WP: No Flu Vaccine Shortage At Capitol

[kskiska]

Hill's Doctor Urges Members to Get Shots

Wednesday, October 20, 2004; Page A01

While many Americans search in vain for flu shots, members and employees of Congress are able to obtain them quickly and at no charge from the Capitol's attending physician, who has urged all 535 lawmakers to get the vaccines even if they are young and healthy.

The physician's office has dispensed nearly 2,000 flu shots this fall, and doses remained available yesterday. That is a steep drop from last year's 9,000 shots, a spokesman for attending physician John F. Eisold said, because many congressional employees have voluntarily abided by federal guidelines that call for this season's limited supply to go mainly to the elderly, the very young, pregnant women, long-term-care patients and people with chronic illnesses.

But people of all ages who are credentialed to work in the Capitol can get a shot by saying they meet the guidelines, with no further questions asked, said the spokesman, who cited office policy in demanding anonymity.

(snip)

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.), a heart surgeon, sent letters urging his 99 colleagues to get the shots because they mingle and shake hands with so many people, his spokeswoman, Amy Call, said. She said she did not know how many senators have taken his advice.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46325-2004Oct19.html

[fortyfeetunder]

1. WTF? Let those bastards suffer like the rest of us

Their policies got us where we are in the first fricking place.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. And yet...

Think about all those freakin' hands they shake.

Politicians are the perfect carriers.

Give 'em their shots, I say.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. dont want flu vaccine anyway, but is good campaign propaganda

I am not upset about the vaccine.

I have personally heard of elderly persons dying or becoming ill shortly after having flu shots. These shots contain some disgusting stuff. Further, this years vaccine is based on last years viruses.

A friend of mine had a bad flu vaccine experience in her family.
Her father, previously healthy, got the swine flu vaccine.
He became sick in a matter of days, and became bed ridden.
He was healthy before the shot. This was years ago.

I have never and will never get the flu shot for my 81 year old mother.

Although it is ironic that the US routinely purchases vaccines from foreign countries, but finds it un-safe to purchase prescription meds that way.

Especially if you consider how these vaccines are made.

Look up the small pox vaccine on the website of the GAO.
www.gao.gov

This is experimental, testing protocols were violated, correct dosage not exact, old doses, etc but they still threaten soldiers with courtmartial if they refuse.

See what Jeb is doing in Florida for CareMark.
Florida governor could get entangled in Caremark suit
Two ex-Caremark pharmacists have floated a possible connection in their whistleblower suit to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, saying the pharmacy benefit manager may have received "favorable treatment" from Florida's leader. The Street.com (10/11)



Excerpt:

The Florida governor has always stressed that the Nigerian case -- which attracted government intervention -- excludes him as a specific target. But whistleblowers are once again questioning the governor's behavior.
In their latest court filing, the Caremark whistleblowers have asked Gov. Bush for information about an alleged incident involving Caremark's distribution of "tainted drugs" in April 2002, and a meeting between Caremark's CEO and the governor that supposedly took place just two months later.
As previously reported by TheStreet.com in July, the plaintiffs claim that the state failed to protect customers after Caremark sold "drugs from unknown origin" to Florida customers three years ago. The state "did not further investigate Caremark's buying practices with respect to the purchase and sale of drugs ... allowed Caremark to handle that occurrence wholly internally," a past court filing states.

And Dubya wants to protect us from Canadian drugs!
Who will protect citizens in his brothers state from tainted US drugs from Caremark?

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/stocks/melissadavid/10186979_2.html

[progressivebydesign]

4. Everytime my sister gets a flu shot, she gets ill.

Not from the flu, but something nearly as bad. I have no idea why.. some people can't tolerate certain vaccines. I become quite ill from tetanus shots. My arm swells and becomes hot and painful, and I become sick and dizzy for a day afterward.

[happynewyear]

5. CareMark needs to be class-action sued IMO

I agree with you 100% re: the vaccines they are giving out - know of a swine flu vaccine case myself and I've never had a flu shot and do not want want.

There was a story here on the DU a few days ago re: CareMark (maybe you can find it in the archives).

They are truly low-life SOBs and I really don't like being forced to do business with them!

baldearg

:dem: :kick:

[happynewyear]

6. link for you re: Caremark Whistleblower case

Also, FYI, lots of very good links off to the lower right of this story about Caremark and their practices.

http://www.thestreet.com/_tscfoc/stocks/melissadavid/10186979.html

Let me know what happens with this once you are able to message people, and, WELCOME TO THE DU! :D :hi: :hi: :hi:

:D

baldearg

:dem: :kick::

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Two people have died while standing line for the shot

and these bastards are taking them :mad:

Was listening to NPR this AM on way to work. Could have sworn someone said Bush just received a flu shot. Anyone else hear anything like that? I do clearly recall his saying during the last debate that he would NOT have a flu shot because other Americans who really need it should be the ones getting it.

...and what are the Americans who need flu shots getting? Why, screwed, of course.

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=917481