If living were a thing that money could buy

[oneighty]

then the rich would live and the poor would die.

Concerning the shortage of flu vaccine.

I cannot speak for every one, but I can share my thoughts. Since I am a sick old man to begin with and a bad cold would likely kill me I worry that I may not get a flu shot. My local VA Clinic tells me none are available since the source of the vaccine was contaminated at the manufacturing plant in Jolly Old England.

Then I think that my desire to get a flu shot is no more important than my desire that my young grand children also get protection. And I see that I am greedy thinking first only of myself.

But I know that certain people in our country (USofA) will because of money, power or position etc. get their flu shots up front first and fast. I can extend my thoughts to how it is in third world countries where medical care for the poor is non-existent as it soon may be in the USofA. If not already.

And I can further see a country, our own, where the rich will live and the poor will die.

All our trials lord soon be over?

Just like in the song.

An old man's thoughts.

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[RaleighNCDUer]

1. I got my shot, as a state employee, the day before the shortage

was announced. If I had known, I would have waited, not being of a high-risk demographic.

But now the the shortfall is known, you can bet that those who can pay the most will be the first to get them, regardless of their age or health status.

[BiggJawn]

8. My GF is beating herself up over this.

They had the first round of flu shots here at work 3 days before the shortage was announced, and now she feels bad that she "took a shot that someone else needed worse".

I'm a diabetic, so I'm in the "Must get" group...at least I was until the shortage, now it seems that since I'm healthy otherwise, I shouldn't get one. that's OK, wasn't planning on getting one. I didn't get one last year, either, because for 3 years previous, I came down with some kind of cold/flu thing that 2 years ago put me in bed for 3 days. Cause and Effect? Who knows? All I know is that I did NOT get a shot last year and stayed out of bed all winter long.

[drb]

2. That song was running through my mind...

...yesterday.

I'm afraid you're right, at least for the short term.

Unless John Kerry wins.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. dear Ed

I hope your mind is set at ease soon and you get your flu shot

it seems little enough to ask for of the so called free and wealthy US of A

[Trailrider1951]

4. 180, Sweetheart, you can have mine

I can afford to get one, but I am a young, healthy, 52 year old woman, and I certainly don't need one. I voluntarily relinquish mine for you or anyone else who needs it more.

:grouphug:

[Andy_Stephenson]

5. I give mine up as well.

I am healthy as an ox...built like one too.

Besides...I hate shots.

[oneighty]

6. Thank you Trailrider1951

I will give it to my grandson who has asthma.

This is the level THE RICHEST SOCIETY on the face of the earth ever- has fallen to.

Soon we will be a third world country.

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[Bridget Burke]

7. Half our vaccine supply does not come from old England....

It is manufactured by Aventis Pasteur (a French company) & there's nothing wrong with it. There just isn't enough.

The Public Health services of Harris County (Houston, Texas) bought their supply from the British company--because it was cheaper. I'll bet your VA Clinic had the same reason for using that source.

I do hope you & your grandkids can all get shots this year. But the number of people who die from the flu even in "good" years makes me sick. (Sicker than the flu is likely to make me.)

[IrateCitizen]

9. Personally, I think only the elderly and already ill should get them

I can understand your concern regarding the upcoming flu season, 180. And as an elderly man, you should certainly get one. However, I have a greater concern regarding the widespread use of flu vaccines.

Viruses DO mutate in order to adapt and survive, just like all other life forms. The more that viruses are exposed to antibodies, the more likely they are to mutate. I do honestly believe that we are setting ourselves up for an eventual influenza pandemic that will be directly attributable to our overuse of flu vaccines.

[LibLabUK]

10. Hmm... you got your microbiology education where?

"The more that viruses are exposed to antibodies, the more likely they are to mutate."

This simply isn't true.

Virus mutation has nothing to do with the antibodies it is "exposed" to.

This isn't the same as antibiotic resistance that is seen in some strains of pathogenic bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, being a prime example), where exposure to antibiotics exerts a selective pressure, in favour of the resistant organisms.

"I do honestly believe that we are setting ourselves up for an eventual influenza pandemic that will be directly attributable to our overuse of flu vaccines."

You can honestly believe it, but it's not simply not the case.

We are much more likely to suffer a pandemic because the farmers in S. Asia refuse to seperate their foul and swine.

[IrateCitizen]

11. Admittedly, I'm far from being a microbiologist

But, your condescending post title aside, perhaps you could help me to understand why a virus would not be subject to the same rules of natural selection as a bacteria?

I had thought that smallpox was the result of a viral mutation from cowpox, one that was a direct result of humans settling in communities and developing agricultural practices. I realize that this doesn't have anything to do with antibodies, but I figured that the theme would stay pretty much the same throughout....

I apologize for being erroneous and offending your microbiological sensibilities.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Not just SE Asia.

Have you heard about the company that wants to set up a huge commercial chicken operation within five miles of a national bird refuge in eastern NC? That sounds like the set up for a joke, but it isn't funny. The probabilities are high for any number of avian pathogens being passed from the wild to the factory farm operation.

Don't have any links.

[Ezlivin]

13. The VA is out of vaccine?

Man, I was planning on getting mine on my Thursday visit to the Dallas VAMC!

I guess it's time to start studying medicine so I can create my own vaccine.

Think Home Depot or Lowes have any DIY kits?

:)

[oneighty]

14. I am in Western NY State.

Perhaps your area will have some. Good luck!

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