Oklahoma's Prisons Ask For Swine Flu Vaccine

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State prison officials have asked for about 15,000 doses of swine flu vaccine, but state health officials say none has been provided and there are no plans to do so yet.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections Department spokesman Jerry Massie says one inmate arrived at a state prison with the H1N1 virus and is recovering in isolation. Massie says the inmates are at high risk because of their confinement.

However -- state Health Department spokesman Larry Weatherford says the state plans no vaccine for prisoners until it's given to those who are high priority in the general population.

Half of Oklahoma's population is in the priority category for the vaccine. They are pregnant women, those 6 months to 18-years-old, custodial parents who care for children under 6 months, people who are up to 24-years-old, people who are 19 to 64-years-old with medical conditions, health care workers who work with critically ill people and emergency medical services workers.