Believe of not, who gets an H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine – and who chooses not to in light of the vaccine shortage – has become a political issue in this town.  The White House announced that President and Mrs. Obama would not get the vaccine until “needs of the priority groups identified by the CDC – including young people under the age of 24, pregnant women, and people with underlying conditions – have been met.”  A White House physician administered vaccines obtained through the D.C. Department of Health to the Obamas’ daughters, Malia and Sasha. 

On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that he believed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates received the vaccine, even though the military only has enough of the vaccine to supply half of those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And according to the priority list Morrell outlined to reporters at the briefing, as a DoD civilian Gates was third of the list of five groups who should receive the vaccine when it becomes available. Those in uniform, of course, have the first priority, followed by health care workers who support them.

According to the government’s website on the issue Gates needs the vaccine less than most. “People age 65 and older are not at high risk of getting H1N1. They are not in the initial target groups for vaccination, but may get vaccinated when supplies become available,” the website states.

Gates is 66.

Now, perhaps Gates has an underlying condition that demands he get the vaccine first (Morrell has yet to answer my query about this.) Or perhaps Gates was able to get the vaccine outside his capacity as Secretary of Defense.

But if Obama won’t get it and Gates will, it begs the question: Should our national leaders be a priority on the vaccine list?  Should a war-time president and secretary of defense do everything they can to take care of themselves so their focus on the wars?

Or is it every Cabinet member for him/herself?

UPDATE: From Geoff Morrell about why the secretary got the shot. "It's not a political issue. He did it because he is the Secretary of Defense. He is the conduit through which the president gives orders to this department And at a time when we have security challenges around the world, even beyond wars we are fighting, the secretary thinks it is the responsible thing to do."