I researched this subject for a project. Here's the summary:

Why can't we get a flu shot?

We are the only industrialized country in the world that leaves the
public health decisions to private industry. Decisions are profit
related. Leaving the supply to the lowest bidder, and not having a
backup plan caused the shortage.

Why can't over 50 get the nasal vaccine?

The age for testing was cut off at 49, just because they had to cut it
off somewhere.

It was felt that 50 and above are more LIKELY to get regular physicals,
and therefor more likely to get a flu shot.

That's why, arbitrary decisions based on profit.

One has to wonder how we are planning for terrorist threats. . .

Jim

Chiron Corp. 4560 Horton St., Emeryville, CA 94608
www.chiron.com


Max Mustermann wrote:

How the vaccine works:

Influenza vaccine is produced by growing the virus in eggs. The virus is
killed and processed to create the vaccine, which is given by injection
under the skin. The body then produces antibodies to the virus over the
next two to four weeks. If the immunized person then comes into contact
with the influenza virus, the antibodies attack and kill the virus
before
it has a chance to cause infection. The vaccine contains the 3 most
likely
strains to be active during the "flu season"


Why the shortage:

Almost half of the nation's flu vaccine will not be delivered this year.
Chiron, a major manufacturer of flu vaccine, will not be distributing any
influenza vaccine this flu season. Chiron was to make 46-48 million doses
vaccine for the United States. Chiron is a British company. Recently
British health officials stopped Chiron from distributing and making
the
vaccine when inspectors found unsanitary conditions in the labs. Some
lots
of the vaccine were recalled and destroyed.

Why is our vaccine made in the UK and not the US?

The major pharmaceutical companies in the US provided almost 90% of the
nations flu vaccine at one time. They did this despite a very low profit
margin for the product. Basically, they were doing us a favor. In the
late
80's a man from North Carolina who had received the vaccine got the flu.
The strain he caught was one of the strains in that year vaccine made
by a
US company. What did he do? He sued and he won. He was awarded almost $5
million! After that case was appealed and lost, most US pharmaceutical
companies stopped making the vaccine. The liability out weighed the
profit
margin. Since UK and Canadian laws prohibit such frivolous law suits
UK and
Canadian companies began selling the vaccine in the US.

By the way...the lawyer that represented the man in the flu shot law
suit
was a young ambulance chaser by the name of John Edwards.