WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) said that plans to make the H1N1 flu shot available to detainees at the Guantanamo Bay naval base will put suspected terrorists ahead of American citizens.

“First of all, Guantanamo is such an isolated population, I can’t see how the suspected terrorists there are at any real risk of catching swine flu.  And on top of that, millions of at-risk Americans who want and need flu shots are being told they must wait because of short supplies,” Emerson said.  “I just don’t see how a detainee in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, fits the definition of high-risk.”

An estimated 215 detainees are housed at the Guantanamo Bay facility. 

“Meanwhile, in Missouri we only have about a quarter of the H1N1 doses we need.  Our health officials are saying that pregnant women, children and caregivers should be prioritized and, while there clearly isn’t enough vaccine to go around, the Obama Administration is skimming vaccine off the top for accused terrorists – some of whom are considered to be so dangerous that they can never be released back to the general population,” Emerson said.