health disparities in America are wide spread and profound. Some of this is due to lack of health insurance; some of this is due to unhealthy behaviors; much of this is related to poverty and income inequality. Inequality is a way of life in America. Economists may argue that we must accept some level of economic inequality, since the wealth creating capacity of major financial institutions improve the standard of living for anyone who invests, but there is no justification for vaccinating bankers before the infirm and those most at risk of contracting flu. This is an explicit statement that the lives of some Americans are more valuable than others. The benefits of vaccinating a small number of wealthy bankers will never trickle down to the masses.
As a physician, this is infuriating. I was trained to take care of those who are ill. Like during Hurricane Katrina, where unequal access to resources literally translated into death, we are faced with a catastrophe that could exacerbate health disparities. Goldman Sachs accessed its vaccine through the state, which should have been responsible for medically justified triage. The same arrogance that leads Wall Street to justify exploiting American taxpayers, here leads to disproportionate consumption of a precious health resource. Well, what about those without insider information or access? I must sit and wait, hoping that my patients do not fall ill, while at the same time being grateful that our economic elites will stay healthy and productive.