For those that take flu shots

[Guest guest]

More Madness - US Officials

Try To Salvage

Tainted Flu Shots

A. Doyle, PhD

10-8-4

- This is just amazing! US officials are trying to salvage some of

the tainted Chiron flu shots for use on the public which will

comprise mainly the elderly and infirm...and when (not if) people

taking the tainted shots get ill and die, their death certificates

will probably read cause of death as influenza and not bad vaccine.

I believe the interest in getting the vaccine to market is purely

monetary. Taking contaminated vaccine is far more risky then getting

influenza.

Anyone who gets a flu shot this Fall has NO WAY of knowing where the

vaccine was manufactured or if it is from the tainted vaccine. This

sounds like Russian Roulette. It doubtful that the patient would be

told the truth. I really don't see doctors or health clinics waring

patients that the shot they are getting might be contaminated. It is

simply a toss of the dice. A mighty big gamble.

Doyle

http://www.wnbc.com/health/3790466/detail.html

U.S. Officials Try To Salvage Flu Shots From Tainted Supply

Anxious Patients Stand In Long Lines For Shots

10-7-4

With flu shot clinics being canceled nationwide, U.S. health

officials are trying to salvage some vaccine held up in a British

factory.

They met with British regulators in London on Thursday to discuss

Britain's move to temporarily shut down Chiron Corp., the supplier

of half the American flu vaccine supply.

Britain defended the move, which stunned U.S. health officials this

week. They say the vaccine was tainted with a bacteria.

American health officials wanted to examine test results. They also

will visit the Chiron factory where the vaccine is being held to see

if any can be salvaged.

Back in the United States, phones have been ringing off the hook in

doctors' offices with patients eager to get the vaccine.

Flu shot clinics that have gone on despite the shortage have seen

huge lines. In Potomac, Md., a flu shot clinic at a grocery store

had such a large turnout that police had to be called to direct

traffic.

U.S. health officials are scrambling to find out which cities and

states will have the worst vaccine shortages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it'll be weeks

before that can happen. Most of the doses have gone to private

distributors, not state health departments.

The government says it will urge those distributors to ration the

vaccine out to those most in need -- the youngest, oldest and

sickest.

" We don't get most of the high-risk people anyway. In a sense, the

added focus will bring more of those people out and get them to

medical care. A silver lining in a cloud, " said Dr. Elkort,

of Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts.

" At risk " patients include: children between 6 months and 23 months

old; adults 65 years and older; anyone with underlying chronic

medical conditions; some pregnant women; and health-care workers and

child-care providers.

" We're concerned there's not enough in the country to give to the

children, " said Lorretta Chow, mother of a 2-year-old.

However, experts say that Chiron didn't make any of vaccines

designed for young children, so the supplies of that vaccine won't

be affected by the shortage.

Previous Stories:

October 6, 2004: Officials, Doctors Worry About Flu Vaccine Shortage

October 6, 2004: Facing Flu Vaccine Shortage, Officials Urge

Rationing

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated

Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material

may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A. Doyle, PhD

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