SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU GET THE FLU THIS WINTER

michellemalkin.com ^ | October 9, 2004 | Michelle Malkin

[ml/nj]

I heard sound bites from Kerry blaming Bush for the problem we now face with the flu vaccine shortage. It seems to me that Kerry is extremely vulnerable on this issue. Malkin points out the problem with centralized government purchases, but I don't think she sufficiently blames the litigious nature of medicine today. It is my understanding that there are liability limits agreed to when the government is providing the vaccine, but not when the govenment is/was uninvolved. Potential manufacturers do not want to get involved when there are huge potential liability risks from Kerry-Edwards-trial lawyer types and low profits coerced by government buying programs.

ML/NJ

[silent_jonny]

Every year there's a hubbub over the flu vaccine--yawn. It's been almost 7 years since I last had the flu--and that's without the "help" of a flu shot.

[shield]

Go to your HEALTH FOOD STORE...and buy SAMBUCOL by Nature's Way...if you feel the flu coming on or cold, congested chest, sinus infection...start taking the above immediately; by morning you'll be back. You'll NOT BE SICK at all. ;o) (Sambucol is an elderberry extract - elderberry was once called a poor man's medicine. An Israeli doctor isolated the active ingredient in elderberry and produced it.) If you've got a virus...Sambucol will kill it.

[ml/nj]

Every year there's a hubbub over the flu vaccine--yawn. It's been almost 7 years since I last had the flu--and that's without the "help" of a flu shot.

It may not be much of an issue to you. I guess maybe you're smarter than many of us. Maybe what happened back in 1918 or so was just an aberration. Maybe my doctors' professional opinions that I should get a shot are just salesmanship from greedy men who hope to make an extra ten bucks a year if they give me the shot. But I'd like to be able to buy a flu shot. I can buy bubble gum, and I can buy the complete works of Shakespeare. Maybe you don't care about these either; but I like having the choice. Thanks to the actions of our government, that choice as regards flu shots is disappearing.

ML/NJ

[aculeus]

Bush and company should pound away at the Two-Lawyer Ticket. Edwards and his pals are responsible for the lack of vaccine. Who wants to risk billion-dollar lawsuits for a couple of million profits? Thank you, lawyer-boys and lawyer-girls.

[1john2 3and4]

I totally agree. Simple answers that explain the problem clearly from the bully pulpit - We've been hollerin' about this need forever!.....we got FReepers here who are incredibly talented in this particular regard, who knock themselves out trying to help - for FRee!!!!.
As Rush said about Rathergate, it was 'regular people' (paraphrasing) who busted Dannyboy, not the highly-trained (cough) "elites".

Mr. President, please listen!

[TNCMAXQ]

So Kerry tries to politicize the issue by blaming Bush. Mr Bush should fire back and place the true blame where it really lies. But then you can be sure the Dems and their media mouthpieces will scream "Bush is trying to capitalize on other peoples' misery!!"

[ml/nj]

buy SAMBUCOL

Thanks for the suggestion. I had never heard of this. But a quick GoogleGroups search indicates that there may be something to it.

ML/NJ

[M1911A1]

It is a big deal if you are one of the 36,000 Americans who die of the flu every year.

[Nathan Zachary]

Flu shots don't even work. This is a bunch of malarky over nothing.
If your healthy, you don't need this junk medicine. It is merely a placebo for the weak and old.

Did you know that there are thousands of strains of flu, and that even if you got a flu shot, which supposedly contains antibodies for relatively few strains, that those strains mutate as they pass from person to person? This natural mutation of flu virus's makes the flu shot innefective.

Best advice is post 3 above by shield.

And when did the flu shot suddenly become a "right" for all citizens? PAY for it, and you will find it's available everywhere.

[Unknown Freeper]

Shield, is this okay for children, too?

[ml/nj]

If your healthy, you don't need this junk medicine. It is merely a placebo for the weak and old.

I'm curious what your level of scientific and/or medical education is. Would you tell us please.

ML/NJ

[No Blue States]

Several years ago I got the Flu shot and Immediatly became very ill with the Flu, worse than ever.

I wont get one again. Will try the advice in post 3 for the family.

[Nathan Zachary]

Elderberries grow wild along the roadsides. No one makes elderberry jelly any more and it is really good...yummm

Because enviro weinies say elderberries are endangered, so your not allowed to pick them, least you prevent them from reseeding themselves. (I don't know if that's true or not regarding elderberries, but it is regarding other plants in various regions)

[silent_jonny]

Thank you! Paranoia--not the flu--drives the need for the flu shot. My God, how did we ever survive without it!?

[lepton]

PAY for it, and you will find it's available everywhere.

What this commentary is about is how the government created an effective monopoly so that this aspect of the market CAN'T work.

Also, are you really familiar with FDA requirements? I once had to take a course on it just to be permitted to support a pharmaceuticals off-site IT requirements. I don't go anywhere near a manufacturing facility, or biologics. It's mind-boggling - and undoubtedly prohibitively expensive.

[1john2 3and4]

Whether or not vaccines works is not the point!

That the liberals are creating another problem through their good intentions
that the rest of us have to fix
is.

[Lancey Howard]

Hmm. Nobody in my family has ever gotten a flu shot.
I don't recall anybody getting the flu lately, either. Personally, I seem to remember having a flu maybe 10 or 15 years ago.

Is it common for people to get flu shots? All these stories about flu vaccines make me wonder if I'm out of a loop or something.

[Nathan Zachary]

I'm curious what your level of scientific and/or medical education is. Would you tell us please. I've been an army (para)medic for 25 years (ret), my wife is a nurse for the same amount of time. I have lots of education in the field, enough to sew your leg back on if need be, assist in field surgery.