NYT: U.S. Inquiry in Price Rises (price gouging) for Flu Shots

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Inquiry in Price Rises for Flu Shots
By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN

Published: October 8, 2004


Federal health officials said yesterday that they would investigate reports of price gouging for flu shots in response to a severe national shortage of the influenza vaccine.

But the officials did not say what they could do about inflated prices being charged for the vaccines by distributors or doctors.

Asked at a news conference about charges of $65 for a flu shot that usually costs much less, Dr. Bruce Gellin, the official in charge of the government's vaccine program, said, "We, too, have heard these stories about the price gouging."

While no specific examples of gouging were cited at the news conference, Dr. David Lang, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital of Orange County in California, said in a telephone interview that a vendor had called a pharmacist at his hospital offering to sell the flu vaccine made by Aventis for 10 times the usual amount.

The pharmacist, who asked not to be identified, said in a separate interview that the vendor had asked $700 for a vial of 10 doses that usually costs $67.

"They were shopping for takers," the pharmacist said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/08/health/08flu.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1097240629-CjBJqwr/47pZa73HBCPlxw

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. There are other ways to prevent a flu epidemic.

Better medical care, extend sick leave days and reduce stress at work. ... oh shit. We're screwed.

[GoBlue]

2. Capitalism at its finest

Supply and demand. Just can't beat it. Health? Care? fuggedaboutit, there are profits to be made. If only there was a vaccine against greed.

[Supersedeas]

3. but * was just touting how drug prices are under control. Whose control?

[donsu]

4. tell me why our country doesn't make it's own flu vaccine?

and is the UK pharm. corp. the only pharm in the world to make flu vaccine? why can't the US buy some vaccine from other countries? what's the real deal with this?

[Bridget Burke]

6. The UK pharmaceutical company only makes half our supply.

That's the company that lost its license because of bacterial contamination. The UK only depends on them for 10 to 20% of their flu vaccine--why is that?

Aventis makes the other half. They're a French company!

[Cocoa]

5. it's the trial lawyers' fault

somehow...

[PATRICK]

7. The Feds could go scrounging

overseas for extra doses, but there is that Canadian Rx thing- and the Canadians have excessive supplies to the tune of a million and a half.

Instead it is panic and Congressional bluster. Bush is AWOL.