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.

[jonathanleebrown]

Oh! Just to clarify I was not making the statement about citing info with specific regards to cpst12's post, that remark was in general.

[Sacajaweau]

The flu comes every year. It was heavily advertised this year and more people felt brave enough to take the shot.

Hillary is like a jack in the box, popping up when there's nothing SHE can possibly do except give mouth service.

Just like the Veteran center in Canandaigua. She knew about the proposed shutdown early on. She only showed up when she could get some I LOVE VETS publicity. She had been to visit that area MANY, MANY times visiting that strong Dem base. I believe there are only 20 patients in that HUGE facility in Canandaigua. Yes, economics does dictate sometimes. My aunt in Rochester dreaded that ride to Canadaigua, particularly in the winter and always wondered why her husband couldn't be in Rochester SOMEPLACE.

[jmstein7]

There is a third use for the New York Times... it is useful when you run out of toilet paper.

[Fzob]

bump

[MadMoo]

Yes... Scummy white trash!

[Mich0127]

That's Hillary for you, an oppotunistic wench!
I am so sorry that you have to be in her wingspan!

[tinacart]

"The reason there is a "shortage" this year is soley because the media has wipped the masses into a panic about 11 deaths, when in fact 360000 deaths is about aveage each and every year."

Hmmm, I've been trying to figure this one out - we are reaching critical mass right now, all 50 states have now felt the effects of the flu virus, yet 20 children (+/-) have died and how many more adults? Not that much more I'm sure... So, how do we come up with the figures 36,000 per year, when we are in the crisis phase right now and haven't come anywhere close to the numbers... Something doesn't smell right here (and NO, I don't get the flu vaccines, no matter who's in office, and I'm still alive, as is my son, as are my grandsons - and - I don't know a single person that's died from the FLU - EVER!).

[Mich0127]

I second that notion, counselor!

I also would use it if my Mousie cat had hairballs, so it wouldn't stain my carpet ;-)

[Mich0127]

scummy (ugly pigs)!
That too!

[Mich0127]

Good point...I've had the flu and I didn't die!
Hitlery is still a loser
This is just one more feather for her cap!

[jmstein7]

cpst12

C ommunist
P arty
S ocialist
T roll

Maybe CPST IS Hillary?

[Optimist]

I thought Hillary and the liberals always know what's best for me

They do!

Don't let total ineptitude in the implimentation of their good-will dissuade you.

Just remember, even if things dont work out, or they go awry, they meant well.

And isn't that REALLY all that matters?

[jmstein7]

Ahhhh... the famous "politics of meaning".

[Mich0127]

You forgot to mention that it is also okay, as long as they get some political gain! You have to remember what is important!

[DoughtyOne]

Don't look now, but this is precisely why I did not want the nanny state to start providing medicine to Medicare patients. What Hillary did for vaccines, Bush just did for the full spectrum of other medicinals. It won't be 24 months before the US government caps medication prices and the destruction of the pharmaceutical industry in this nation will become a reality. What the government doesn't destroy, the private insurer's will as they follow suit refusing to pay more than the federal government and states do.

This is why the hospital industry is on the verge of collapse as well, plus the illegal invasion that saps it's very life blood.

The government must get out of the healthcare provision business. Private insurers that sap hundreds of billions of dollars out of the healthcare field without providing a single dimes worth of hands-on healthcare MUST be purged from the process as well.

Imagine how much better off this nations healthcare would be, if 100% of every medicare dollar went directly to providers, and 100% of every private insurance payment also went to them.

The federal government's administrative fees and the private insurer's profits should be reaching healthcare providers, not some paper pusher, or even corporate stockholder.

We have decimated what was once the best healthcare system in the world.

Socialism is NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER the answer.

[Mich0127]

I see your point, and it is a valid one. We are cutting off our noses to spite our face, and we will pay.
And socialists should be banned to black holes!

[jmstein7]

They're such Neanderthals.

[Mich0127]

Now, now dear...we can't call the whole group Teddy Kennedy's very special name...he might get angry and drive another innocent woman off a bridge in a drunken fury!

[jmstein7]

Breakfast Bourbon.

[jonathanleebrown]

He ho, sorry for such a silly question, but I am new to the political game in general. How do you define socialist, communist, etc... And what are the alternatives?

Thanks!