Statement by John Kerry on Secretary Thompson Comments on the Flu

[bigtree]

Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Senator John Kerry released the following statement today, October 17, 2004:

“Today, Secretary Thompson said that the shortage of flu vaccines is ‘not a crisis’, even though we only have about half the vaccines that are necessary. Why doesn’t he tell that to the elderly Americans who are waiting in line for hours to get their shot? Why doesn’t he tell that to thousands of pregnant women or people sick with cancer or other diseases who won’t be able to get a vaccine even though they are high risk? Or what about the nurses or doctors who have to turn patients away or parents who cannot afford to miss weeks of work to stay at home with a sick kid? The Bush administration simply does not get it. They didn’t take action to avert this shortage, despite the fact they had been warned for years. Yet again the Bush health care policy sends a clear message to Americans: don’t get sick.”

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_1017d.html


Waxman and Public Health Experts Unveil Kerry Plan to Address the Flu Vaccine Crisis

10/17/2004 10:18:00 PM

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004

News Advisory:

On Monday, October 18 at 1:15 PM ET, California Congressman Henry Waxman, former FDA Commissioner David Kessler and American Nurses Association President Barbara A. Blakeney will hold a conference call with reporters to discuss John Kerry's plan to address the flu vaccine crisis and protect Americans' health.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38300

[durablend]

1. Of course it's not a crisis...

When they know EXACTLY what they're doing.

Betcha the secretary got HIS flu shot (along with his boss *)

[acmavm]

2. Fantastic. Now hit them on the rising price of oil and the ramifications

that in the winter months, old and sick people, poor people, the children of poor people, will not be able to affort heat because they can't afford it. The inability to get flu shots couples with the fact that they can't afford heat, should surely contribute to the demise of a few individuals.

All the failures of the bush* administration are a snowball effect, all specifically designed to hurt the middle and lower classes while those with the big bucks won't even notice what's happening.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Good point

Add that to the fact that many old people are still choosing between buying their meds and eating and a lot of people are going to die this winter, because George Bush was too busy protecting the drug companies and his corporate handlers.

[evilqueen]

4. and food prices are way up in some places

especially up here in the north. Our seniors are not only choosing between pills and food, but also between pills, food, and heat!

This is going to be a long, difficult winter. :/

[ladjf]

5. If the flu is worse than usual this year, many more people will

die from the lack of vaccine than died on 9-11 in the terrorist attack.

Why did the U.S. depend on just two sources for this vital vaccine?

We're talking about the possible collapse of the hospital system if the epidemic becomes serious.

Why are companies now selling vaccine for 10 times the regular price and getting away with it?

Please, let's stop worrying about trivial issues and concentrate on what's happening in America to the quality of people's lives.