H1N1 FLU: LEFT-OVER DOC VACCINES USED FOR INMATES

H1N1 FLU: LEFT-OVER DOC VACCINES USED FOR INMATES

(ANSA) - Rome, November 9 - Rome health authorities announced Monday they had begun vaccinating prison inmates against the H1N1 flu virus with doses left unused by the city's doctors.

Angiolo Marroni, head of the Lazio region's prison observatory, said after a long wait for the government to come through with vaccines for the prison population, local health authorities decided to use the surplus left over by doctors to vaccinate inmates at Rebbibia prison, the largest in Rome.

Despite being first in line for the vaccine when it became available in October, doctors in Italy have been sluggish to take the H1N1 flu jab.

Though health authorities and experts have warned that a shortage of doctors when the flu system peaks could mean chaos for Italy's hospitals, over 44% in a Rome University survey last weekend that they had "no intention of getting vaccinated".

The unwillingness of many doctors to get take the shot has left tens and thousands of extra doses piling up in hospitals in the Lazio region, which will now be used to innoculate prison inmates.

"I'm surprised that prisons weren't made a priority sooner," said Marroni.

"Given the sanitary conditions and the overcrowding, there's a real risk that prisons could turn into an incubator for the pandemic".

Last week, Rebibbia reported its first sick inmate, who was separated from the other inmates and treated at a Rome hospital.

So far, the only inmate to die of the disease was a 51-year-old man serving a life-sentence in a Naples prison who died in late October, though Marroni said it's only a matter of time until more follow.

"Inmates, prison guards and even volunteers live in an unsavory, overcrowded environment where it's impossible to isolate more than a people few at a time," Marroni said.

"Prison is a window on society and it's ridiculous to think that it should be unaffected by what goes on in the outside world".