Flu vaccine shouldn't have been left to the pharmaceutical industry.

[annabanana]

Since it's such an expensive, not very profitable, but very necessary thing,
There could have been lots and lots of companies losing $ on it.
or
There could have been several companies breaking even or making a modest profit on it.
or
There could have been two companies making a killing on it.

Guess which option the industry opted for.

[aquart]

1. But...but...doesn't profit matter the most?

Privatized medicine is a danger to our health.

[Bridget Burke]

2. Hey--socialized medicine will lead to rationed health care!

Oh, wait...

[annabanana]

3. ALSO.. a homeland security issue

The most annoying thing is that even a modest assist to a rational number of manufacturers could have kept this from happening at all.

And what if cipro is needed in massive amounts in a hurry? tough luck.

[napi21]

4. Contamination can happen at ANY facility!

The only answer I can see to a problem like this is to demand all drug houses make vaccine. The loss risk would be smaller for each, and if there was a contaminated batch, it would be almost unnoticable in the overall production. The legal community is forced to provide "some" pro bono work, so this demand on the drug community would just be a cost of doing business.

[leftofthedial]

5. privatized, deregulated and outsourced

works real well, doesn't it?