Gitmo inmates to get H1N1 flu inoculations

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Terrorism suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base will soon get H1N1 flu vaccines, despite complaints that American civilians should have priority, a military spokesman said Sunday.

Army Maj. James Crabtree, a spokesman for the U.S. jail facility in southeast Cuba, said the doses should start arriving this month, with guards and then inmates scheduled for inoculations.

He acknowledged that critics may argue that terror suspects should not be allocated swine-flu medications while members of the U.S. public are still waiting due to a vaccine shortage.

But he said U.S. military officials are “responsible for the health and care of the detainee population.”

The top House Republican, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, told CNN’s “State of the Union” show Sunday that he does not agree with the H1N1-vaccination plans for detainees at Guantanamo.