Ottawa prepares to help U.S. on flu shots

[Minstrel Boy]

Ottawa prepares to help U.S. on flu shots

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004
The Globe and Mail

Canada is willing to ship millions of flu shots south of the border to ease panic in the United States over a vaccine shortage, but health officials warn that the process might take months and would fill only a tiny fraction of the U.S. demand.

Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh publicly extended the offer yesterday, although he cautioned that the assistance would depend on whether Canada has enough surplus vaccine.

"Our first priority is the availability of flu vaccine for Canadians, and if there's anything we can spare for our American neighbours and friends. If we can share it in a way that doesn't jeopardize the safety and supply for Canadians, we would do so," he said.

...

In the meantime, he said, Health Canada is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in hopes of quickly approving for use by the United States the vaccines used in Canada, which are produced by Vancouver-based ID Biomedical Corp. and the French manufacturer Aventis Pasteur. As well, the national public health agencies of both countries are in talks. A representative of Canada's new public health agency said details have not yet been worked out on how the vaccine would get to the United States.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041019.wxflus19/BNStory/Front/

[papau]

1. 2 million Canadian "jabs" will get FDA approval only if Bush is defeated

sigh...

And those excess French shots have no chance until after 1/20/05.


:-)

[Dogmudgeon]

2. What kind of name is Ujjal Dosanjh?

Sounds French to me!

Don't you go startin' nothin' with Uncle Sam, Dirty Pierre!

--bkl

[Hand]

7. Indo-Canadian...

He was (briefly) premier of British Columbia, with the thankless task of picking up the pieces after Glen Clark crashed and burned. He was NDP at the time, but I guess is now in the federal Liberal party.

AFAIK, he's done pretty well in this critical cabinet post--unless he hasn't, of course.

:hi:

[Minstrel Boy]

12. I hate party jumpers, especially

when they jump from my party, but he's done well so far. And since public health care is the greatest legacy of the CCF/NDP (so far!), it's good to have at least a former member with a social conscience hold the portfolio.

[ilovenicepeople]

21. Damn straight Minstrel Boy!

Ujj is a sell out in the 1st degree.Speaking of CCF, I can't believe Tommy Douglas wasn't voted top Canadian on that CBC program.

[Comadreja]

18. French vaccine? No way!

Any self-respectin' Murkin' would rather get the flu first!

[gatlingforme]

3. I am not sure Bush can import drugs from Canada....

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Ain't that the truth!

BUSH: NO DRUGS FROM CANADA! They may be substandard, tainted!

BUSH: Our neighbors to the north will help us out with vaccines.

So, which is it, Georgie? The drugs are substandard, or are they OK when your ass is on the line?

[EST]

4. Way cool.

I called my doctor's office, yesterday, and was told that they weren't getting any of the flu vaccine in and I am an older person with a serious health problem. Translation-there's a big (for me) chance I won't be posting on DU next spring. As a precaution, I've asked my wife to shower immediately on coming home from her job (she works at a bank), and I won't be able to spend nearly as much time with my five year old grandchild as I would like until next spring. This translates into my spending a 95% of my time alone and unable to do much. Maybe not having a flu shot isn't so bad, after all. (self pity soap box now put back firmly under the bed)

[oneighty]

5. Me too Rev

Me too.

180 Bedroom hermit.

[EST]

15. What particular malady have you chosen as your

big challenge in this dimension?

[bigpathpaul]

6. BigPath Flyer: Please check these out, if the flu shortage is an issue 4 U

Downloads: http://bigpath.net/politics/Children_Families/ChildrenFamiliesStart.html

lu season arrives like clockwork each year. But an inattentive Bush administration has put millions of Americans at risk by failing to supply adequate amounts of vaccine, highlighting the hypocrisy of Bush’s claims that he represents average Americans, while demonstrating time and again how out of touch he really is. Ordinary citizens, thousands of whom may die without the flu vaccine, are ignored by an administration obsessed with boosting corporate bottom lines for wealthy donors.

In the Oct. 13 debate, the president blamed the British for the vaccine shortage. But, Chiron, the manufacturer, is an American company, subject to FDA regulation, with a plant in England. In June 2003, the FDA found the plant contaminated with bacteria yet announced “the problems were corrected to their satisfaction,” allowing production to continue. President Bush claimed that “We took the right action and didn’t allow contaminated medicine into our country.” But that was also false. The plant’s license was revoked by the British on October 5 after they inspected it.

While research and deployment of bioterror countermeasures move at a snail’s pace, drug companies recycle massive profits into commercials for pills to improve sexual performance and combat hay fever. Drug companies enjoy some of the highest profit margins of any American industry, paying 40% less in taxes than other companies. Yet, the cost of drugs to Americans has risen at three times the rate of inflation.

When lobbyists for giant pharmaceutical companies pressured Washington to allow them to extend their patents, the Republican Congress — recipients of millions of dollars in donations from the drug companies — readily cooperated. The result was fewer low-cost generic drugs for working men and women and record profits for the pharmaceutical companies. With the campaign in high gear, phony tax breaks and promises abound, but come November 3rd, if the Republicans retain power, the needs of working men and women and their families will tumble right back down to the bottom of the barrel.

http://www.bigpath.net

[booksenkatz]

8. We don't want no 3rd world junk!

You don't know what them Canucks put in that thar vaccine! Ammonia, rat urine, the spit of Frenchmen... we are AMURKANS, dammit.
:eyes:

I'm one asthmatic that is anxious for a flu shot, but Michigan doesn't have much to speak of, yet. The little that we've obtained is going to nursing homes and to pediatricians first, and that is as it should be. They sure don't have a problem getting Viagra to you, but if you need something to save your life, you're shit outta luck!

[KurtNYC]

11. Yep, wut makes um think their frenched up flu vaccine will

work on Muricans? Our kind of flu don't even speak french!

[Benhurst]

13. A French vaccine? A FRENCH vaccine? As an act of

patriotism, all Bush* supporters should refuse to take this Surrender Monkey poison, freeing up the surplus for the rest of us.

(sarcasm off)

VIVE LA FRANCE!

[AP]

9. So America will get national health. We'll get Canada's national health.

When the Republicans fight the next round of health care reform, we'll have to remind voters that Canada has cheaper prescription drugs and didn't have a flu vaccine problem.

[daleo]

14. A vaccine co-produced by French and Canadians

Especially amusing is that it is those left coast Canadians in Vancouver that are producing it. Will Bush accept vaccine from a bunch of peaceniks?

[JolietDem]

16. Touche, you crazy frenchies!

You maple-syrup chugging health-care providing terrorists! Stop hurting America! (That souns be a new national catchphrase...Merci Monsieur Stewart!)

[SidDithers]

17. Approve the vaccine this year...

so we can sell you 50 million doses next year :)

Sid

[Comadreja]

19. next year? Memory black Hole!

[txindy]

20. Canada?! Didn't our leader say that was a third world country?!

Just kidding! I went to university in Canada and loved every moment. :toast: And, oddly enough, without even once having a flu shot while in Canada, I never got the flu. However, since moving to Texas I've gotten the flu every single year that I didn't get a flu shot. Go figure. :shrug: Maybe it's cosmic payback for being able to go out Christmas tree shopping while wearing shorts and a t-shirt. ;)