Recently deemed a “national emergency” by President Barack Obama, the swine flu pandemic is racing ahead and the U.S. is coming up short. The H1N1 vaccine, which began production in spring 2009, took longer to manufacture than originally was expected. The shortage is shocking: The nation is millions of doses short of original forecasts. Many vaccination clinics have been canceled because expected vaccinations have not arrived. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the aggregate total of H1N1 vaccines shipped as of Oct. 28 was 12,870,000. Of this number, 489,700 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were shipped to Virginia. While it is not realistic to vaccinate the entire U.S. population, the current supply of H1N1 vaccine will not even cover those considered most susceptible. With the current vaccine supply, only one-fifth of those deemed as “high-risk” will be vaccinated. Despite the swine flu “emergency” and vaccine shortage, a White House decision announced on Friday afternoon negligently places the health of terror suspects before the needs of American citizens.

On Oct. 30, the Pentagon and the Obama administration announced plans to inoculate terror suspects currently detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility in Cuba with the H1N1 vaccine. Rightly, this decision sparked national outrage as thousands of U.S. citizens have yet to receive the vaccination, which only recently became available. At Guantanamo, the vaccine will be voluntary for all 221 detainees still being held there. Though the vaccines have not yet arrived to the Guantanamo base, officials expect it will arrive within the month. Military personnel stationed at the base will be the first to receive the vaccination, followed by the terror suspects.

The Pentagon decision to offer detainees the vaccine centers on the belief that detainees are a “high-risk” group, with increased possibility of contracting the swine flu. Guantanamo spokeswoman Maj. Diana R. Haynie said, “Detainees at JTF Guantanamo are considered to be at higher risk and therefore they will be offered the H1N1 vaccination.” Also according to Maj. Haynie, “JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees. As such, we must provide detainees the medical care necessary to maintain their health,” she said. Treatment of terror suspects at the Guantanamo Bay facility has sparked controversy among human rights activists across the Globe, with allegations that the U.S. is violating the Geneva Convention. While the U.S. is obligated to provide prisoners with adequate health care and medical services, preference should not be given to prisoners of war over American citizens. Guantanamo inmates will in fact be at a decreased risk for contracting the swine flu. Military personnel stationed at Guantanamo are required to get the H1N1 vaccine. The federal government and CDC have not even deemed prisoners at domestic prisons as “high-risk”.

The question should be who is taking responsibly for the health of U.S. citizens and, specifically, the high-risk populations still unable to obtain the vaccine? Yes, the U.S. should be responsible for the health of the prisoners currently being held at Guantanamo, but not at the expense of civilians. Someone needs to be accountable to the citizens who are becoming infected with swine flu at an alarming rate.

Top priority for the H1N1 vaccine is being given to Americans who fall into “high-risk” groups such as pregnant women, people under age 24, health care workers, emergency medical personnel and people with preexisting health conditions. Guantanamo prisoners and American convicts alike should not be considered a “high-risk” group. Instead, the security and personnel at prison facilities should take a high priority once other “high-risk” groups have been vaccinated. The announcement on Friday certainly sparked outrage that prisoners of war would receive vaccinations when there is a national shortage. Most American taxpayers will have to go without the vaccine for months, and the death toll will continue to increase.

The move is a political one by the Obama administration, meant to placate an international community that has consistently raised concerns of human rights violations at the facility. The Obama Pentagon wishes to show that the U.S. military is humanely treating the remaining Guantanamo prison population. Once elected, President Obama immediately issued an executive order demanding the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base where 800 individuals had been held without trial by the Department of Defense as enemy combatants. Since the prison was opened, over 500 of the Guantánamo detainees have been released, transferred, or returned to their countries. As a clear move away from the Bush Administration’s stance, Obama’s executive order was met with enthusiasm by human rights activists both domestically and internationally who believed the prison would be closed within the one year deadline. Perhaps the debate over prisoner inoculation would not be on the table had Obama followed through with his promise. As we draw closer to the Jan. 22 deadline, however, the prospects of a Guatanamo closure look bleak. Meanwhile, the remaining 212 Guantanamo detainees are still being held without the writ of habeas corpus.

Despite the infringements on prisoner’s civil rights, the administration’s decision once again leaves American citizens feeling that their families and needs are not taking top priority. The swine flu scare is not going away. According to weekly reports issued by the CDC, influenza activity and related deaths have been on a continual rise in the United States. Out of the total influenza hospitalizations, rates among children ages 0-4 years old are highest. Already, over 1,000 people have died in the U.S. as a result of the swine flu. Obama is attempting to appease the international community while neglecting American citizens. Since there is a shortage, only military personnel caring for detainees should receive the vaccine until it becomes more readily available. With the Guantanamo workers inoculated, prisoners will already be at a decreased risk. True, certain standards must be met at all prisons in regard to prisoner care, but while the vaccine is short, preference should not be given to terror suspects. Preference should be given to the American civilians at a high-risk of contracting the swine flu of 2009.

Ashely Chappo’s column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.chappo@cavalierdaily.com.