Calif. Woman Dies After Wait for Flu Shot

[Bluebear]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041015/ap_on_re_us/flu_vaccine_death_1

LAFAYETTE, Calif. - A 79-year-old woman who stood in line outside a supermarket for more than five hours waiting for a flu shot collapsed and later died, the woman's daughter said.

Marie Franklin stood with her husband and hundreds of other seniors outside a Safeway supermarket Wednesday but collapsed when she left the line to seek shade, striking her head, said Ginni Poulos, Franklin's daughter.

Franklin died from her injuries on Thursday, according to the country coroner's office.

"She was standing the entire time, with nowhere to sit and no shade," Poulos said.



Hundreds of people outside a supermarket in Barrington, R.I., waiting for a flu clinic to open Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004


Bush is still enjoying himself though.

[XanaDUer]

1. Another death on Bush's bloody hands.

Eom.

[lazarus]

2. link?

[Bluebear]

4. oopsy :) corrected

[laruemtt]

3. if that were my mother,

i'd be out for blood. if my 89-year-old ma can't get one, i just might be out for blood.

[AlCzervik]

5. me too, my Nana is 86

[proud patriot]

6. this is my county ... Lafayette is a very affluent suburb , VERY .

Our county is rationing the vaccine...Lines
are super long for everyone .

heartbreaking story

[veeblefetzer]

7. Socialized Medicine Is Here All ready

I blame the media for hyping the shortage, scaring the old folks so they rush out and endanger themselves needlessly. What's it coming to when 80 year olds have to stand in lines for health care? Something's seriously wrong in this country. Too bloody bad there's no labs in this country that are willing to make vaccine for our citizens.

[dogtag]

8. Lafayette isn't the only affluent suburb that has long lines

of 'wanderers' looking for a vaccination. I've heard of many people with oodles of money, great insurance, etc. who can't get a flu shot from any of their doctors. I'm talking about folks in the high risk category...they, too, are standing in supermarket lines, but the supply is very low and many will not luck out.

This lethal screw up should be laid firmly at the feet of Shrub. It's already costing him some votes from the 'happy with their big tax cut' crowd.

[Senior citizen]

9. The next rethug to oppose socialized medicine on the grounds

that there would be long waits for health care, is probably going to be tarred and feathered. Or that you wouldn't be able to choose your own doctor. What good is being able to choose your doctor if the doctor can't get you a flu shot?

On edit: I got really lucky this year. They usually give flu shots every year at my senior center and at the senior clinic around the corner. Last year they gave them on four different days over the course of about a month. I had to miss the first two times because I had a bad cold and you're not supposed to get the shot if you're sick. I missed the third day because I'd forgotten to write it on my calendar. I just barely got there on the last day, and I vowed at the time to try to do better this year. So when I saw the very first supermarket ad for flu shots, I made an appointment and went over and got my shot. About a week later the news of the shortage began to break. Whew!

[Kanary]

10. THere's a good argument, the next time someone tells you "socialized

medicine" means long waits!

Canadians aren't having to wait, or fear not getting their shots!

:mad:

Kanary