Friday, November 11, 2005

 

Got Your Flu Shot Yet? What, Me Worry?


A top official offered assurances yesterday about any flu vaccine shortage if there is one. Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the CDC, said the good news was that flu is off to a slow start this year, giving more time to get vaccine "out there". While the CDC "suspects" that more people will want a shot this year, her agency had no data to support that, she said. Further, the agency doesn't know where the current shortages are and won't until it collects more information, by which time she expects there won't be any, shortages that is. And anyway, because most vaccine is in private hands, "there's not a lot we can do to solve the national problem" she said.

I don't know about you, but I feel better. There is more good news than the lucky slow start by the flu. First, the Doctor reported that she told her own mother not to worry and to just wait and get her shot when its available. That is comforting. Second, the CDC is not part of FEMA. Third, President Bush has told her "You are doing a heckofa job, Dingy." Fourth, she says Bush's proposal to spend $7.1 billion for a possible pandemic of the bird type will help manufacters expand and prevent shortages of the regular type "in the long run". Fifth, I already got my shot.

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