Health secretary: No flu vaccine crisis

[Newsjock]

I guess all the people who can't get shots are stuck in REALITY-based thinking.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/10/18/flu/index.html

The shortage of flu vaccine in the United States is "not a health crisis," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said, urging people to be patient as the government works to reallocate the nation's limited number of vaccines.

"I would like to tell individuals just be calm and don't stand in line, because we have approximately 24 million doses of vaccine that have not been shipped yet," Thompson said Sunday.

... "Come back another day, and if the individual clinics or nursing homes don't have the vaccine right now, let us know," Thompson said.

"The worst thing for seniors to do is to wait in line and get sick while they are waiting in line. Please, just understand that we're on top of this thing, and we are doing everything we possibly can to protect you and we're going to be able to continue to do so."

more

[shaolinmonkey]

1. What grown man still goes by "Tommy"?

Answer: a moron. He was an awful governor and an awful HHS secretary.

[madrchsod]

17. deer wasting disease

thanks tommy

[Catshrink]

23. Tommy Lee Jones

Agent K

[shaolinmonkey]

25. Ah, touche. Apologies to Agent K.

Tommy Thompson is still a tool.

[Catshrink]

32. I agree about Tommy Thompson....

tool.

[Drifter]

29. Be careful ...

Jimmy Carter ?

Cheers
Drifter

[goddess40]

65. The worst thing about bush losing is that this a-hole may come back to WI

We don't want him here - maybe he should go to FL.

[cthrumatrix]

2. we might want to save this quote.... he'll be gone anyway after 11/2

[DarthDem]

3. Denial, Denial, Denial

It's what this administration is all about, folks! Nothing to see here - - move along. :eyes:

[ewagner]

34. Remember

this is the same guy who said the first Anthrax death was probably from "natural occurances".

[Mandate My Ass]

36. They also protected the patent on Cipro

rather than import enough generic cipro from overseas in the event the anthrax attacks escalated.

On every public health issue they have sided with corporations over the American public.

Before the Model Emergency Health Plan Act got tucked into the Homeland Security bill, the medical community petitioned the government that what was needed in the event of a biological attack was training and equipment, not the establishment of a police state where people could be herded into stadiums and property seized etc.

There are no plans in place if we are attacked except to declare martial law.

[BootinUp]

4. They can't help themselves

denial, denial, rose colored, denial, denial, oops, its hard work.

[tigereye]

11. well the pediatrician's office across from my office

has a big sign on the door indicating there is a shortage and advising that they have limited flu shots for the most critical patients, such as very young children.

[oneighty]

5. Damn

I feel better already. Thanks Tommy.

180

[KurtNYC]

6. 24 million doses for 300 million people = no crisis?!

Darn that reality!

[tlcandie]

7. Is this like the air quality at Ground Zero?

Paraphrasing... It's all good! We've determined NO PROBLEMS!!!!

:shrug:

[Divernan]

8. Callous disregard for public health!

The FDA knew about the contaminted vaccines in the American owned British drug manufacturer, but weren't going to do ANYTHING about it - it was the BRITS (thank you, Brits) who pulled the plug on shipping contaminated vaccines to be injected into American elderly, babies, and others at risk. After that, I don't believe a damn thing coming out of Thompson's mouth.

[CAcyclist]

64. The factory has a long history

Sorry - this is a repost but I
want to make sure people see it:

I've been doing some internet research. I found that the factory that the British shut down has a longer history than is being stated. This factory which is currently owned by Chiron was part of Powderject when Chiron acquired Powderject in 2003.Powderject acquired the factory from Celtech which acquired it from Medeva and look what happened when Medeva owned it:

This says that Fluvarin may be contaminated with BSE(mad cow disease) but even if it isn't, it has a long history of contamination and the FDA should have known relying on this factory for half of its vaccines would be very risky especially without even inspecting it!

http://proliberty.com/observer/20001208.htm

From the December 2000 Idaho Observer:


FDA approves potentially contaminated Medeva flu vaccine for
use in U.S.
<snip>

And now, because, public health officials claim, supplies of
influenza vaccine are in short supply this season, the FDA has
approved for sale in this country 20 million doses of flu vaccine that
may be contaminated with the prion protein crystal that causes mad
cow disease.

By Virginia Winston

Earlier this year, according to an October, 2000 article by the The
Observer, a leading British newspaper, British pharmaceutical
company Medeva's Liverpool plant was found by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration to be producing vaccines in filthy conditions.
The FDA report found that Medeva neither maintained nor cleaned its
equipment. It also reported that Medeva was unable to prove that its
vaccines were not contaminated with bacteria or fungi.

<snip>

Because it exports flu vaccine to America, Medeva got a U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) “warning” to clean up its act.
However, in a report dated October 22, 2000, The Observer noted
that the FDA had not re-inspected the filthy Medeva factory since it
sent the warning letter earlier this year and has given the company the
green light to sell an estimated 20,000,000 doses of its “Fluvarin” flu
vaccine in the U.S. during this cold and flu season.

The British government recently recalled Medeva's oral polio vaccine
(OPV) as it had been grown from “bovine material of UK origin”
contrary to mandated vaccine production protocols.


<snip>
a series of British media reports covering the Medeva scandals. The web address is:

http://www.observer.co.uk/

Go to “Information,” then “Archive,” then type “Medeva” in the
keyword box. See especially the October 22 article “Revealed: ful
scale of vaccine blunders.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/542541.html

Contamination problems were not new to the plant. Polio vaccines made there by
Medeva, another previous owner, before 1996 were recalled in October 2000 after British authorities said they might be contaminated with mad cow disease. In
1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified Medeva that there were risks of contamination in the flu vaccine produced at the plant.

http://www.science-enterprise.ox.ac.uk/html/PaulDrayson.asp

After a year we identified our first target - a British pharmaceutical company, Medeva, that had been acquired by Celtech.   Medeva contained a drug business and a vaccine business... we acquired Medeva in 2000.   It employed about 600 people on a 14-acre site in Liverpool and its most important product was a flu vaccine.”  

http://stg.syndnet.thomsonfn.com/InvestorRelations/PubNewsStory.aspx?partner=5425&storyId=97611

Total third-quarter 2003 revenues for PowderJect Pharmaceuticals, which Chiron acquired during the third quarter

[LuminousX]

9. I wonder what they consider a crisis?

What this demonstrates is the Bush administration failed to do its job. Simple.

[Infomaniac]

10. Uh, dude?

Dude, flu season is just a few short weeks away and many of those so-called 24 million doses are going to get to people after they've come down with the flu. We also have a population of about 65 million people who get flu shots so this alleged 24 million is still quite a bit short of what is actually needed. I hate to knock the blinders off of you there, Tommy boy, but y'all fecked this thing up?

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Another nail in Bushco's coffin. . .bunch of lame MOFOs.

:kick:

[Rose Siding]

13. IF they were "on top of this thing"...

this wouldn't be a THING. IF they were doing everything they "possibly" could to protect us, this wouldn't be a THING.

Just one more disaster that good repub folk will want to give Bush a chance to fix. :grr:

The Reality Based Community is being driven slowly insane.

[mark11727]

14. Nobody get sick and we'll be just FINE.

Heh.

Been trying for the last two weeks to get a shot for my mom, every place she'd normally go has either (1) run out and not getting any more (2) booked up or (3) not answering the phone.

She's going to ride out the flu season indoors, and hope for the best.

And * blames the Brits.

[koopie57]

47. remind her to

wash her hands often and all those good things. Actually at the very least this administration could post the types of things a person can do to protect themselves if they can't get the shot. Maybe duct tape yourself in your house during the flu season?

[MisterP]

62. no, he blames LAWSUITS!

he wants tort reform--what a !(U#)@

[CBHagman]

15. I'm tempted to post his phone number here...

...so we can LET HIM KNOW. Hell, I'm tempted to go stand on his lawn with a big sign saying, "I got screwed -- but no flu shot -- in the Health Care Debacle of 2004."

Then again, maybe we should just dispatch a proctologist to his office so that he can dislodge his head...

[madrchsod]

16. oh i really trust a guy who did nothing

to stop the deer herds in southern wisconsin and northern illinois from the outbreak of the deer wasting disease. ya i really trust this guy...

[wishlist]

18. Where is the leadership on this problem, why no message last week?

I don't understand why we heard nothing reassuring about additional shipments going to doctors and nursing homes over the past several days when millions of elderly people were freaking out and waiting for hours in line, and many turned away. Only today have we seen some reports on TV telling people not to panic, that more vaccine is on the way.

Why on earth didn't they arrange for the nursing homes and doctors and hospitals to get the vaccine first, instead of health departments giving it out at grocery stores and church parking lots at random causing panic. In my town there were miles of traffic blocking the interstate beginning at 5 am before dark Saturday to get the shot at one location.

[Judi Lynn]

19. New Jersey Community To Use Lottery To Allocate Remaining Flu Vaccine

New Jersey Community To Use Lottery To Allocate Remaining Flu Vaccine


Created: 10/18/2004 10:42:06 AM
Updated: 10/18/2004 10:42:46 AM


BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (AP) -- This township of 70,000 people has come up with a novel way to parcel out its 300 doses of flu vaccine: a lottery.

Flu shots in Bloomfield already were reserved for senior citizens, adults with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, and those living in nursing homes and health care workers.

Then officials in the township north of Newark learned they would get 300 doses, not the 1,000 doses they ordered.

"We are hoping the public sees this as the most fair and equitable way to do this," Trevor Weigle, the township's health director told The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark. "The last thing we want is people to stand in line thinking they are guaranteed a shot."
(snip/...)

http://www.ksdk.com/news/health_article.aspx?storyid=68423

[DrZeeLit]

20. Dartmouth Med Center

While I was at the hospital last week a nurse at the desk told everyone within earshot in the waiting room that they would not be getting flu shots, so wash those hands a lot and use hand disinfectant. They put bottles of the stuff all over the waiting room -- every table and counter. I was waiting for an orthopedic doc. Lots of seniors in the room. And lots of kids at the other end.

Go figure. No vaccine. Suck it up.
But we have the best medical system in the world.

[thecrow]

31. Kaiser, here in Virginia

Has a flyer they are handing out, saying "wash your hands a lot, keep your hands away from your face and eyes..."
When I inquired at their pharmacy, I was told "we don't have the vaccine; people at risk will be notified when they can get the shot... stock up on tissues and aspirin"
Good grief.
I bank on the flu shot to protect me from getting very sick again and losing out on about two weeks of work a a year.
How will the economy hold up if thousands are sick and can't work?
I agree that the people most at risk should get the shot first, but hey with this shortage how many of them will DIE from the flu?
This is a lame excuse from our fearless leaders.
Oh.... they already got the shot? Silly me.

[On the Road]

21. I Love it When the Administration Denies Something

that everyone can see is true. What are they thinking?

[glitch]

22. creating your own reality ain't as easy as it sounds

reminds me of that old joke:

The neurotic builds castles in the sky.
The pyschotic moves in.
The psychiatrist charges rent.

[young_at_heart]

24. Traffic accidents in Asheville....backup on Interstate for flu shots

It's been chaotic....lots of retired people live here and the lines are VERY long. There was a Flu Clinic on Saturday and the lines began forming at 5am (shots didn't begin until 9am) and the traffic lineup was so bad that I-26 had quite a line of cars and people coming up didn't realize until too late that the cars weren't moving....so maybe Tommy Thompson should read local newspapers about the "no flu shot crisis"!

[tom_paine]

26. More creepily Soviet every day

There is no crisis, Comrades. The idea that we are in a chronic toilet paper shortage are just LIES of our capitalist enemies!

[VegasWolf]

27. We've turned a corner on vaccine supplies!!! n/t

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[MidwestTransplant]

28. And the job loss is a myth too.

These "Secretarys" love putting their feet in their mouths.

[ohmyman1]

30. flu shots

Hey we are going to have a lottery for flu shots. Everyone loves the lottery. I'll take five quick picks please.

[cmd]

33. So why couldn't I at age 61 get a flu shot?

I'm not the healthiest person in the world and I take care of a diabetic heart patient, yet I did not qualify to get a flu shot at the doctor's office today. Bull, bull and more bull.

[progressivebydesign]

40. Heck... I'm shocked your doctor even had any!

There are no doctors around here that even have any. My Mom is 65, at extreme risk from a variety of ailments, and cannot find a shot, anywhere. Her own doctor has a HUGE sign on his door.. saying NO FLU SHOTS. Not ONE clinic in our town will be held..

Hopefully, when the 24 million doses are released... you'll be able to get one. But I still think 24 million will NOT address the need.. because I"m certain more than 24 million will need them, and are being denied.

Just take the government's advice and wash your hands a lot.

[DrZeeLit]

35. A Terrorist Plot?

What if the AQ guys planned to drop flu in the USA?
How would the * admin plan to fight this with... NO FLU VACCINE?
Wow -- this is a betrayal of our trust in.... HOMELAND SECURITY.
Talk that up!

[durablend]

54. Simple...RED ALERT

You're ordered to get out the duct tape and plastic sheeting, stay in your home and (since it'll be on or before November 2nd), don't vote!!!

[progressivebydesign]

37. WTF? This guy is tap dancing on the roof of hell right now..

The more they try to deny, the worse the panic for the seniors. 24 million doses? From where? When? Why doesn't anyone have it now? Will 24 million REALLY do the trick? NO. There are many, many, more people who will need shots. NO ONE is doing shots in our area. Costco had some.. but the line outstripped the supply.

[Trillo]

38. There's no health crisis?

There's no health crisis?
Is there a health-care crisis? I guess until people die, it's not a crisis, and once they're dead, well, "Don't have to worry 'bout them no more."

For the amount of money insured American citizens spend on health care, you'd think they could get a simple flu shot. Someone's getting ripped off! Guess who?

[Philostopher]

39. Well, there isn't one.

Yet. And if Bush* wins, we'll continue to hear this propaganda while people croak from secondary infections they wouldn't have gotten if they'd never got the flu, but they won't count deaths from secondary infections in the season total. In other words, if the flu season is awful, they'll lie, lie, lie.

And if Bush* loses, and Kerry ends up having to deal with it, you can bet your sweet ass it'll be a public health crisis! Oh, my God -- blame Kerry! Blame Kerry!

Do I know these weasels, or what?

[JoFerret]

41. Another really stupid public health move

New Jersey township holding flu vaccine lottery

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041018/ap_on_he_me/flu_vaccine_lottery_1

[VegasWolf]

42. Nov 3 - Tommy says oops! I looked under every desk and

every drawer and I still haven't found those darn flu
vaccines. I'll keep looking though, just sit tight!

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[CAcyclist]

43. Some interesting notes on the flu vaccine crisis

Hi All,

I have been doing a little internet research on the flu vaccine crisis. Here are some of the things I found so far on the FDA in general:

The following link uses the words modernizing - which is Republicanspeak for relaxing standards.

It also uses the term risk assessment which I personally find alarming when used in context with human health.To me, that sounds like risk/cost benefit analysis and I don't want my government to put a dollar figure on my health.

In addition, it discusses the FDA's increased emphasis on fast-tracking new drug applications which I think is very dangerous

http://www.pti-international.com/index.cfm/Link=138


Deputy FDA Commissioner, Dr. Lester Crawford, Discusses FDA
Initiatives

By Katy Kuipers, PTi international Program Developer

As pharmaceutical therapies grow increasingly complex, the FDA
is focused on modernizing and improving its drug approval
process.

Dr. Lester Crawford, Deputy Commissioner of the
FDA, recently outlined the agency’s most important present and
future initiatives, including:

designing and managing all of FDA’s regulatory
activities based on scientific risk assessment

providing consumers with sufficient information to
weigh the benefits and risks of FDA-regulated products

reducing medical errors and other adverse events
protecting the public against potential terrorist
attacks

strengthening scientific potential

Crawford spoke May 15 at The Wall Street Transcript’s 3rd Annual Biotechnology Industry Conference in New York. He explained that in response to the recent decrease in new drug applications, one of the FDA’s most important initiatives is to reduce median time to approval of presented products. The FDA is taking a proactive approach to the shortfall of applications and is trying to be especially sensitive to critical drugs which need to reach market as soon as possible. Its May 2001 accelerated approval of Novartis’s Gleevac demonstrates this aim.

In order to strengthen scientific potential and speed product development, the FDA will run 2 pilot programs in the next 3 years to test the concept of a continuous marketing application for fast-track drugs and biologics. Briefly, the first pilot program will involve FDA review of portions of an application prior to the submission of the complete application.

The second pilot program will institute frequent scientific exchanges between reviewers and manufacturers while a product is being investigated. Rewards may be given to manufacturers who have more
frequent FDA contact.

The FDA has been applying its new concepts of risk management and quality assurance to overhaul the GMPs or "good manufacturing practices." An FDA task force has been given 2 years to mold the GMPs to modern quality assurance practices.


Overall, Dr. Crawford was optimistic that the FDA would reach its goals of faster approvals and smarter, modernized guidelines.

********************************************************************
This link discusses the appointment of Lester Crawford to FDA top position:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_and_aids/public/100501d.html


Lester Crawford May Be Choice as FDA Chief

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson is seeking support on Capitol Hill for food safety expert Dr. Lester Crawford to become FDA commissioner, though he has not publicly announced Crawford as his choice, the New York Times reports.
<snip>

The Times reports that while Crawford, whose Center for Food and
Nutrition Policy is independently financed, "appears to escape that criticism," though some consumer advocates say the center "receives too much support from industry," the Times
reports (New York Times, 10/3/01).
*******************************************************************

A note from the FDA on 2002 about vaccine shortages:
Important points include:
Deficiencies in manufactoring might be allowed by the FDA
The FDA does not have the authority to make companies produce needed vaccines (Why not?)
The FDA provides the flu vaccine to the vaccine companies to manufacture in bulk, so the companies do NOT ear the cost of research and development for the flu vaccine - they just need to make it in bulk.
The number of government agencies that contribute to vaccine availability in the US is complex and convoluted and it is my opinion that US health agencies need their own 9/11 commission to figure out how to streamline and organize their processes.


http://www.fda.gov/ola/2002/childhoodvaccines0612.html

June 12, 2002


When FDA inspects a vaccine manufacturer and finds deficiencies, the
Agency carefully considers the impact on product availability before taking action.
<snip>
In some situations, the Agency may determine, after
balancing all factors, that a decrease in the availability of a "medically necessary product" could pose a substantial risk to patients.

In such
cases, FDA regulatory action may allow manufacturing of the critical product to continue, provided that certain conditions are established to
ensure product safety.

The Agency evaluates each circumstance on its own facts, balancing the medical need for the product against the
safety assurances in place before product is released for use.

While FDA works proactively and interactively with manufacturers to address shortage issues, it is important to note that FDA does not have
the authority to require manufacturers to stay in the market and produce a given vaccine, nor does FDA have the authority to direct
manufacturers to increase production when a shortage occurs.

<snip>
Every year FDA scientists help to provide to manufacturers new strains for the yearly influenza vaccine as well as biological
standards for assessing the vaccine's potency. Ongoing FDA research on influenza is also designed to prepare for the possibility of
another global influenza pandemic. These efforts by FDA reduce the need for duplicative efforts by manufacturers and shorten the time
frames required for vaccine production every year.

FDA works proactively in collaboration with established interagency working groups and vaccine committees. Vaccine issues are a
priority for the Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or the Department). The Department has shown its
commitment to vaccine issues through coordinating interagency groups to focus on vaccine safety and supply, among other issues. FDA
participates as an ex officio member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP), the National Vaccine Program Office's (NVPO) National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the Health Resources and
Services Administration's (HRSA) Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV). In turn, the CDC, NVPO, and NIH participate in
FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). These advisory committees have specific and unique
responsibilities, and provide important opportunities for input from the public, including consumers, industry, and academia. FDA also
participates in the Interagency Vaccine Group (IAVG) and its executive committee. The IAVG includes various HHS agencies and
representatives from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Defense. FDA is also a member of an IAVG
Working Group that is developing options to present to the Department to address the vaccine supply issues, and participated in a
recently held vaccines shortage workshop held in February 2002.
http://epw.senate.gov/108th/Crawford_071703.htm
*****************************************************************

Some links to testimony to the Congress:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/testimonies/vac-shortages-FDA-6-12-2002.htm

http://www.pharma-rd.net/2003/wvc_CA/confprog.asp?&T1=16/10/104&T1=16/10/104

[CAcyclist]

49. Chiron intended to use vaccine revenue to fund other research

Another interesting item: We've all heard that vaccine production is not profitable yet here we have Chiron stating that they had intended to use revenue from vaccine production to fund other areas of their company. Also, note that Chiron just acquired Powderject in 2003 which makes Fluvirin and owns the factory in question.

Consolidation in the pharmaceutical company is part of the problem not lack of profitability


http://insidebayarea.com/businessnews/ci_2424311

Link To Article Print Article Email Article
Article Last Updated: 10/07/2004 09:53:47 AM



Vaccine debacle cloudsthe future of Chiron
By Marni Leff Kottle, Bloomberg News



Chiron Corp. Chief Executive Howard Pien's strategy of using vaccine revenue to fund
other research faltered when the company said it wouldn't sell any influenza vaccine to
the U.S. for the 2004-2005 season, analysts said.

<snip>

Fluvirin brought in 17 percent of the company's product sales last year. Chiron built itself
into the fourth biggest U.S. biotechnology company by selling vaccines, blood tests and
drugs. The company depends on vaccine revenue to help pay for developing new drugs,
said A.G. Edwards & Sons analyst Alexander Hittle.

"There's nothing Wall Street loves more than a good drug," said Hittle. "Investors were
counting on Chiron's vaccine unit to replenish their investment in their biopharmaceutical
business."

[laylah]

56. Thanks for your efforts

CAcyclist..."oh what a tangled web weave when first practice to deceive". Welcome! :toast:

Jenn

[CAcyclist]

66. You're Welcome

Glad to be here

[iamjoy]

44. Wonder What Would Be A Crisis

flu is expected to cost employers $20 billion in lost productivity when otherwise healthy workers who couldn't get a vaccine get sick.

In an average year, 30,000 people die from flu and flu complications. Compare to 9/11/2001 when 3,000 people died. Not to diminish the deaths of those killed in the terrorist attacks but sometimes I think our spending priorities are really whacky. BTW - about 3,000 people die each day of heart disease.

[jukes]

45. didn't people stand in line for basic needs

in the old communist bloc?

[VegasWolf]

46. What's the difference between bush and Sadam?

Relax;

"There are no tanks in Baghdad!"

"We have plenty of flu vaccine!"

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[koopie57]

48. and actually

Saddam was legally elected.

[WoodrowFan]

50. all is well

ALL IS WELL!!!!!!

[gatlingforme]

51. Whew, thanks Tommy you Eugenics loving piece of shit.

[meti57b]

52. my grandparents died at a young age from the flu ... but don't worry

nothing to worry about here. Their kids including my mother became orphans. They were immigrants in NYC and didn't have money for medical attention.

[MsAnthropy]

53. Every single government office

is run by the most incompetent and corrupt individual they could find for that position. How did they manage a gargantuan task of corruption on that scale? Every single Bush appointee--EVERY SINGLE ONE--has never spared one thought for the people they work for--US!!!!--but will tie themselves into knots for the corporations they whore for.

[Amigust]

55. "we're on top of this thing"

just like they have been for the past three years while letting it develop in spite of warnings in 2001 and 2003.

http://www.theiowachannel.com/politics/3827001/detail.html

[LizW]

57. What are they doing about price gouging?

My mom got a flyer at her church a while ago saying that seniors could get a flu shot there for $20. Some company is supposedly coming to give the shots. As of yesterday, the price had increased to $35, and there is no guarantee it won't be more come first week of November when they actually give the shots. IF they actually come to give the shots.

[alcuno]

58. I just told my mom, who lives in Florida, about the "non-crisis."

She's over 65 but I don't think she gets the flu shot. She said the seniors are going bonkers in her county and agreed that Tommy Thompson should have stayed in Wisconsin.

[LiberalFighter]

59. Thompson is a scumbag and incompetent as Scty of HHS and...

just as much when he was scumbag and incompetent governor of Wisconsin.

[Cocoa]

60. Tommy "Supertramp" Thomson

[progressivebydesign]

61. The truth about this non-crisis.. They're going to blame John Edwards!!

"Gerberding said vaccine manufacturers need "a guaranteed market, they need a fair price and they need liability protection." From the HEAD of the CDC, no less. She bemoans that this is POLITICAL, yet she spews political refuse from her mouth about the non-crisis. She also says, in the article, that they have plenty of meds to TREAT the flu... (but not prevent it, I guess). So.. it's TRIAL LAWYERS fault!! Ohh.. poor baby vaccine companies, SO beaten down by lawsuits from their contaminated products. WHY does the UK have FIVE suppliers??

I find it wierd that Thompson said 24 million doses were coming, BUT.. we're STILL short at least 1/2 million doses! Everyone should have access to flu vaccine, if they want. Thompson tells people not to stand in line, is that wise? The flu season is starting, and the elderly are just waiting to get the flu?

[Seabiscuit]

63. ...we're on top of this thing..."?????

:wtf:

If those guys were "on top of this thing" it wouldn't be happening and there'd be no shortage.

We have a newborn and are deemed within the high risk group. My wife and I *need* flu shots to protect our baby boy. Yet not one doctor's office or hospital in the area has any vaccine.

If our boy gets seriously ill, I'm personally going to sue Bush et. al. for the medical bills and emotional distress.

[bigpathpaul]

67. BigPath Flyer: Please check these out, if the flu shortage is an issue 4 U

Downloads: http://bigpath.net/politics/Children_Families/ChildrenFamiliesStart.html

lu season arrives like clockwork each year. But an inattentive Bush administration has put millions of Americans at risk by failing to supply adequate amounts of vaccine, highlighting the hypocrisy of Bush’s claims that he represents average Americans, while demonstrating time and again how out of touch he really is. Ordinary citizens, thousands of whom may die without the flu vaccine, are ignored by an administration obsessed with boosting corporate bottom lines for wealthy donors.

In the Oct. 13 debate, the president blamed the British for the vaccine shortage. But, Chiron, the manufacturer, is an American company, subject to FDA regulation, with a plant in England. In June 2003, the FDA found the plant contaminated with bacteria yet announced “the problems were corrected to their satisfaction,” allowing production to continue. President Bush claimed that “We took the right action and didn’t allow contaminated medicine into our country.” But that was also false. The plant’s license was revoked by the British on October 5 after they inspected it.

While research and deployment of bioterror countermeasures move at a snail’s pace, drug companies recycle massive profits into commercials for pills to improve sexual performance and combat hay fever. Drug companies enjoy some of the highest profit margins of any American industry, paying 40% less in taxes than other companies. Yet, the cost of drugs to Americans has risen at three times the rate of inflation.

When lobbyists for giant pharmaceutical companies pressured Washington to allow them to extend their patents, the Republican Congress — recipients of millions of dollars in donations from the drug companies — readily cooperated. The result was fewer low-cost generic drugs for working men and women and record profits for the pharmaceutical companies. With the campaign in high gear, phony tax breaks and promises abound, but come November 3rd, if the Republicans retain power, the needs of working men and women and their families will tumble right back down to the bottom of the barrel.

http://www.bigpath.net