Government now faces a surplus of flu vaccine

Washington Post via Houston Chronicle ^ | Jan. 22, 2005 | ROB STEIN

[FairOpinion]

The nation's flu vaccine shortage has turned into a surplus, with nearly 5 million doses languishing in the federal government's hastily purchased stockpile, officials said Friday.

With demand dwindling, it appears likely that instead of running out of shots this year, the government will end up discarding unused vaccine, they said.

In response to the surprising turnaround, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is poised to drop the remaining restrictions on who should get the shots, a move already taken by at least 17 states, in a last-ditch effort to minimize the amount of wasted vaccine. New York took that step Friday.

In addition, federal and state officials have launched a campaign to persuade more people to get vaccinated, especially those at highest risk from the flu, before the peak of the season hits, probably within the next month or two.

[FairOpinion]

I hope people will remember this, the next time the Democrats start fear mongering about something.

[zzen01]

Govt would screw up a wet dream!

[anniegetyourgun]

I've been counting the days for this headline. You just knew it was gonna come.....

[woofer]

How come we don't hear any "Thanks! Mr. President." from the media like all the sniping we heard during the "crisis" before the election?

Ohh, sorry. I fell asleep there for a minute and was living in a dream world.

[FairOpinion]

Just for perspective, here is an article in the WP on Oct. 17, 2004:

Kerry Ad Says Flu Vaccine Shortage Is Typical of Bush's Policy Blunders
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38743-2004Oct16.html

Sen. John F. Kerry jumped on the flu-vaccine shortage yesterday with a new television ad blaming the situation on President Bush.

In what may be the first presidential campaign commercial dealing with the flu, the Democratic nominee is trying to portray the vaccine squeeze as typical of the president's mishandling of health care. Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said that Kerry had opposed a legislative remedy and that his "incredible hypocrisy just demonstrates again his willingness to say whatever will benefit him politically."

In the ad, a narrator says: "Three years ago, medical experts warned George Bush that a dangerous shortage loomed. Instead of fixing the problem, production of the vaccine was sent to a factory overseas -- the vaccines were contaminated. Now Bush wants Canada to help, even though his own policies make it illegal for us to import medicine from Canada.

"Seniors and children wait. Not enough vaccines for pregnant women. A George Bush mess."

The spot, which features headlines from USA Today, The Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel and the New York Times, is typical of the "crash ads" the campaign has been making lately to capitalize on breaking news.

[billorites]

"Govt would screw up a wet dream!"

Lord know I have.

[anniegetyourgun]

Just waiting on the press release from Pelosi's office, blaming Bush for this surplus.

[mainepatsfan]

I'm sure the NY Times will put this story above the fold tomorrow. /sarcasm

[FairOpinion]

Sen. Clinton Faults Bush Administration for Flu Vaccine Shortage

Oct. 19, 2004

NEW YORK -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused the Bush administration on Monday of being "asleep at the switch" and mishandling the flu vaccine shortage, which she said was part of an overall breakdown in the country's health care system.

"They're more interested in tax cuts for the rich than for flu shots for everyone who needs them, and we've really paid a big price for their negligence," she said at a press conference at the Ryan Chelsea-Clinton Community Health Center. "This should be a wake-up call. This administration has their priorities wrong."

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/10/18/201047.shtml

Will Hillary and Kerry apologize to President Bush?

Don't hold your breath.

[Reagan Man]

Hahahahahahaha

[jakerobins]

I blame the newsmedia's fear mongering on this one. I remember back in october and november the flu clinics that were scheduled were going as planned. Then about 2 days before they were to start giving flu shots EVERY single news station did a report about how it was the end of the world; this was going to be the worst flu season ever ect...
After that you couldn't get a flu shot unless you were 85 plus years old. Example:(My dad has had a major heart attack and was advised by his cardiologist to get the shot but since he is fairly young looking the nurse just about cussed him out when he asked about getting a flu shot)

[Sooth2222]

By Stephen Manning, AP Business Writer | January 6, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP)--The maker of the nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist has sold only about a third of the 3 million doses it produced this year, despite a nationwide shortage of flu vaccine, according to a Wall Street analyst's estimate.

At the urging of federal public health officials last fall, MedImmune Inc. (MEDI), of Gaithersburg, Md., tripled its planned production of FluMist doses to help ease the feared crisis. But analyst Joel Sendek of Lazard Freres & Co. said Thursday only about 1 million doses have been sold.

(more)

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/01/06/study_suggests_flumist_sales_sluggish/

[FairOpinion]

But the newsmedia did this deliberately, to try to hurt President Bush's reelection.

That's why the Dems ceased on it, Kerry even made ads, blaming the flu shortage on President Bush.

[Mark was here]

I blame the newsmedia's fear mongering on this one.

I would blame the folks who chose to believe the media.

[FairOpinion]

A lot of people only get their news from the MSM.

If that's all they hear, they don't even realize that most of it is propaganda, not real news.

[backhoe]

Flu Vaccine Crisis- Government Cure, or Government Problem?
various FR links | 10-17-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1247729/posts

[crazyhorse691]

I could blame the government(so much for the benefits of socialized medicine), the MSM(their bias set the stage), or the conjunction of jupiter and that u planet. But it is the individual that is ultimately responsible for his/her self.

[choclabguy]

Bush's fault
all A vast right wing conspiracy against old people and their Social Security

[YOUGOTIT]

This was an attempt by the democrats and their partners in the main stream press to get votes for John "Traitor" Kerry. If one had looked back at history there was more that enough flu vaccine but the MSM and their democrat partners were trying to do anything that would hurt President Bush.

In the end it was all a lie but one the press will blame on something else, like a mild flu season, when the flu season is not yet over.

[OldFriend]

The flu vaccine shortage was hyped to insanity by the MSM.

Hopefully those jerks who took trains and busses to Canada will have learned their lesson.

Flu vaccine cannot be effective until it is determined which strain of flu is prevalent in the country. Flu does not rear it's ugly head until December at the earliest. Vaccine prior to that is simply a guess.....last year's vaccine was ineffective in most cases due to the wrong strain being incorporated into the vaccine.