Dems seek immunization before going to NASCAR events

Washington Times:

The immunization of Democratic House staffers against a host of major illnesses before attending NASCAR races for a public health fact-finding mission is being criticized by Republican lawmakers who call it an overreaction and an insult to the sport's fans.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi Democrat and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, is conducting a study of homeland security measures at mass gatherings and says the recommendation to get immunization shots is a solid preventive policy.

"I am sure you would agree that providing immunizations to personnel involved in public safety is good public health policy, and there is no need to exclude staff from taking the preventative measures that the public health community recommends — regardless of why and where mass gatherings are taking place," Mr. Thompson said.

Democratic staffers followed the recommendations and took the shots before the Talladega, Ala., race last weekend. Republican staffers are refusing to take the shots and say they were told it was not necessary by the House Attending Physicians' Office.

"Since committee staff members are visiting hospital and other health care facilities available at or near these venues, including areas where groups of people are detained before being transferred to other off-site facilities, I believe that the recommendation that our congressional staff receive these same immunizations was sound," Mr. Thompson said.

However, the staffers' itinerary for the Talladega race shows the only medical facilities they toured were a mobile emergency hospital with no patients present and stations for minor first-aid. Their schedule for this weekend's race in Concord, N.C., shows.

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It is not really a foreign country although the noise and the smell are something you have to get used to.

My uncle helped to start the race track at Talladega, acquiring the land for the investors and building several motels to accommodate the traffic. He also worked with the state of Alabama to get the roads needed for the track visitors. He would have found the immunizations pretty amusing.

BTW, he was a life long Republican, long before that was cool in Alabama as was my grandfather. He had a limited education, and worked hard, but became wealthy "swapping property" as he called it.