The Progressive cause of the current Swine Flue (H1N1) Vaccine shortage

I remembered the arguments and hype a few years back regarding the whole vaccine thing. Just another reason to avoid goverment run heathcare. Does anyone else remember that debate and why is the mass media ignoring this?

below is somthing I found on the web you might find interesting.
By The Wall Street Journal


August 15, 2003



Everyone knows America's vaccine industry is in serious trouble, with an ever dwindling number of producers and recent severe vaccine shortages. What everyone also should know is that the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine has now pinned much of the blame on Hillary Rodham Clinton.



Well, not in so many words. The panel of doctors and economists issuing a report on vaccines last week was too polite to mention the former First Lady by name. But they identify as a fundamental cause of the problem the fact that the government purchases 55% of the childhood vaccine market at forced discount prices. The result has been "declining financial incentives to develop and produce vaccines."



The root of this government role goes back to August 1993, when Congress passed Mrs. Clinton's Vaccines for Children program. A dream of Hillary's friends at the Children's Defense Fund, her vaccines plan was to use federal power to ensure universal immunization. So the government agreed to purchase a third of the national vaccine supply (the Clintons had pushed for 100%) at a forced discount of half price, then distribute it to doctors to deliver to the poor and the un- and under-insured.



The result is a cautionary tale for anyone who favors national health care. Already very high in 1993, childhood vaccination rates barely budged. A General Accounting Office report at the time noted that "vaccines are already free" for the truly needy through programs like Medicaid. Meanwhile, however, the Hillary project dealt the vaccine industry another financial body blow.



Thirty years ago, the Institute report notes, 25 companies produced vaccines for the U.S. market. Today only five remain, and a number of critical shots have only one producer. Recent years have brought shortages of numerous vaccines, including those for whooping cough, diphtheria and chicken pox.



The Institute of Medicine panel seems to assume -- probably correctly -- that it's not politically feasible simply to kill something called Vaccines for Children. But it does suggest that removing the government as a direct purchaser would allow for adequate reimbursement and help the industry to get back on its feet. So it recommends replacing existing vaccination programs with a subsidized insurance mandate for children and seniors, and with vouchers for those who lack coverage.



In the short run, this might marginally improve on the existing system. But insurers rightly worry that future budget pressures would cause the subsidy to dry up, leaving them with yet another costly coverage mandate. An even greater risk is that it would put the government in position to determine which vaccines to subsidize, and to determine the subsidy level based on nebulous estimates of "the societal value of the vaccine." This seems like an indirect price control, and we can't think of any other industry in which a government policy of picking winners has been conducive to innovation.



The better answer is a return to a freer market. Private companies are willing to innovate if they can get an adequate return. Vaccines are a predictable cost, not a variable insurable risk, and so are affordable for even the poorest Americans. Jack Calfee of the American Enterprise Institute estimates that vaccines account for less than 2% of the pharmaceutical market or less than two-tenths of one percent of total U.S. health costs. The $400-$600 cost of the recommended round of childhood vaccines is spread out over 16 years, and the truly needy qualify for Medicaid or the federally funded State Children's Health Insurance Program.



Apart from price controls, the other great threat to vaccine makers has been tort lawyers. Congress took a significant step to solve this problem in 1986, creating the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and requiring the injured parties to seek redress there before they can sue in regular courts. But plaintiffs' lawyers have been crafty in finding ways around the VICP, most notoriously by claiming damages due to the discontinued but harmless vaccine additive thimerosal. There's still work to be done here.



The Institute of Medicine panel deserves credit for highlighting the threat to vaccine makers from government price controls. Mrs. Clinton is a powerful Senator now with Presidential ambitions. It took some guts for the Institute panel to say in effect that one of her pet projects is a bust. As Congress considers Medicare legislation that could do similar harm to prescription drug makers, the vaccine tale is a timely alarm.



http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/Hillarys%20Vaccine%20Shortage.html

The obvious bias of mainstreem media for Obama

I was appalled by the Obama administration’s decision to have the terrorists tried in New York by a civilian court. I cannot wait for the media circus to unfold on this one and then see how the mainstream media will spin this one for the progressives. Gitmo was the perfect setup for these combatants that are trying to kill us in a time of war. Another one I cannot believe is how little negative press is being said about the unemployment rate and Obama/Pelosi/Reid programs.I remember when Reagan was in office the news outlets where ripping him apart and assigning all blame to his administration.
A webpage clearly showing the bias of mainstream media for Obama.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/specialreports/2009/FlipFlop/flipflop-fullreport.asp

Some examples of goverment run programs.

Some examples of goverment run programs.

The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You've had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.


Social Security was established in 1935. You've had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You've had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.

War on Poverty started in 1964. You've had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You've had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.

Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You've had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.
The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You've had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.

The failed Public Education system is only used as a last resort if you cannot afford private education as proved by the successful voucher programs. The finest health program in the world is about to be ruined if these proposed Health Reforms are enacted as proposed. So now the goverment will get it correct this time?

Pelosi Health Bill Has Radical Socialist Agenda

When our country is besieged and bedeviled by socialists who neither understand nor respect America, we must fight back with every fiber of our being.

What is the hurry, let’s have a BIPARTISON solution. Not a socialist solution. The two party system is why this country is great!


I agree that the system has flaws and needs to be improved. We cannot make CHANGES this huge in six months and under a one party system let us move slowly and take 10 years if needed and get the conservative input so that we have a fair and balanced solution.

We have the best system on the planet as proven by all the people coming from all the countries with socialized systems to actually get cured here. Let us not ruin a good thing but improve it, is that not unreasonable?

I lived in Montreal Que. Canada for four years and speak from personal experience that their universal government run health system is inferior to ours.

If anyone still thinks Obama health plan will not bankrupt us. We need to slow down and take slower more methodical approach to the health crises, as socialized medicine is inferior to our present system. We have the best system on the planet as proven by all the people coming from all the countries with socialized systems to actually get cured here. Our problem is the uninsured we need to provide a fraud reduced Medicaid/care like solution of minimal care introduced incrementally over time as we can fund it expanded to those that need it.

Everyone knows that a public option for health care will lead to the same situation we have with public education: Anyone who can afford it will pay twice -- once for the public option that they don't use and again for the private option that they do.