Why there's no Flu Vaccine

[F1nut]

Paul Harvey: Why there's no flu vaccine.

The major pharmaceutical companies in the US provided almost 90% of the nation's flu vaccine at one time. They did this despite a very low profit margin for the product. Basically, they were doing us a favor. In the late 80's a man from North Carolina who had received the vaccine got the flu.

The strain he caught was one of the strains in that year's vaccine made by a US company. What did he do? He sued and he won. He was awarded almost $5 million! After that case was appealed and lost, most US pharmaceutical companies stopped making the vaccine.

The liability out weighed the profit margin. Since UK and Canadian laws prohibit such frivolous law suits UK and Canadian companies began selling the vaccine in the US.

By the way . . . the lawyer that represented the man in the flu shot law suit was a young ambulance chaser by the name of John Edwards.

[nadams]

This could be construed as political.... just FYI....

[amulford]

F#ckin Typical.... Is it the same one???

Just reaffirms my beliefs about politicians....

[BlueMDPicker]

Haha... :p
No political agenda here, believe me! (I doubt the same could be fairly said of Mr. Harvey.)

You might similarly get a chuckle out of this:

The Right of the Story (http://www.fair.org/extra/9709/harvey.htm)

[amulford]

:D

[tryrrthg]

Not true...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/flushot.asp

[nadams]

Snopes saves the day again :-)

[F1nut]

Ah, interesting!

"Before 1993, manufacturers sold vaccines to doctors, doctors prescribed them to patients, and there was some markup. Then Congress adopted the Vaccine for Children Act, which made the government a monopsony buyer. The feds now purchase over half of all vaccines at a low fixed price and distribute them to doctors. This has essentially finished off the private market."

So, the government is to blame, eh?

[F1nut]

Originally posted by nadams
Snopes saves the day again :-)

Saves what??? The fact is there isn't enough flu vaccine regardless of the reason.

[nadams]

It saves people from being lured into believing false information. You have to admit (no matter who you're voting for) that the story was likely concocted by someone who wants people to vote for "the other guy". That's just the way things go in this world. I'm not making this into a political statement, but that's really what the whole thing was about.

If there's not enough to go around (and there never is), the flu vaccine should only be available to people who _need_ it, not the whole public. I know that I don't likely need it (not saying I won't get sick, but if I do, I'd likely recover just fine), so I don't get it, and let it go to (hopefully) someone who does....

[madmax]

It seems that some polititions want to buy the cheaper Canadian drugs which would not pay the US manufacturers any R&D funds for future drugs. (which we sold to them at a lower price because otherwise they would start their own factories and make the same thing anyway since our patents are no good over there)Sure, we can buy the same drugs for 1/10 the cost from Canada. Do we want to? We can save a shitload of cash up front but in the future we will not have the normal advances. Sorry, nothing to do with the flu topic.
madmax

[F1nut]

Originally posted by nadams
I'm not making this into a political statement, but that's really what the whole thing was about.



No, I'm pissed because there's not enough flu vaccine and I hate POS lawyers who makes huge sums of money suing anybody and anything. There are thousands of lawyers like that, Edwards just happens to be one of them. Peter Angelos, owner of the Orioles is another.

[MSkeezer]

Message deleted...Whew! Hope Justin didn't see that...

[jdhdiggs]

Originally posted by MSkeezer
Message deleted...Whew! Hope Justin didn't see that...

Ooooohhhhh.... I'm telling!!! ;)

[MSkeezer]

KIDDING!

[Demiurge]

I think I have morning sickness. Is it the flu or am I pregnant? :(

[sucks2beme]

I really don't get the flu thing. The shot makes you a bit ill. And it normally
is just for one type(god knows how many are really circulating).
Seems like a lot to do about nothing.

[bikezappa]

It never hurts to get good accurate correct data first before forming a conclusion about who to blame or hate next.

Bad or incorrect information on either side of any topic is usually the reason for conflict and arguing.

If there is a disagreement check back into your first assumptions.

[bobman1235]

Before you guys stir up the old argument, check out the dates on the thread, eh?

[Danny Tse]

Seems like a lot to do about nothing.

That's what my friend said....and he works as a scientist for Chiron*, which makes most of the flu vaccine in the US.

* Chiron was purchased by Novartis, which in turn got bought out by Bayer.

[sucks2beme]

Before you guys stir up the old argument, check out the dates on the thread, eh?

Sure. Just rain on our parade!

[Shizelbs]

.....

[bikezappa]

These old threads are fun.