USAToday: Flu Vaccine Often Went to Corporate Clinics Instead of High-Risk Groups
I can't tell whether I have a bad cold or the swine flu, but I sure would have gotten the vaccine if it had been available. Now I know why I never got that notice:
When the swine flu vaccine was most scarce, health officials gave thousands of doses to corporate clinics at Walt Disney World, Toyota, defense contractors, oil companies and cruise lines, according to a USA TODAY review of vaccine distribution data from three states.
USA TODAY examined how state health departments distributed H1N1 vaccine after public outcry last month over Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs receiving doses while doctors and hospitals encountered shortages. The data show other companies got the vaccine in October and early November. In some cases, early doses went to people not deemed most at risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Now we have evidence of what my suspicions were," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., chair of a House health subcommittee. "I'm afraid when you have these corporate initiatives, it's not primarily needs-based."
Pallone said he would send the CDC a letter Tuesday asking it to revise guidelines to states on the use of corporate health clinics.
Each state health department must decide how to provide the vaccine to people most at risk, and employers are a legitimate venue, said Anne Schuchat, the CDC's immunization director. CDC's priority groups include pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, health care workers and people ages 6 months to 24 years. "This is much less about what you do for a living and much more about how do you get the vaccine in the path of those target populations," she said.
It sure would be interesting to know who made those decisions - and at whose request.
Goldman Sachs needed the vaccine to enable them to carry out God's work.
Happy Zappadan!
the public (herds) gets "screwed" again, and again and again.
I can see the complaints about Toyota, defense contractors and oil companies. . . but Disney world and cruse line employees are in contact with millions of people per year. I would count them, flight attendants, and waitresses among the people I would prioritize for vaccinations.
It sure would be interesting to know who made those decisions - and at whose request.
And how much they were paid. Can we get a statement from the WH?
How come so many Americans are so stupid that they blame the White
House for decisions made by states on vaccine distributions?
How come blog postsers omit data that make stories seem less sinister? For example, from the article on which this post is based:
"Of the 2.42 million doses in Texas and 2 million in Florida distributed through mid-November, fewer than 1% went to employers, according to USA TODAY's analysis of data obtained under state open-records acts."
Of course we do not want employers providing health care for their employees at work based clinics. These clinics actually might try to do their jobs by getting vaccines for diseases that spread in the workplace. The next thing these slimey bastards will do is offer their employees company paid health insurance.
Why hasn't Obama improved the deductive reasoning skills of more people. Angry lefties demand to know!!!!
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
You're too much, little ricky....
to keep you away from those adorable baby seals.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I just spit out my coffee! Your timing is beautiful!
with my seal meat, but then mine is always club tenderized.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
jacket with every meal
Goldman Sachs is pretty iffy... but I can see Disney World and the Cruise Lines being pretty important. Each has a lot of people who interract with a lot of other people from all over the world. The flu could spread very quickly through those vectors.
Priorities, folks. If our corporations are rampant with the disease...then they will lose man hours. Productivity will decline, which will worsen our economy, leading to collapse of our financial system...and then....and THEN...THE TERRORISTS WIN!!!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I teach at a two year college. Low income, disadvantaged students.
We had flu shot clinics . . . canceled due to shortages. I've had rolling absences at about 20% due to illness and got the H1N1 for 2 weeks.
from the VA that the "hinie" vaccine was available. He wanted to know what "hinie" vaccine was. I told him it was H1N1, and he appeared totally confused. I told him it was code for swine flu. I waited until he left me before I cracked up.
Women and children first - just like the Titanic?
WTF?
Corporatism has taken over any good judgment.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
ding ding ding!
We have a winner!
;-)
... we just live in it.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
sad but true.
Grrrrrr
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
the upkeep. Because so far, we keep getting stuck with the bills...
Thanks for the heads-up, Susie.
Rumblings in the MSM about CDC-State Health preferences favoring Corporate entities have been popping up for months. The pattern, or modus operandi, has become readily apparent. The "unwashed masses", even those considered to be in high risk categories, are being discriminated against to the benefit of the Monied Interests. Gated communities, M.I.C. workers, and the Wall Street Mobsters all are members of the "privileged classes" and are all ushered to the head of the lines for vaccines. All that remains - the final nail in the coffin of "we the people" is the upcoming SCOTUS decision in favor of unchecked campaign contributions. Considering the make-up of the Court, that outcome is assured.
I am reminded of a dark tale called "The Masque Of The Red Death". None can escape their fate in the face of a pandemic, because there is always a reliance upon "little people" called upon to serve their "betters". At some point, karma really does swing around.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
"a reliance upon "little people" called upon to serve their "betters""
Someone has to bury the dead.
UGH!
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
When was the last time you saw the house pass a single piece of legislation which subsumed corporate interests in favor of personal/social interests?
I don't see how the conservatives and the Republicans can complain about this, this is the market, which they love so much, at work.
The cons and R's who got the shot aren't complaining.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Who will have the last laugh? I love a good mystery.
in two states. None in the third. We have a corporate conspiracy here folks. Damn clinics actually trying to get vaccine for the people they serve. What is next? Corporate paid health insurance for workers?
Before you allow your vitriol to boil at a post of half an article from noted investigative journalism Titan USA Today, read the link. How much fewer than 1% is "less than." How many thousands of doses make the number plural? 2 Thousand? 3 Thousand? That is all the documentation the article provides in the two states which distributed the vaccine to corporations. Five thousand doses out of over 4 million. That is less than 1% all right. Try one tenth of one percent!
Could it be that in 47 other states not surveyed, no vaccinations went to corporate clinics? I do not know. Neither do any readers here based on the information provided.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
in an otherwise working class county. Guess which clinic (at the farthest end of said county) got the vaccine?
So it isn't just the corporate wealthy who are getting advantages.
The only good thing here is that I'm assuming it still went to pregnant women and children. Just not the less financially well-off women and children.
why even allow the corporations to get them in the first place?
these were for cdc priority groups--the elderly, children, and pregnant moms to be.
case example from the article:
toyota rcvd 2100 avail shots, but could not use them all on those deemed a cdc priority group and instead allowed for them to be available to any within the company after 11/16. one could then draw from this that the state did not closely monitor the distribution of a valuable resource of limited supply, and, that there is a business who is potentially hoarding inventory when it should be returned or at least be reported to the state that the amount is still on hand if needed.
there is always room for improvement in future emergency situations. and if this really turned into a scary predicament, then every small % would count.
Shocking. The wealthy getting preferential treatment over the poor and most needy.
... although maybe some shots of that oxyclean may do the trick killing the flu virus...
I'm sure we'd have been able to get vaccine if we needed it...
No, really...
to get one on Dec. 21st. Just in time to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus.
...suggesting that our government has been bought and paid for -- and that the corporations own this country and everyone in it lock, stock, and barrel. What are the chances that anyone will be prosecuted or at least penalized for this? My guess is that a snowball has a better chance in Hell...
I'm not certain whether this is the new feudal state, or the new Gilded Age. Frankly, either analogy would probably be apropos...
The Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves. This is not the country they put their lives on the line in order to create...not by a long chalk.
Never trust anyone who insists that patriotism requires you to blindfold yourself with the flag.
Make it a crime for health officials to give vaccination dosages to
corporations operating clinics which want to vaccinate their workforce. Throw them in jail with the marijuana dealers!
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
USA TODAY examined how state health departments distributed H1N1 vaccine after public outcry last month over Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs receiving doses while doctors and hospitals encountered shortages...CDC's priority groups include pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, health care workers and people ages 6 months to 24 years...in some cases, early doses went to people not deemed most at risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With all due respect, what part of that do you not understand? The CDC guidelines state that first priority for the H1N1 vaccine should be those people at highest risk of contracting it due to age (such as children and the elderly) and/or chronic health conditions, people at greater risk of dying or suffering serious complications as a result of the virus (such as people who have asthma), and people who work in the health care industry. Are you seriously telling me that you see it as perfectly legitimate for a stockbroker who does not fit these criteria -- someone who, for that matter, can already quite easily afford the very best health care that money can buy -- to be considered more deserving of a vaccine simply by virtue of the fact that he makes more money? If so, it would appear that you see a person's net worth as being the sole criteria for determining their worth as a person...and if you're that much of a Social Darwinist, sir, at least have the courage and the integrity to admit it!
And for your information, prosecution doesn't necessarily have to mean prison -- have you never heard of fines?. The CDC is supposed to serve all of the American people, not merely the most wealthy or most influential. If the policy has been violated, whoever was responsible ought to be held accountable. Conservatives are always pontificating on the importance of "taking personal responsbility". If it's so very important, I'd think it should apply to everyone...but it's interesting how often conservatives become just like the people whom they're so eager to condemn and try to make excuses for their behavior when the shoe's on the other foot.
Never trust anyone who insists that patriotism requires you to blindfold yourself with the flag.
what part of "in some cases" did you miscontrue into a criminal
conspiracy proving the government and everyone in it is owned by corporations.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
It doesn't necessarily have to be a conspiracy per se -- your words, not mine! -- to be a problem. If you think that this is the only context in which corporations have been influencing the government to act in accordance with their interests rather than those of the people, you are unbelievably naive. If I may use a medical analogy, this is just one symptom of a larger disease -- but the wise physician strives to cure the disease and not merely the symptoms. Yes, the fact that corporations are made up of people suggests that the interests of the corporations and those of the people should in theory coincide for the most part. Unfortunately, what works well in theory very seldom works well in practice -- and in real life, there are plenty of examples to demonstrate that corporate interests are often at odds with those of the people. The fact that this is the case doesn't necessarily mean it's ethical...unless, of course, you're someone who believes that Might Makes Right and that power is the ultimate virtue.
Never trust anyone who insists that patriotism requires you to blindfold yourself with the flag.
so much common sense on a snark troll? The issue is clear to the rest of us.
the way you don't answer a simple question and respond with another question that has nothing to do with the question.
You're a real pro.
and may be safely ignored...indeed that is the recommended prescription for such dickies as 'ricky'
Good!
Let them suffer through Mercury poisoning... fools.
OK you don't get the flu, but you KNOW you've got mercury.
Doesn't seem like a deal I would take. Let them have it with both barrels.
I think that the antivaxers may be the ones with too much mercury...
its not "antivaxers" it is anti-unsafe vaccines
Ralph Nader was not "anti-automobile" when he called for more safety testing.
Vaccine safety stills needs to be held to the same standard as other meds are - unbiased double blind studies rather than epidemoiology which cannot not fully answer safety questions by it's own methodology. Such studies have never been done yet many current and former public health officials have publicly stated still need to be done.
Lede of an article:
"I can't tell whether I have a bad cold or the swine flu, but I sure would have gotten the vaccine if it had been available. Now I know why I never got that notice:
This author "knows" she was not notified about vaccination availability in the northeast United States where she lives because USA Today found out that less than one percent of vaccination dosages went to corporate clinics in states thousands of miles from where she lives.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Government. For your own safety and peace of mind.
Cheers!
that you walk into down heeah @ Tampa has free H1N1 shots as a door prize for all of their patients, I had one.
Yeah , like this is a surprise ?
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
What a bunch of sheep. It seemed like when the swine flu first "broke out" it was a bunch of hysteria drummed up by the media and the vaccine companies anyway. And now that millions of dollars have been made on a vaccine that has never been tested in the first place, this H1N1 is just another footnote until next "flu season".
where did h1n1 swine flu
corporate favoritism by the FDA and HHS. Nothing new here.
Swine flu was been nothing more than hype and corporate favoritism by spending billions of tax payer dollars promoting a product which they also made free from laibility from the get go. Spending on flu vaccines which are no more effective than placebos and all during a highly publicized "pandemic" that has been one of the mildest on record.
The mild isn't because of vaccine uptake because the vaccines have been late and public acceptance rates have been lower than other flu seasons when the vaccine uptake was greater.
Traditional flu season in the US runs from late January to mid-April. What we're seeing lately are flu-related deaths greater than normal for the time of year. Based on the data from 8/30/09-10/31/09:
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Another peak will hit when college students come home and spread the germs that they have been exposed to to their families and class mates.
This is a typical flu bounce, and of course when they return to classes they will carry any new infection they picked up at home, so that there will be another small bounce at the beginnig of the them.
flu is lumped in with pneumonia overestimating its actual occurence
remember the CDC/AHDRA stopped tracking actual swine flu cases and have relied on epidemiology to "guestimate" cases. The CDC has stonewalled efforts to get at why such a measure has been taken during a supposed "pandemic" (remember how many people Bush said would die from Bird Flu in the US?)
flu trends for just the beginning of initial season are still below previous ones when vaccinations rates were much higher.
A systematic review of 51 studies found flu vaccines no more effective than placebos.
I figured the vaccines were going to someone with money who wasn't actually a priority. I'll bet I know where the doses of the vaccine that were supposed to go to my Obstetrician's practice actually went. They haven't had any in 2 1/2 months, and I've been trying to get it for 2 of those months. At 14 weeks now, hopefully i can get the vaccine before my third trimester.
Well this is Justice at last! If the Corporate Elite want to
shoot that Shit into there Body let them. I would not give that
stuff to my Dog.
Even if you don't get this years flu, by not taking the vaccine, some of you just say no'ers will become Thyphoid Marys, carring the disease to those who have weaker immune systems and spreading the disease further than it would otherwise spread.
In other words facilitating a possible epidemic spreading of a serious lung infection.
I am a health care worker, a lab tech, and I have asthma. That me and others like me in the priority list twice over. I am still waiting for my H1N1 vaccination.
In addition lab techs often draw blood from patients which puts their faces directly in line with any sputum expelled by a patient's cooughs of sneezes or wheezes.
There is no way in the world that the non nurses who draw blood should not be next in line behing nurses who do draw blood, we are literally staring into the barrel of a gun if that patient carries a serious infection and is coughing.
Put another way when you go to ER who do you want giving you care healthy hospital staff or Mickey Mouse?
How much more evidence do we need of the corporate take over of our government, and the damage the elites can do. I am a health care worker in Maine, working with a very vulnerable population, and neither they nor I have had access to the flu vaccine yet.
This is government by, and for, the corporation elite, the criminal fraudster banksters, whose crimes include depriving the elderly, vulnerable young and pregnant women vaccine so that the "masters of the universe" as they choose to deem themselves, can preserve their health, wealth and power.
Time for a revolution.
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