Hillary's Flu Vaccine Crisis

newsmax.com ^ | 12/13/03 | Carl Limbacher

[Mich0127]

December 13, 2003 Schwarzenegger: Terminates Hillary's Plans?

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With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff For the story behind the story...

Click Here Hillary's Flu Vaccine Crisis

Newspapers are awash this week with headlines warning that the U.S. is running out of flu vaccine, just as the crisis reaches near-epidemic levels, with 11 children dead so far.

But as top radio talker Rush Limbaugh noted this week, the press isn't explaining how the most sophisticated health care system in the world was caught short by the flu crisis.

Perhaps reporters ought to ask New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, since one of the few health care reforms she managed to inflict on the nation during her co-presidency has now backfired by driving most of America's flu vaccine producers out of business.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal this week, "The reason for today's shortage - as well as seven previous preventive vaccine shortages since 2000 - is that there are just five vaccine makers.

"This lack of suppliers is partly thanks to Hillary Clinton, who as first lady turned government into the majority buyer of vaccines and pushed prices so low as to make business unsustainable."

Last summer the Journal noted that the problem goes back to 1993, when Mrs. Clinton's "Vaccines for Children Program" was first implemented.

Hillary's vaccine crusade was being pushed by her Children's Defense Fund mentor Marian Wright Edelman - even though U.S. child vaccination rates at the time were considered relatively high by medical experts.

But that didn't stop Sen. Clinton and her "reformers." She pressured Congress to back the disastrous plan in a bid to make vaccines more available to poor, uninsured and underinsured children. In the process she turned the government into the major purchaser and distributor of vaccines.

Oops! Unfortunately for the familles of the 11 children killed by the disease so far, things didn't quite work out the way Hillary had planned.

As noted by the Kansas City Star this week, the decision to force vaccine makers to discount their price resulted in "declining financial incentives to develop and produce vaccines."

What's more, the vaccination rate "barely budged" after the Hillary-Edelman brainchild was implemented.

Hillary's "reform" did, however, manage to leave the nation thoroughly unprepared to handle the current flu crisis.

[gitmo]

Influenza Hillary bookmark.

[Mich0127]

Yeah, she can be the modern day Typhoid Mary!

[gitmo]

My thoughts perzactly.

[Mich0127]

We should spread that around...lol
I bet the DU'ers would love it!

[Quick1]

Um, not everyone dies from the flu. Children and the elderly are the most likely people to die. However, I see all these healthy adults lining up for flu shots they don't really need, and shake my head.

[Mich0127]

Healthy adults have the right to get flu shots. The flu shot is marketed to the general public. Watch the commercials.
There is nothing wrong with a healthy adult protecting themselves from the flu. I had the flu 3 years ago, and it was NOT FUN! And there are many healthy adults who work in places where they would greatly benefit from the flu shot. For example, schools!

[gitmo]

I heard this on Rush's show last week. I mentioned it to several people who had heard nothing to that effect. I knew I would find a link on FR, though, and promised them some articles Monday.

[Quick1]

You completely missed the point of my post. I was talking about people that don't really need the shot in the first place, i.e. healthy adults. I'm not talking about people who work with kids, or health professionals in this case. I'm talking about Joe Sixpack going to get a shot he doesn't really need, but feels he does need because of the hysteria created by the media.

No one has the "right" to get flu shots, however, everyone should have equal access. I just don't see the need for healthy adults who are at the least amount of risk for dying from the flu to get their shots. I don't plan on getting one for a long time.

[Mich0127]

Oh, okay..no, I get your point
I thought you meant something else

I thought you meant denying equal access...my bad

[Mich0127]

Oh, okay..no, I get your point
I thought you meant something else

I thought you meant denying equal access...my bad

[Mich0127]

Oh, okay...let me know what else you find!

[gitmo]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/964497/posts

[mewzilla]

BTTT.