- Hello Jeff - 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.
-
- Patricia 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. Michael
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.
-
-
- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
|
