ATLANTA (Reuters) - A nationwide shortage of important childhood vaccines may be just about over, but another could come at any time because most of the causes still exist, health and industry officials say.
OK, WHEN THE BURTON HEARINGS FIRST CAME AROUND BACK IN 99, THE FDA SAID THAT THIMEROSAL TAINTED VACCINES FOR THE DTaP, HiB AND HEP B EXISTED IN A STOCKPILE THAT WOULD BE SEVERAL YEARS DEEP, IMPLYING THAT IT WOULDN'T BE TILL '03 OR '04 BEFORE THEY WERE DEPLETED (RECALL PLEASE THAT THE FDA REFUSED TO RECALL THE MERC STUFF AND ONLY "REQUESTED" THAT THIMEROSAL BE REMOVED FROM NEW PRODUCTION, STOCPILES WERE ALLOWED TO BE USED UP). WE HAD A COUPLE COMPANIES PULL OUT OF DTaP PRODUCTION AND ONE COMPANY FROP THE MMR (FEARING LAWSUITS ONCE THE TRUTH CAME TO LIGHT???). NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A SHORTAGE IN WHAT WAS SAID TO BE ABOUT A 5 YEAR SUPPLY??? WHO THE FUCK ARE THEY TRYING TO BS???
The vaccines, which save millions of lives, are only made by a few companies.
ACTUALLY, THEY ONLY SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES (SEE THE DEATH RATES FOR THE DISEASES COVERED PER THE STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF THE US.) THE DEATH RATES OF ALL THE DISEASES JABBED AGAINST FELL INCREDIBLY DURING THE MODERNIZATION OF AMERICA WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THE DEPRESSION, OFTEN 15 YERS OR MORE BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS INTRODUCED.
The regulatory restrictions that keep vaccines safe cause headaches for the manufacturers
ANYONE REMEMBER SEEING THE REPORT ABOUT THE SANITARY CONDITIONS AT ONE MERCK PLANT THAT WAS PUBLISHED LAST YEAR? I THINK McDONALD'S DOES A MUCH BETTER JOB AT FOLLOWING HEALTH CODES AND MAC SAUCE IS PROBABLY HANDLED INFINITELY SAFER THAN VACCINE LOTS. DON'T SOUND LIKE TOO MUCH HEADACHE TO ME...
and the government has yet to formulate a better plan for stockpiling vaccines.
While everyone agrees that companies must be given better incentives to get into the vaccine business and stay there, coming up with a realistic way to do so is proving difficult.
The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, issued a report on Tuesday that said shortages of childhood vaccines forced 49 of the 50 U.S. states to ration shots in recent months.
I THINK (MY OPINION) THAT THE SHORTAGE WAS CONTRIVED TO TURN THE HEAT UP ON CONGRESS TO PUSH THE FRIST BILL THRU.
It said the government had the authority to stockpile childhood vaccines, but had done so with only two and did not have a plan for creating stockpiles in the future.
"We are working on it," said Dr. Walter Orenstein, head of the National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I think stockpiles are important, but they are not a panacea."
The main issue is that only four companies make most of the childhood vaccines, and that any one can drop out of the business at any time, Orenstein said in an interview. Or one can run into problems -- one of the issues that caused this last shortage.
VULNERABLE SUPPLY
With five of the eight vaccinations made by one company each, this leaves the nation's supply highly vulnerable.
Even the vaccine makers, who have a virtual monopoly, say they would welcome competition. "I don't think anybody wants more competition from a business perspective," said Wayne Pisano, executive vice president of Aventis-Pasteur North America .
THEY DO NOT WANT COMPETITION, IF THEY DID THEY WOULD VOLUNTARILY DROP THEIR PATENT RIGHTS TO PROCESS. VACCINES HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PROFITABLE FOR THE PHARMAS BETWEEN THE VIRTUAL MONOPOLIES GRANTED, THE PROTECTION FROM PRODUCT LIABILITY LEGISLATED AND THE EVER INCREASING REGIMENT OF MANDATED SHOTS HOLDING WELFARE BENEFITS AND COMPULSARY SCHOOL ATENDANCE OVER THE HEADS OF PARENTS TO INSURE WE QUEUE OUR CHILDREN UP FOR THE FULL BATTERY (SUCH AN APPROPRIATE TERMS, YES?). FOR SOME JABS THE COMPANIES HAVE MADE TENS OF BILLIONS OF PROFITS (NOT GROSS RECEIPTS BUT BOTTOM LINE NET) OF THEIR JABS.
"But it is difficult for us to invest and expand. Changing the system will invite competition but it will also help us."
"CHANGING THE SYTEM" MEANS MANDATE MORE JABS AND ELIMINATE ALL LIABILITY.
Still, no one is sure how to do that -- by subsidizing vaccines, giving financial incentives, or simply by making the vaccine approval process easier.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT, RUSH ADDITIONAL JABS OUT WITH INADEQUATE TESTING. ANYBODY REMEMBER ROTASHIELD?
The CDC recommends that all babies get 11 routine vaccines in eight shots. Over the past year, five vaccines have been in shortage -- the MMR vaccine, pneumococcal disease vaccine, DTaP, the tetanus and diphtheria booster and chicken pox. Many are not fully effective until a child has received several doses.
THE REASON MANY ARE NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEVERAL DOSES IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN ARTIFICIAL METHOD OF CONFERING TEMPORARY PROTECTION. THAT IS WHY TETANUS WAS BUNDLED WITH DIPTHERIA; HISTORICALLY DIPTHERIA HAD A VERY LOW RATE OF SUCCESSFUL UPTAKE (LESS THAN 15%). BY BUNDLING IT WITH TETANUSTHEY MORE THAN DOUBLED THIS TO SLIGHTLY OVER 30%. THAT IS ALSO WHY ALUMINUM IS ADDED TO CERTAIN SHOTS AS A ADJUVANT. FOR SOME REASON ALUMINUM SENSITIZES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BETTER "REOGNIZE" CERTAIN VIRUSES.
Doctors have tried to give babies the vital first doses of vaccines, but in many cases have had to delay the last shots in the series to ensure that every baby gets at least some cover.
One problem was that some companies were having trouble producing enough supplies, but did not tell the CDC in time for the agency to get other makers to ramp up efforts.
Companies could consider a supply shortage to be a trade secret and may be reluctant to tell the CDC.
BULLSHIT. THEY ARE USING THE THREAT TO THE HERD IMMUNITY PROJECT AS A WAY TO PUSH LEGISLATION FAVORABLE TO THE THRU CONGRESS.
Pisano hopes for even better communications with CDC.
"We believe CDC should have the power and authority to take confidential information and share it with other companies when there is a shortage," Pisano said in a telephone interview.
The GAO also suggested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration be allowed to "fast-track" approval of new vaccines, an idea Orenstein favors.
Pisano had a final suggestion: make it harder to sue vaccine manufacturers.
THERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE...
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is supposed to be a no-fault insurance fund for people injured by the very rare side effects that vaccines have. But Pisano said some people are starting to sue companies directly, and Aventis-Pasteur was spending millions of dollars litigating 100 or so cases.
TOO EFFIN BAD. WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT THESE COMPANIES DID NOT ADEQUATELY TEST THEIR PRODUCTS, FALSIFIED TEST RESULTS/REPORTS, AND HAD FULL FOREKNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS, THEY GET WHAT THEY GET.
FIAT JUSTICIA, RUAT COELUM!
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