Is The Influenza Vaccine Shortage the October Surprise?
The October surprise might turn out to be a surprise to George Bush--the shortage of influenza vaccine. This was raised as a political issue in the last debate, and the Kerry campaign has now released an advertisement on this issue. See this page for both a copy of the ad and further information:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_1016a.html
The failings of the Bush administration follow a pattern of concentrating on a limited far right wing agenda while ignoring issues which do not further this agenda. Bush ignored the warnings of this crisis just as he ignored the warnings of an imminent terrorist attack before September 11, and just as he ignored the CIA's warnings of the dangers of occupying Iraq.
George Bush's failure to anticipate and respond to this problem, in light of the warnings both in the past of the overall danger, and in light of specific warnings provided to the FDA earlier this year about the specific problems this year, raises serious questions. This is an also an example of the failure of health care under George Bush. More importantly, it raises the question of how, if he cannot handle influenza, George Bush could possibly handle a bioterrorist attack. Perhaps this lack of confidence in George Bush was why the International Association of EMT's and Paramedics endorsed John Kerry earlier this year:
As anticipated, Bush tried to blame the shortage on the malpractice situation, ignoring either due to ignorance or dishonesty, the true factors responsible. When asked about this in the last debate, Bush showed another of his frequent flip flops. While he has opposed the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, claiming they are not safe (despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, including a Congressional study from last June), Bush expressed hope that Canada would bail us out with vaccine. Apparently in Bush World Canadian vaccines are safe while prescription medications are not.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_1016a.html
The failings of the Bush administration follow a pattern of concentrating on a limited far right wing agenda while ignoring issues which do not further this agenda. Bush ignored the warnings of this crisis just as he ignored the warnings of an imminent terrorist attack before September 11, and just as he ignored the CIA's warnings of the dangers of occupying Iraq.
George Bush's failure to anticipate and respond to this problem, in light of the warnings both in the past of the overall danger, and in light of specific warnings provided to the FDA earlier this year about the specific problems this year, raises serious questions. This is an also an example of the failure of health care under George Bush. More importantly, it raises the question of how, if he cannot handle influenza, George Bush could possibly handle a bioterrorist attack. Perhaps this lack of confidence in George Bush was why the International Association of EMT's and Paramedics endorsed John Kerry earlier this year:
- "John Kerry has a vision and a plan. He believes that the government should make sure first responders have the protective equipment they need, and make sure the resources needed go directly to first responders rather than trickling through the bureaucracy, and provide us with the communications equipment necessary to respond to an attack in a coordinated manner.
- "Kerry will also improve communications between federal and local authorities when the terror alert level is raised. Kerry will ensure that every metropolitan area is prepared to respond to terrorist attacks by developing basic national standards and by creating a strategic regional alert network for smaller municipalities.
- "As a nation, we are under-prepared for a biological or chemical catastrophe, whether it is the intentional work of terrorists or accidental. Improving and coordinating our public health infrastructure is a top priority for John Kerry. He envisions a national homeland health initiative that ensures our public health system is prepared to detect or contain a major outbreak.
- "We believe that Kerry's vision for a stronger America will save lives. For these reasons and many more, the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics is proud to endorse John Kerry for president."
As anticipated, Bush tried to blame the shortage on the malpractice situation, ignoring either due to ignorance or dishonesty, the true factors responsible. When asked about this in the last debate, Bush showed another of his frequent flip flops. While he has opposed the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, claiming they are not safe (despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, including a Congressional study from last June), Bush expressed hope that Canada would bail us out with vaccine. Apparently in Bush World Canadian vaccines are safe while prescription medications are not.
posted by Ron Chusid at 8:22 PM
7 Comments:
Kerry has a PLAN?
For sure he does - it's called "cut and run."
International support? Absolutely, he'll sell out to our eneimy the French by letting them make even MORE $billions$ in contracts in Iraq.
He and his totally "nutcase" wife will pay even LESS than the 18% in Federal income taxes that they already paid.
Bottom line: Kerry is a stereo-typical Democrat - an elitist-socialist who embraces the unintelligent and unintelligible Hollywood freaks.
Another uninformed person following the right wing media. As I've said before, with the sophisticated disinofrmation techniques of this administration, along with their Pravda-clones in the media, who needs dictatorship?
Cut and run. Kerry's never said that. He's talked about winning in Iraq.
International support? Can any rational person deny that we would be in a better position if, after going thru an area initially, we had UN or other peace keepers to stabilize areas as the US went on to Bagdad. Would al Qaeda still have been able to triple their numbers, using Iraq as their best anti-America talking point, if this was an international rather than predominently US effort?
Stereo-typical Democat? Socialist? Kerry has hardly been a sterotypical Democrat in the Senate. He has been strongly pro-small business. He has been a strong supporter of the military, law and order, welfare reform, and fiscal responsibility. He even broke with his own party to support a balanced budget.
If only George Bush was a stertypical Republican. I'd much rather have a typical Republican than a neocon who undermines our national security and subverts the free market system in the way that George Bush has.
Unfortunately neither Bush nor Kerry can cut and run because the prestige of the United States is sort of hanging out there. Lets face it Kerry was stupid enough to rush off to Vietnam, at least Bush had the sense to avoid that mess. (By the way it was obvious back in the 60's that Vietnam was a big mistake, JFK was getting out of the war when he was shot. Unfortuately the idiot that followed him had a different view. He was defending his domino thoery.)
Bush has his own theories, like changing the face of the entire middle east by toppling the Arab dictatorships. The question is is this in the beast interest of the United States and Europe. I think not, it steps on the feet of the different cultures who don't want Coke and Burgers forced down their throats. They however need to change to allow people more social freedom away from the religious dogmas.
As for the flu shots, well firstly most people don't need them, and secondly while Judges keep giving victims of problem drugs huge settlements there will only be a few manufacturers. The flu shots have side effects and dangers, thats why most companies now will not sponser free shots.
It is untrue that most people don't need flu shots--although this depends upon what is meant by need. Epidemiologists have been predicting for the last few years that we are on the verge of anohter pandemic. It is not possible to say which year, but I wouldn't want to bet on any particular year to skip a shot.
Recentt problems with supply of influenza vaccines have not been related to litigation. Bush's own government is contradicting his defense. This is from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Liability Issues
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) enacted in the late 1980s has been of immense value in stabilizing the vaccine market. Prior to its enactment, litigation led to national shortages, withdrawal of manufacturers from the marketplace, and instability of supply of essential childhood vaccines. The VICP was designed to compensate individuals who suffered a serious adverse event as a result of administration of a covered vaccine in a manner that was rapid, simple, generous and appropriate. The VICP has assisted in stimulating the availability of new vaccines since its inception in 1988. Despite the success of the program, criticism of the VICP could lead to significant legislative changes, including a more relaxed burden of proof standard for determining eligibility for compensation. . . While current vaccine shortages do not appear to be liability related, the VICP should be maintained and strengthened as supported by scientific evidence, including continuing expansion of VICP to include additional vaccines as they are recommended for routine administration to children.
http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/bulletins/nvac-vsr.htm#liability
As an old, retired, person I enjoy going to these blogs of Senator Kerry and President Bush. Both have great plans and will solve America's problems quickly and easily.
I'm reminded of the story about Louisiana's Huey Long. When he ran for govenor during the Depression, he promised to solve all problems, end all the ills of mankind and bring a brighter day to the voters. He was elected. On election night, after the vote counts were in, an aide was starting to panic. "Huey, Huey! What are we gonna do! You can't keep those promises! What will we tell the people!" Huey Long, who had won his election, just replied, "Tell 'em I lied."
Harry,
Kerry, stupid enough to rush to Vietnam?? So are you saying that every troop is stupid enough to run to Iraq? If it wasn't for troops being "stupid enough", we wouldn't have any freedom, that includes you.
And as for most people not needing flu shots- any senior, anyone with high risk health problems, and sick children need them!!!! This makes up millions of Americans. IF these people get the flu, they have a chance of dying. The reason for companies not sponsoring free shots, is not because of the dangers - it's because of shortage of the influenza vaccine - which came from Bush ignoring the issue like he does with everything else.
I do think that Bush is trying to make Iraq something it's not. Since Bush can't run this country effectively, he's trying to take Iraq and make it into a "Small America" so he can say he achieved something while he was in office. I say when Bush loses office this coming up term, let him go to Iraq and live there for a while along with Cheney.
Harry,
Kerry, stupid enough to rush to Vietnam?? So are you saying that every troop is stupid enough to run to Iraq? If it wasn't for troops being "stupid enough", we wouldn't have any freedom, that includes you.
And as for most people not needing flu shots- any senior, anyone with high risk health problems, and sick children need them!!!! This makes up millions of Americans. IF these people get the flu, they have a chance of dying. The reason for companies not sponsoring free shots, is not because of the dangers - it's because of shortage of the influenza vaccine - which came from Bush ignoring the issue like he does with everything else.
I do think that Bush is trying to make Iraq something it's not. Since Bush can't run this country effectively, he's trying to take Iraq and make it into a "Small America" so he can say he achieved something while he was in office. I say when Bush loses office this coming up term, let him go to Iraq and live there for a while along with Cheney.
Sarah
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