Re: One Flu over the Cookoo's Nest
At 10:57 PM 20/10/04 -0700, Doug wrote: They could, of course, salvage the whole lot by treating it with radiation. Keith Think the shortage of flu vaccine is just bad luck? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18795-2004Oct8.html Britain: U.S. Told Of Vaccine Shortage LONDON, Oct. 8 -- British health officials said Friday that their American counterparts were informed in mid-September that problems at a drug manufacturing plant in northwest England could disrupt influenza vaccine supplies to the United States. And to fully understand how the vaccine problem was yet another leadership failure by the Bush administration check the conclusion and reccomendations starting on page 22 of this GAO report (PDF)http://aging.senate.gov/events/hr67gao.pdf compiled in 2001 and entitled FLU VACCINE: Supply Problems Heighten Need to Ensure Access for High-Risk People. -- Doug Time he flu the coop. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: One Flu over the Cookoo's Nest
At 10:57 PM 10/20/2004 -0700 Doug Pensinger wrote: Think the shortage of flu vaccine is just bad luck? Lately many liberals have suggested that the US government should use its buying power to try and drive down prescription drug prices and lower profits.I think that it is worth considering what consequences this same policy has wrought in the market for flu vaccines - the government buys most of the nation's vaccines, and many flu vaccine producers have since proceeded to get out of the flu vaccine business, which left (pardon the pun) all of our eggs in one basket. Its worth noting that the UK and their nationalized health care system is in the same boat that we are. JDG ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: One Flu over the Cookoo's Nest
Behalf Of JDG Lately many liberals have suggested that the US government should use its buying power to try and drive down prescription drug prices and lower profits.I think that it is worth considering what consequences this same policy has wrought in the market for flu vaccines - the government buys most of the nation's vaccines, and many flu vaccine producers have since proceeded to get out of the flu vaccine business, which left (pardon the pun) all of our eggs in one basket. I don't know. In another thread, there is a discussion of whether NASA is in trouble because they are relying on a limited number of suppliers. That certainly isn't because of cost reduction issues at NASA, I don't believe. I think this has more to do with the second part of your email: the government buys most of the vaccine. Wouldn't that make for limited suppliers as there isn't much competition for buyers, regardless of price? - jmh ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: One Flu over the Cookoo's Nest
On 21 Oct 2004, at 1:39 pm, JDG wrote: At 10:57 PM 10/20/2004 -0700 Doug Pensinger wrote: Think the shortage of flu vaccine is just bad luck? Lately many liberals have suggested that the US government should use its buying power to try and drive down prescription drug prices and lower profits.I think that it is worth considering what consequences this same policy has wrought in the market for flu vaccines - the government buys most of the nation's vaccines, and many flu vaccine producers have since proceeded to get out of the flu vaccine business, which left (pardon the pun) all of our eggs in one basket. Its worth noting that the UK and their nationalized health care system is in the same boat that we are. According to the linked story the UK Health Service had already arranged for an additional 1.2 million doses from some of its five other suppliers by the end of the month, with an additional 1 million due to arrive by mid-November. What boat are you talking about? -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. -- Ken Olson, President, Chairman and Founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: One Flu over the Cookoo's Nest
At 08:24 AM 10/21/2004 -0500 Horn, John wrote: I don't know. In another thread, there is a discussion of whether NASA is in trouble because they are relying on a limited number of suppliers. That certainly isn't because of cost reduction issues at NASA, I don't believe. I think this has more to do with the second part of your email: the government buys most of the vaccine. Wouldn't that make for limited suppliers as there isn't much competition for buyers, regardless of price? Not necessarily. There is no reason for the government to buy all of its supply from one place, as it does not appear that flu vaccine production has irresistable economies of scale. I think this blog does a good analysis of what is going on here: http://cafehayek.typepad.com/hayek/2004/10/the_cause_of_th.html JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
