Murder By Flu?

[HARDCORE]

It was reported today that President Bush was made aware, a full three years ago (?), that we as a nation were dangerously short of flu vaccines! As a matter of fact, here in San Diego, a line formed early last night for the reportedly limited numbers of flu shots that were indeed available today!

Comprised mostly of the elderly, these oldsters (of which I am now numbered) braved the cold, and the unfriendly streets for many, many hours, to get, what could be a life-saving flu shot!

The ready supply of this vaccine was reported to be contaminated and will have to be destroyed. None of this life-saving medicine, they claim, was salvageable? And also ?CLAIMED? is the revelation that the President Himself, refused his flu shot to display his solidarity with the people?

If true, this is a lose/lose scenario, as this man who has the power over life and death - must remain functional! But, if on the other hand, he did get a secret flu shot, then this reminds me a little of the gent (Historical Fact) who horded water and food aboard a life raft during WWII. ?When discovered, he himself was set adrift!!?

So how many in our government have opted not to take the flu vaccine to set an example for the people that they claim to represent? And if this deadly fiasco was preventable, is that not catamount to manslaughter of our sick and elderly?

Now I can not say how much of this charge/counter charge over this flu vaccine screw-up is fact or election year politics!? But one thing is for damned sure - with fuel prices continuing to climb out of sight, even the police, ambulance services and fire departments, may soon be hard-pressed to respond! Unless, of course, they bring out the old horse-drawn equipment!?

I suppose that this may not mean much to some people out there, especially if they are affluent, young and healthy. And I do hope and pray that you or yours pull through these ongoing problems and hard times unscathed! If, however, you suffer needlessly (because of political shortsightedness), lack of heat this winter, or for lack of fuel to get to work on (If your job has not been outsourced that is), and if medical care is also out of reach for one reason or another, then you just may have some soul-searching to do in the very near future!!

Are we our ?American Brother?s Keepers? - You bet your sweet ass we are!! For any time that one of ours needlessly suffers, we all lose ground! And at this late stage of this dangerous game, the risks could be catastrophic for us all (opinion)!!!!

VERITAS

[1CAVCCO15MED]

My understanding is there were two companies in Britain that supplied the vast majority of flu vaccine for the US. One of the companies lost their license recently due to poor quality control and that is what caused the shortage. It will cause increased loss of life for the very young and old and the frail of health. I am not much on government conspiracies because I do not believe they are efficient enough to conspire in most cases. To say they are out to get you is to give them a level of efficiency which they cannot attain.

[82Rigger]

This article is from Sunday's Witchita Eagle:

No shortage of flu vaccine in England

BY MIKE MCGRAW AND DAVID GOLDSTEIN


LIVERPOOL, England - At a clinic almost in the shadow of the Chiron plant, a poster says to "make an appointment today for your free flu jab."

Flu vaccine may be delayed in some locations, but the shortages America is seeing are not expected here, thanks in part to early action by British health officials.

Late this summer, at the first sign of new problems at the Chiron Corp.' s long-troubled plant, the British began searching for other suppliers of flu vaccine.

Armed with essentially the same information, however, U.S. officials relied on Chiron's early assurances that only a small portion of the flu vaccine from its Liverpool plant was contaminated.

It was not until Oct. 5, when the British pulled Chiron's license, that they knew half the U.S. flu vaccine supply had just disappeared, producing the lines and shortages the United States is now enduring.

No matter what, the United States would have had a tougher time solving the problem than England. For one thing, the British could fall back on a half-dozen suppliers that had been pre-approved by British authorities. The United States had only one other major supplier, Aventis Pasteur.

But some experts now suggest that if U.S. officials had relied less on Chiron's early assurances and acted more swiftly, they could have at least limited the damage caused by the loss of half the U.S. supply.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Tony Jewell said the federal government saw no reason to begin looking for replacement supplies in August, when the British did.

Aventis began shipping its vaccine in early August. An Aventis spokesman said that if the company had been aware in August that half of the flu vaccine supply was not going to be available, it would have done what it did upon learning of the shortage on Oct. 5 -- consult with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about how to redistribute supplies.

[39mto39g]

why would you think you will die if you get the flu?
Yo'll just get sick for 2 weeks with the flu rather than 2 days with the flu shot.
The old and sickly may, I repeat MAY die from the flu. But hay, your going to die of something, If your old and sickly maybe its just time, and the flu has nothing to do with it.
I have to get a flu shot each year because of my job, (they can't afford to be without me for 2 weeks) so I think anyway.
Most people that die from not having a flu shot would have died anyway, Not having a flu shot is just a dig at someone.

Ron

[Keith_Hixson]

I had a flu shot about 12 years ago. I had the worst case of flu that winter I have ever had. Made up my mind. I'll never get a flue shot because they didn't do me any good. My wife and I haven't had a flu shot since. We don't seem to suffer anymore with the flu than those who get them. They may help some but I think they are way over rated.

Keith

[1CAVCCO15MED]

The other side of the coin is all the grandbabies that die of the flu. During flu season the 400 bed hospital where I used to work would have about 100 respiratory illnesses. Most are cases of flu that had secondary pneumonias. Many if not most did have other complaints, like broken hip and pneumonia or renal failure and pneumonia. The Pediatric ICU would be full and overflowing of kids with pneumonia as well as the pediatric floors. They would also get secondary encephalitis or meningitis. We lost a few kids every winter.

[HARDCORE]

1CAVCCO15MED

Well Said!!!!!!

Once upon a time the flu was referred to by its full name - influenza.

Our returning troops of WWI apparently brought it back with them and the rest is history. [Pandemic - 20 Million Deaths Worldwide to be exact - many of them from complications]

If we can save but one human being and avoid giving a replay of Scrooge's famous words " If They Mean To Die Then Let Them Do So And Decrease The Surplus Population!", then by all means, let us save that one life. Of Course, it could be thousands of lives! And those lives, become especially dear when they are nestle close to home or belong to the very young!

VERITAS

[melody1181]

There are none here in Amarillo....at all or so they say on the news.

My grandma has a bad immune system but there is none for her to take. If my grandpa gets it(and he refuses to take it this year) he will be a very sick guy.

Canada from what I hear doesn't have the same issues either.

[39mto39g]

I think we make way to much of the flu. Yes some people die of the flu, but to make such a huge deal of it makes some people think that if they don't get the flu shot , then they will die. A normal heath person is not going to die from the flu. As a matter of fact it will make your imun system stronger.
It would be a lot easier to band Driving, After all 50,000 people die of traffic accidents each year, so we can save those lives buy not driving. Dumb, isn't it. The flu is much less dangerous than driving to a normally health person.
Now, a normal heathy person will be sick in bed for two weeks if they get the flu, but they wont die. A death to a loved one is no different for flu than from falling from a bicycle, its a great loss to the people left behind , but that doesn't make not getting a flu shot a national tragity.

If you or someone you know is in real need of a flu shot, get in touch with your local city managment, news papers, and medical .
City managers look good if they help someone get a flu shot, news papers like reporting that someone can't get a flu shot and medical people just want to help someone who needs help.

Ron

[revwardoc]

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/1115316.html

Plague Detected in Colorado Springs

The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment has determined that a tree squirrel has tested positive for the plague in the Colorado Springs area.

The Health Department staff has been monitoring the situation for the past two weeks in the western side of the city. The area affected is the South and West border of Garden of the Gods, including the Northeast part of Manitou Springs.

Now, Health Department staff are informing and educating residents within the affected area. They are going door to door and handing out pamphlets that contain information that cautions residents about plague. Health Department staff has also set up insecticide tubes that will aid in the control of infected fleas on the local tree squirrel population.

Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected flea. In humans the symptoms are high fever, chills, headache, severe prostration, and tender or swollen lymph glands. Health Department advises residents who experience these symptoms to contact their physician.

In Colorado, the last reported human case was in a woman from Weld County, the woman is fully recovered. In El Paso County, the last reported human case occurred in 1991.

The Health Department?s program manger for animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans, Don Mydlowski, says ?Do not attempt to catch, kill, feed or handle any type of squirrel, chipmunk or other wild rodent. He adds, ?Keep your dogs and cats under control and do not allow them to chase wild animals. If you live in the affected area keep cats indoors. Residents within the affected area should also clear property from trash, lumber piles, and other areas where animals my live or hide.?

If you find a dead squirrel in the affected area please contact the Health Department at 578-3199.