Nationwide Shortage In Supply of Swine Flu Vaccine

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that as the number of swine flu cases grows to levels unprecedented for this time of year, health officials predict a shortfall in the supply of swine flu vaccine. Forty-three children have died from swine flu since August 30 — about the same number that usually die in an entire flu season.' These are very sobering statistics,' says Dr. Anne Schuchat, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, 'and unfortunately they are likely to increase.' Projections of the supply of swine flu vaccine have widely varied. During the summer, health officials said 120 million doses would be ready in October but later dropped the estimate to 40 million doses. Now officials expect only 28 million to 30 million doses, adding that the exact number is impossible to predict and could change daily as vaccine manufacturers report that production was behind schedule. 'Vaccine production for influenza is pretty complex,' says Schuchat explaining the delay, 'and the complex process this year is taking a bit longer than we had hoped.' Schuchat warned parents with sick children to be alert for signs that medical attention is required including not eating well, difficulties breathing, and turning blue or gray. A particularly important sign is when children start to get better, then have a relapse, usually a sign that pneumonia is developing, and immediate treatment should be sought."

Comments

Re:Do not want

[Bakkster]

The risks of complications from a vaccine are generally small, but non-zero.

Unless the risks from being sick with the flu is larger than that of the vaccine, it's still a net reduction. That's like saying one should never buckle seatbelts because sometimes they trap a person in a car causing death. However, seatbelts overwhelmingly save more lives, and we just happen to mandate them for this reason!

Seems like a legitimate issue to me, if not for the nurse/doctor's health but for the health of those they care for.

This I agree with. It *is* a legitimate issue. But your right to make demands ends absolutely when it comes to what another person does within their own body.

I can't force you to get the shot, correct. When your choices are a danger to the public (or, in this specific case, hospital patients), then your rights end once again. You don't have to get immunized, but you also don't have to work in the health care field.

It is (or should be) mandated that health care providers take due dilligence not to become a vector for potentially deadly disease. Whether that due dilligence be to get immunized, wear respiration gear at work, or not working in a field that would require such measures if one is not comfortable with them doesn't matter to me.

Your right to work in an industry is contingent on your abiding by all safety requirements. You can refuse to follow them, but you have no right to work such a job if you refuse. Take your bullheaded refusal to prevent transmitting a disease somewhere where it's less likely to kill someone.