FLU VACCINE SHORTAGE: H1N1 and Seasonal Shots Running Out
Health officials have told us all along to get the H1N1 vaccine, it’s our best defense against the deadly virus. At the same time, we’ve been reminded not to forget about getting our seasonal flu shots. That’s why it’s frustrating for people waiting in long lines all over the country, only to be turned away. Vaccine supplies are running low because of production delays, but adding to the problem is an increased demand for the seasonal vaccine. Concerns over H1N1, have led many people to get vaccinated who normally wouldn’t. So far, 85 million people have gotten seasonal vaccine. That’s 25 million more than this time last year.
Now reports that some large employers, including Wall Street banks, have received H1N1 vaccine even while hospitals and clinics are trying to accommodate those in high risk groups. In a story that first broke in a BusinessWeek article, some financial companies like Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup have received shipments: Goldman got 200, Citigroup received 1200 doses. Goldman confirms the order, but says it’s up to the CDC to make decisions on distributing vaccines, and the shots will go to high risk employees.
During a House Sub Committee meeting in Washington yesterday, Federal Health Officials were questioned at length about Flu vaccine shortages and production delays. CDC Director, Dr.Thomas Frieden, said the shortages are very frustrating, but said they can’t do anything about them. So far, there have been almost no cases of seasonal flu, it’s all H1N1. Then again, seasonal flu usually doesn’t show up until late winter. Manufacturing companies are focusing their efforts on making more H1N1 Flu vaccine, because health officials expect it to peak before vaccine supplies can catch up.
Marianne Silber joined FNC in 2006 as a general assignment news correspondent, based in the Atlanta bureau. She has investigated if adult treatments are safe for children; covered the story on murdered pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach; and reported on the much publicized Duke Lacrosse rape case. 
Why isn’t anyone making a correlation between the government’s handling of the swine flu pandemic – it’s ability (or inability) to calculate, distribute, and administer the H1N1 vaccine (a form of HEALTHCARE) – and it’s ability (or inability) to administer and distribute universal healthcare? Am I the only one who sees this as a pre-test? This is a perfect example of the government, not doctors, making health care decisions – who gets the vaccine and where they can get it. My doctor doesn’t have it, nor does my kids’ pediatrician. If I want them vaccinated, I have to get it from a county-run clinic, not a physician of my choosing. I’m glad to know the Obama girls have been vaccinated. Did they have to stand in line for hours at a public clinic like my kids will? No, they got it from their DOCTOR! If this had happened on Bush’s watch, he’d have been crucified. I’d have thought this would kill the debate over universal healthcare, but apparently everyone’s okay with it.
The nation need to know WHY any private companies are receiving flu vaccine before pediatricians and hospitals! Every average person needs this information.
I’m seeing people waiting 3 hours in a line outside and I’m amazed, and outraged to find that banking institutions are getting a supply for their “high risk employees”. I’m a registered nurse, a parent of a 3-week old baby, and an employee of a company with over 6000 employees and can’t get my family vaccinated. I think that if I have to wait in the 3 hor line. than so should the bankers, as well as Obama and his family.
I am outraged! How dare private companies and the Obamas get it first… Wake up! This is how your govt run health care will be!! Only the rich will survive!
We taxpayers have had to bailout Wall Street to the tune of billions. Apparently, now we may have to give our lives.
Same with prisoners. Muderers and terrorists are being given the vaccine ahead of millions and millions of Americans.
This is an outrage! Have we lost our sense?
God must be sad.
The Wall Street elite probably are direct descendants of the cowards on the Titanic who tried to take places ahead of women and children on the lifeboats. State-controlled media tends to minimize this or ignores it. It’s OK with the White House who either takes the position that they had no idea it was happening (bodes ill for the Obama Health Care plan) or that it happened for a good reason (they take care of their own – the Ivy League elite and the Hollywood glamour people.
Get off that lifeboat, kid. Don’t you know I work for Citigroup?
Have any of your investigator reporters researched the H1N1 vaccine? The patents’ when they where issued? Yes they were issued before the strain in Mexico City, how’s that. What compounds make up the vaccine nothing you would want to put in your body. Talk to the Doctors who came up with the vaccine they are not even taking the vaccine nor are their families, let alone the Gov’t reduced the liabilities and regulation to the Pharmaceutical companies to quickly come up with the vaccine talk to them. And why only the young and the old need to take the vaccine? This is a Gov’t backed program related to the Gov’t take over of health care. I understand that the Doctors and the Pharmaceutical companies probale will not talk in fear of reprisels but the public needs to know all the facts. Mark my words in the future the vacinne will lead to medical complication if not to the peolple that have taken the vaccine then to their unborn. But by that time the Gov’t will be running our health care full steam ahead and “RIGHT” the Gov’t will take care of them.
I THINK IT’S A DISGRACE THE WAY THE VACCINE FOR H1NI IS BEING DISTRIBUTED. YEA, THE OBAMA GIRLS GOT VACCINATED. WELL OF COURSE. AND WHAT ABOUT ME WHO HAS ASTHMA,MY GRANDCHILDREN WHO’S PEDIATRICIAN DOESN’T HAVE IT EITHER. LIKE I SAY, ONLY THE RICH WILL SURVIVE AND IF THE HEALTHCARE BILL GETS PASSED WE ARE ALL GOING TO PAY HIGHLY AND LOOSE OUT IN THE END. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE RUNNING OUR HEALTHCARE. THE USA IS IN A VERY DANGEROUS TIMES.