The VA Hospital (in Dallas TX) is restricting its flu shot program

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

this year. This in intolerable.

As an outpatient who is on a drug that compromises the immune system I just hope I can still get my shot, because I fear deathly illness without it. I really pity those people who will miss out. I predict an epidemic this year.

My first thought is "thinning the herd". I'll wager the rich and powerful won't be getting ill...

http://www.north-texas.med.va.gov/flu_shot_2004.htm

[Maestro]

1. Not to defend the VA

God knows they can mismanage things, but there is a shortage because of some contaminated supply from a maker in England. Everybody is short from what I understand. I hope you can find a place that will give it to you because of your condition. You should be a priority.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. I know that- the point I'm making is

it's probably representative of what's going on all over the country. We're in a world of hurt if hospitals everywhere start turning people away (who judges who's not sick enough?). Someone needs to swing from a noose for this one.

[sweetheart]

5. Same true in the UK as well

I've been asked to delay getting the shot for a week, whilst new
supplies come up from down south (england). All people over 60,
and athsmatics and others in risk categories are given a UK flu shot
at a public clinic for FREE! Everyone else has to pay the whopping
pound-6.50 (about 10 bucks).

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Ten bucks is a typical "street price" for a shot in the US

It doesn't matter how much you pay if the vial is empty when it's your turn.

[sweetheart]

11. Yes, empty vials innoculate nobody

The price problem in the US, is that the average price is not the
price. All over the UK, the price is 6 pound 50 pence.. period,
and YOU can come yourself and get the vaccine in London at the
national health service... but they'll charge you "health tourist"
rates.

It disturbs me that public medicine is reduced to who can afford
a vaccine, and not that the public itself remains at risk if full
efforts to innoculate the population are not completed.

It suprises me even more that a government bent on delivering its
people from "bio-terrorism" have not prepared a national innoculation
programme to make sure that all americans could survive a contageous
disease like smallpox. Homeland security, should, in truth, have
public medical clinics if they are anything serious about biowarfare.


<snip>
.
The average price for a flu shot this year ranges anywhere from $10-$25, but there have been reports of providers charging as much as $100 per shot. Medical experts say that charging anything more than $25 is unethical.
.
<snip>
http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=2402829

[DrWeird]

2. "restricting its program"

To the patients at high risk, as opposed to the perfectly healthy young adults.

Right?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. even "perfectly healthy young adults" get the flu

There's no way to tell by current health who it will hit and how hard.

[beyurslf]

7. Becuase of problems with the vaccine everyone is in short supply. They

should be holding the vaccine for people just like you who MUST have it.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. There was a major fuckup at the second-largest supplier

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041005/ap_on_he_me/flu_vaccine_suspension

snip

British regulators suspended the license of Chiron Corp., the world's second-leading flu vaccine supplier, for three months. They cited manufacturing problems at the factory in Liverpool, England, where Chiron makes its leading Fluvirin flu vaccine.

The sanction means more than a delay, Chiron officials said: They will ship no Fluvirin anywhere this year, including the 46 million to 48 million doses originally planned for the United States.

"This season is gone," said Chiron chief executive Howard Pien.

snip

As I said, it's gonna be a world of hurt this year.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

10. And to add insult to injury

I just heard on the news that because of the shortage, the makers that do have the vaccine are price gouging for it. What did cost $100.00 is now $900.00 Ahhhhh capitalism at it's finest!
Welcome to America

[Rowdyboy]

9. My local pharmacy (Kroger) had 400 shots preordered

I stood in line for two hours (chronic immune deficiency) with elderly people and infants and consider myself blessed to have been vaccinated.

Good luck

[TexasSissy]

12. I'm in Dallas. Here's a REAL kicker for you: There's no shortage

for us at MY company. Not only did "they" come once to give us flu shots. They are coming AGAIN! Not only that, our HR person e-mailed everyone to say that THERE IS NO SHORTAGE FOR US!

Almost everyone is getting free flu shots! When I told a friend I'm not getting the shots because we're supposed to pass and save the drug for the at risk groups, my friend said he's not passing it up, even though he's not in a high risk group. After all, he doesn't want to get sick.

I am SHOCKED! What flu shot shortage? No shortage for us, it seems. A wealthy company that doesn't want the flu sweeping through its company and cutting productivity.

[TexasSissy]

13. Maybe this means the place we get the shots from had pre-ordered?

I don't know. Even so, it seems the medical places would make arrangements to share the wealth, so to speak.

[Karenina]

14. Your first thought

is correct.

[REP]

15. Hey, Another Advantage to My Ill Health!

I get to park damn near any where I feel like, and now it looks as though I'll get a flu shot, since I'm an asthmatic diabetic with non-diabetic kidney failure, I'm on the likely-to-die-from-flu list.