WP,pg1: Flu Vaccine Shortage Turns to Surplus (with many unprotected)

[DeepModem Mom]

Vaccine Shortage Turns to Surplus
U.S. Is Likely to Lift Restrictions and Urge Flu Shots

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 22, 2005; Page A01


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

***

The surprising surplus appears to the result of a combination of factors, including the spotty availability of vaccine, a relatively mild flu season so far and too many people voluntarily forgoing shots to help out those perceived as more needy, officials said.

But in addition to potentially wasting taxpayer dollars and leaving many people unprotected, the surplus has prompted concern that the confusing situation could have long-term implications for the nation's ability to protect itself against the flu, which claims thousands of lives each year.

A surplus would make it even more difficult to persuade manufacturers to produce more vaccine in future years, a goal public health officials have long pursued, as well as undermine years of efforts to encourage more Americans to get routinely vaccinated, experts said....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27535-2005Jan21.html

[Spinzonner]

1. Guess we'll have to get the CIA to seed the water supply

to start a run on the vaccine

[UL_Approved]

2. Bullshit at its finest

This is their retirement plan. Deny the elderly medical treatment so that they die off. Nothing but the theft and destruction of human achievement. This has been know for a while, but I wonder if it will get any more coverage. :grr:

[NYC]

3. Mishandled.

That about sums it up.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Badly mishandled -- I remember an article posted here...

containing the information that the British drug firm that was to supply the vaccine contends they gave us ample warning that they would not be able to supply the vaccine expected, that there was time to obtain vaccine from other sources but our government failed to do so.

[NYC]

7. Follow through with Republican logic:

Good thing they didn't procure the additional vaccine because now we have a surplus anyway.

So many people didn't get it because they were badgered into not getting it. Yes, badly mishandled.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. That's right! The British government took care of the Brits, arranging

to get more vaccine from another source. The Bushies sat on their hands. As a high risk person, I have been really angry about this. My doctor finally got 100 doses two weeks ago so we got our shots. Tonight we were watching a Law and Order episode on TiVo about people dying from flu after taking fake flu vaccine. Though we don't think our doctor would buy in the black market (that was the plot), we do question whether someone might sell him fake vaccine. We have learned not to trust our government.

[diamond14]

4. it's NOT mild, Rob....it's OFFICIALLY a FLU EPIDEMIC in America (link)

this garbage about 'mild flu season' is disgusting....pandering LIES from the bush* minions....EARTH TO ROB at the Washington Post: OUR own government says IT's AN EPIDEMIC !!!!


The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has OFFICIALLY declared the FLU at EPIDEMIC levels...now how hard is it for the WP Reporter to check that info on the CDC web site....


http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

-snips-

Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update
Week ending January 15, 2005-Week 2
The following information may be quoted:


Synopsis:

During week 2 (January 9-15, 2005)*, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States..... The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) is above the national baseline and the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza is above the epidemic threshold. There have been two influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to CDC this season. Ten states and New York City reported widespread influenza activity, 14 states reported regional influenza activity, and 11 states reported local activity. Fifteen states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported sporadic influenza activity.


as the FLU continues at epidemic levels, the last CDC data is from January 15, 2005 (7 days ago)...

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Thanks for posting, d14. n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

9. You'd think a reporter looking for info on issues related to disease

would look at the Center for Disease Control site, wouldn't you? :eyes:

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Kicking for those at risk -- go and get a flu shot!

[Danmel]

11. They are so inept

Great- so now I can get a flu shot in late January, wait the two weeks for the immunity to kick in. Just in time for the end of flu season. Brilliant.