corrente

Isn't there anything the Republicans can do right? Not even elderly can get flu shots!

"It is a very scary situation with not enough vaccines available," said Ida Davis, 79, of Jackson Heights, who was turned away. "This is not acceptable."

Others got lucky - after standing for hours, sometimes in the rain, they got vaccinated and were able to stop worrying about the seasonal illness that kills thousands every winter.

"This is terrible, to have to sit here and wait for hours," said Kate LaGruta, 83, who was vaccinated at the Aging in America Senior Center on Pelham Parkway in the Bronx. "They should have had backups. In a country like this, this shouldn't happen."

America's supply of flu shots was suddenly cut in half last week when British regulators found bacteria contaminating some batches of vaccine made by Chiron Corp., and stopped the company from sending 48 million doses to the United States.

President Bush suggested in Wednesday night's debate that the nation could import the flu vaccine from Canada - but federal officials said yesterday that probably would not work.

Yeah, like Bush gave this so much thought.

The sudden flu shortage has led to price-gouging and outright theft of vaccine supplies, as well as long lines at clinics across the country.

"There just isn't any more vaccine," Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday. "The city cannot go and manufacture vaccines. I don't know if tragedy is the right word, but nobody expected that half of the country's vaccine supply would all of a sudden fail to be delivered."
(via NY Daily News)

And what's the problem? The free market can't do the job.

Ultimately, though, the reliable production of flu vaccines, indeed all vaccines, is going to require a more thorough renegotiation of the relationships between the government and the drug industry, which shies away from vaccine production because of the production risks -- note Chiron's troubles -- the unreliability of demand and the relatively slim profits. To ensure a dependable supply, at least some official bodies must guarantee the purchase of a certain number of doses at a set price
(via WaPo)

Catch the Republicans admitting that, though.

You know, my mother needs her flu shot everywhere. It would sure be nice if The Bush administration hasn't created a public health emergency that would put her at risk. Eh?