Mayor avoids partisan allegations by cancelling free flu shots

Mayor White nixed free flu shots at polling places today due to criticism that the program would give Democrats an unfair advantage in the elections. Up till today, the shots were available at four early voting locations in medically needy areas, primarily populated by black and Hispanic voters. This was part of a national "vote and vaccinate" program that is in place in 20 other US cities. The program targets voters over the age of 50.

Conservatives criticized the program, saying that it is more likely to draw Democratic voters to the polls. Mayor White, a former Texas Democratic party chairman and Deputy Secretary of Energy under Bill Clinton, spoke on his decision in a news conference today:

There was no political motive whatsoever to do it. I don't want to have to spend more money in defending a baseless lawsuit than we're giving away in vaccine — or allow anybody to question the integrity of the political process.

Houstonist still recommends voting and getting a flu shot, even if you can't one-stop shop for these things anymore. A list of clinics in Houston that provide flu shots can be found here. Information about early voting in Harris County (which we especially recommend, if you don't like waiting in long lines) can be found here.