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OPINION

Flu vaccine priorities mean some miss shots

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
(Updated 3:00 am)

Three weeks ago, I made an appointment for a family with seven children to get their regular flu vaccine and their H1N1 vaccine at Guilford Child Health. Yesterday, I received a call from the Health Department informing me they had no more vaccines for either strain. Several friends that have gone to local doctors’ offices and emergency care centers have received the vaccines.

I also read that President Obama’s daughters were vaccinated. So, government-run health care agencies are unable to provide the shots that other non-government entities are able to provide. Is this what we can look forward to when we receive government-run health care?

Laurie LeGrone
Greensboro
 

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Slaan

November 4, 2009 - 3:18 am EST

It could be... ya know, the fact that one is free to children, and thus people are going to get the free one first?

Interested

November 4, 2009 - 6:48 am EST

The writer needs to learn the difference between "unable to provide" and "unable to provide enough when I want to receive." Local health departments have been providing these vaccinations and will provide again when more becomes available.If she stayed abreast of the news, Ms. LeGrone should have been well-aware of the high demand, and low supply, of both vaccinations. This has little to do with government; this is about private industry's limited ability to produce vaccinations on relatively short notice.

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 8:11 am EST

"This has little to do with government; this is about private industry's limited ability to produce vaccinations on relatively short notice."

Hmmm, I remember Kerry & Hillary blaming Bush for the shortage of flu vaccine in '04. Kerry even had an ad exploiting this.

Turns out Chiron had troubles producing the vaccine in the UK.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/05/news/midcaps/chiron/index.htm

Interested

November 4, 2009 - 8:53 am EST

Five years ago somebody blamed the government for something it was not in control of. Let go of it already!

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 9:11 am EST

I'm not worried about what happened five years ago interested, I remember forgoing the flu shot that year.

The reason I brought it up is because of the double standard. Five years ago Bush was blamed. It was even politicized in a campaign ad and Hillary spoke about it. Today the Obama admin is blaming the manufacturers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR200910...

BTW, I don't blame Obama either but find the double standard to be glaring.

Interested

November 4, 2009 - 9:38 am EST

There is no double standard. The government was not responsible then, it is not responsible now.

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 9:50 am EST

"The government was not responsible then, it is not responsible now."

Then why did John Kerry run a campaign ad claiming Bush was responsible? He also brought it up in the debates.

Interested

November 4, 2009 - 10:24 am EST

Get out of the past Dan! Who cares what John Kerry said in a campaign ad how many months (years) ago. Our leaders will hopefully ignore your playbook and focus on the future rather than the past.

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 11:08 am EST

Here is the future if the current govt. doesn't pay attention:

http://www.politico.com/election/2009/maps/#/VA

http://www.politico.com/election/2009/maps/#/NJ

Sawdust

November 4, 2009 - 8:09 am EST

Well, at least the detainees at Gitmo will get their shots. Good to know that Obozo has his priorities in order. I wonder how many of them will voluntarily take them if they are told it is for swine flu?

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 8:13 am EST

Turns out as of yesterday the Gitmo terrorists won't get flu shots:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33606895/ns/world_news-terrorism/

Sawdust

November 4, 2009 - 11:15 am EST

Ah, some sanity from DC. Do you know it was a bogus story all along, or did the policy change? I don't even remember where I first heard it. Probably Fox News, everyone knows that CBS would never make up a story.

Panacea

November 4, 2009 - 1:41 pm EST

The Pentagon is indeed planning to offer flu shots to detainees at Gitmo. Their position is they have a duty to provide medical care to those in their custody (a true statement). However, the plan has been put on hold due to political pressures.

Panacea

November 4, 2009 - 8:43 am EST

When it came time for me to get my flu shot, I missed out on the yearly clinic at work because the demand was so high. I didn't blame the boss. I picked up the phone and called around town to all the clinics and pharmacies I could find until I found one that still had the vaccine. Then I immediately went down there and got my flu shot.

I have little sympathy for the LTE writer. She could have just gone down to the health department and waited in line like everyone else. They still had vaccines as of last Friday, when I called them. Given the demand this year, waiting for an appointment was wishful thinking.

ruth

November 4, 2009 - 3:00 pm EST

Panacea,

The children were unable to get the flu shot because the Health Department was out period. It had nothing to do with whether I had an appointment or not. But the reason I made an appointment was so I could take all seven of the kids age 6 months to 17years together. They cannot afford to get a flu shot that they have to pay for.

J.M.W.

November 4, 2009 - 11:08 pm EST

Hey Truth, Is this your wife?

truth

November 5, 2009 - 12:09 pm EST

My wife's name is James and you know it.

J.M.W.

November 4, 2009 - 10:43 am EST

It scares me to receive a shot that Obama says is safe. Will I all of a sudden be able to dance?

Sawdust

November 4, 2009 - 11:11 am EST

Help! I'm white and I can't get down!

zealander

November 4, 2009 - 12:05 pm EST

Is there a shot that makes chicken taste betta'?

Doug Johnson

November 4, 2009 - 4:17 pm EST

Sawdust, it was for real. Gitmo prisoners were going to get the shot. while Americans did with out.
danagain, if you recall, numerous lte were written over this!
Kerry and Hilliary were on the news regular, telling folks Bush was more worried about tax cuts for the rich, than taking care of Americans.
You are right double standard.

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 7:55 pm EST

Yes a double standard Doug, interested just wanted to brush off the obvious.

rahrah

November 4, 2009 - 8:16 pm EST

I guess it'd solve a big problem if H1N1 hit Gitmo and wiped them out....but of course, it'd cause one too,

danagain

November 4, 2009 - 8:22 pm EST

Hmmmm, you have an idea rahrah, but a dead terrorist is better in a PR sense than fictitious story of a Koran in the toilet. Where have you been lately? Still working on aviation projects?

Interested

November 4, 2009 - 10:13 pm EST

Sorry Doug, Dan, but no, I wasn't just brushing off the obvious. The last time vaccination shortages were an issue, the government (and therefore Bush) was held to the fire. As a result, the entire vaccination development process came to light. Most who were willing to learn realized "the obvious": that the government does not develop, nor does it control the development of, vaccines; that the capacity to manufacture flu vaccine is woefully inadequate; that nine countries develop the vaccines, but that these vaccines are shipped all over the world not just to the U.S.. If the two of you were less concerned with keeping score in the "who blamed who for what" game, you would have more time to possibly come up with solutions to some real issues.

Yvonne

November 4, 2009 - 10:12 pm EST

Too bad they haven't found a vaccine for ignorance yet.

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