Here comes more government health care
Government health officials are mobilizing to launch a massive swine flu vaccination campaign this fall that is unprecedented in its scope — and in the potential for complications.
The campaign aims to vaccinate at least half the country’s population within months. Although more people have been inoculated against diseases such as smallpox and polio over a period of years, the United States has never tried to immunize so many so quickly.
But even as scientists rush to test the vaccine to ensure it is safe and effective, the campaign is lagging. Officials say only about a third as much vaccine as they had been expecting by mid-October is likely to arrive by then, when a new wave of infections could be peaking….
“This is potentially the largest mass-vaccination program in human history,” said Howard Markel, a professor of medical history at the University of Michigan who is advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it spearheads the effort.
So, what’s the line on this one?
“The Constitution doesn’t say anything about government providing inoculations.”
“We should let the free market handle this.”
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263 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
6:57 am
Mornin’, Jay.
Hard to say what the line on this one will be, since that whole “promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” business gets real specific to conservatives when it suits the, and not so much when it doesn’t.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
6:58 am
Or even when it suits THEM.
I’ll come in again…
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
7:04 am
I’ve heard some righties in here claim that the h1n1 virus is a gubmint plot to scare red-blooded hetero white males, or suchlike, so that’ll be in the mix fer sure.
Irregular Paul
August 23rd, 2009
7:06 am
Just wait for the uproar when they announce the priority groups for vaccination – and the small-minded realise that those priority groups will be largely made up of those the well-insured regard as unworthy
Eric
August 23rd, 2009
7:06 am
My understanding is that the government has been overreacting to swine flu, right?
Cherokee
August 23rd, 2009
7:08 am
Who knows, Eric – I’ve heard it’s been pretty bad in the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s winter now.
Irregular Paul
August 23rd, 2009
7:11 am
Not that I care – I (and therefore also my entire family) am in the NHS’ top priority group and already had my first free swine flu jab last week. I’m all-right Jack, so you lot can fight it out for yourselves
ByteMe
August 23rd, 2009
7:21 am
Eric, you’re understanding is wrong. The transmissability of this is much higher than normal flu. They’re expecting 40% of the population to get it this year. Mortality is about the same as a typical flu (which kills about 300,000 a year worldwide if I remember right). The worry is that this may morph (as most flu viruses do on a regular basis) into something with a higher mortality rate and the same level of transmissability… that’s where the health officials around the world are getting scared and insisting on people getting the vaccine this year.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 23rd, 2009
7:39 am
There’s a long line you won’t see me standing in.
Not only do we not know what concoction they have brewed up, you have to place your trust in some FAA or postal worker to get the right dosage or even to not mistakenly load his syringe up with Drano.
I’ll suffer the flu, thanks anyway!
RollerGirl
August 23rd, 2009
7:40 am
Officials say only about a third as much vaccine as they had been expecting by mid-October is likely to arrive by then…
Whats the line? How about “Typical government half-assed try”
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 23rd, 2009
7:46 am
Foreclosures rise along with layoffs
Since then, he’s been working as a consultant, earning less than half his old salary of $115,000. His wife has been cleaning houses to keep the family afloat.
But after draining their savings and retirement accounts, the couple have missed four payments on their ~~~~~~~~~~~~~$636,000 mortgage.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Their request for a loan modification from OneWest Bank (formerly failed IndyMac Bank) was denied because the couple’s income was too low. A OneWest representative declined comment.-Urinal
I hate to break the news but if there are very many more of these^^ floating around out there, we are a long ways from hitting the bottom.
Even Obozo’s own corruption and ACORN graft income couldn’t bail this fool out.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 23rd, 2009
7:53 am
Never has this been more apparent than in the current health care debate, which has polarized America, produced vicious town hall meetings with screaming protestors and whittled the president’s approval rating from superstar status to a shrinking minority. I’m the first to admit that this is too big an issue to simply forgo rigorous discussion. But, we need to ask ourselves if fighting to be the loudest shouting voice in a crowd is the most effective way to do it.-Urinal
Uh huh-
When Bush visited Portland, Ore., for a fundraiser, protesters stalked his motorcade, assailed his limousine and stoned a car containing his advisers. Chanting “Bush is a terrorist!”, the demonstrators bullied passers-by, including gay softball players and a wheelchair-bound grandfather with multiple sclerosis.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
7:54 am
A recent study reveals that doctors who are willing to apologize to patients for their mistakes are sued for malpractice about half as much as doctors who aren’t willing to apologize.
That’s called reduced cost non-healthy care, or cheap tort reform, or both.
Kayaker 71
August 23rd, 2009
8:03 am
The 1919 flu epidemic was called Spanish Flu and was a variant of H1N1. About 500M people world wide were infected… nearly 20%, or about 100M, died. This represented about 3-6% of the world’s population at that time. Worst pandemic in world history. Scares the hell out of me… I will be first in line for my vaccination, which has not determined to be 100% effective in preventing the disease but is the next best thing. To equate this move by the governments of world to a form of government health care is folly. It is a one time effort to prevent this disease, nothing more.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:04 am
If the founders were alive today, Republicans would be giving them [crap] because the Preamble to the Constitution says, “In order to form a more perfect union? Hello, it’s already perfect! Why are you suggesting American apologetics, Ben Franklin?”
One of the things that makes Republicans furious about our current president is their idea that Obama is always apologizing for America’s biggest mistakes. Unlike President Bush. Who was one of America’s biggest mistakes.
That Bill! He cracks me up. He manages to take the facts and present them and make them sound funny even though it’s really sickening.
Question
August 23rd, 2009
8:09 am
So, what’s the line on this one? Regarding what Jay??
If you’re asking about national/global immunization and the current health care reform debate you’re comparing apples and oranges. One is prevention/minimizing the impact of a pandemic; the second is at the individual level. The need for national/global immunization for the novel H1N1 pandemic is pretty clear cut, the challenge are the logistics; the need for health care reform is likely needed; the challenge are financial, planning, logistics, policies, politics, and consumer acceptance.
norman ravitch
August 23rd, 2009
8:10 am
It is only a matter of time before we hear that the government’s swine flu vaccination program is really a massive attempt at mind control of the population.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:10 am
Don’t approve of this government-funded effort to track and analyze and monitor and control outbreaks such as the flu. To do so would be unnatural and that has to be against God’s will. After all, if are meant to get sick or die, there’s nothing we can do about it, unless you believe in science and all those lies and fear-mongering claims from all those socialist scientists. Stay away from doctors, find a faith healer instead. For the low low introductory price of a tithe, you too can be heeled.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 23rd, 2009
8:11 am
Energy Dept. Fails to Use Thermostats to Cut Costs – The Energy Department’s inspector general found that the department, which spends almost $300 million annually on utilities, could save enough energy to power more than 9,800 homes each year by doing what experts say every household in the country should also be doing.-Urinal
So exactly how big is this “energy department?”
Couldn’t we save “energy” by eliminating them in their entirety?
How about that, I’m a greenie now.
(P.S. This is the first move that the socialists make to gain control over your thermostat, their logic being that if their vaunted and glorious energy department can’t even control their own thermostats, how could you manage it?)
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:16 am
Republicans don’t believe in funding EPA or FDA or CDC or any government organization that might be involved in identifying and controlling outbreaks of all sorts of things that kill humans. They believe in funding wars against other humans, not little invisible things, things that they cannot even see so how is anyone to believe that these things even exist. That would be like saying that all those socialist scientists acually know what they’re talking about and that just ain’t right.
Question
August 23rd, 2009
8:19 am
Irregular Paul at 7:11 am …already had my first free swine flu jab last week.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-: at 7:39 am …Not only do we not know what concoction they have brewed up
After having the H1N1 pandemic topic pretty much the lead story for many months it’s amazing (actually concerning) how misinformed the general public is. First, the H1N1 vaccine is NOT currently available, and likely will not be for months. Irregular Paul – likely you received this year’s seasonal flu vaccine. I Report — no rational reply comment comes to mind other than I believe your position is what we call “natural selection”…
Folks – Health care reform discussion/debate aside, take personal responsibility to better educate and inform yourselves on the H1N1 pandemic and risk reduction/prevention measures!!
Kayaker 71
August 23rd, 2009
8:20 am
Taxpayer,
That’s why we have the CDC but this is not government sponsored health care, anymore than one time flu vaccinations are. You imply that only Bible thumping crazed religious fanatics are the only ones opposed to this fiasco. There are a few of those in the mix but polls in the last round of Rassmussen studies stated that only 34% of the electorate was in favor of Bozo’s health plan. It’s hard for me to believe that 66% of the electorate falls into the “faith healer” category who stays away from doctors and ignores present medical science.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:22 am
I hope the government does not expect the tax payers to pick up the tab for vaccinating all those uninsured folk out there. I mean, if these folks can’t afford to pay for their own flu shot, then they should just work overtime at Domino’s and Wendys and McDonalds and Publix and at them meat packing plants and out in the fields picking vegetables until they have the money. It’s just that simple.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:24 am
Kayaker 71,
It is paid for with YOUR hard earned tax dollars. Write your congressman and demand an end to this travesty. I mean, we’re not talking sugar coated peanuts here. This could be something costly.
Road Scholar
August 23rd, 2009
8:29 am
Wingate’s editorial: Hunt now for GOP candidates – I hope Cheney is involved….
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
8:38 am
You imply that only Bible thumping crazed religious fanatics are the only ones opposed to this fiasco.
Nah! I just throw in stuff like that from time to time to stir up those right wing nuts with a Gog complex, the Samurai Sarahs and such.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 23rd, 2009
8:39 am
…..psssst…..don’t forget all you o of o members – H1N1 vaccine from the blue vials only, the red ones are the special conservative formulation…
RW-(the original)
August 23rd, 2009
8:44 am
Tough job. Set your alarm, check your email for the WaPo Headlines and Columnists update, excerpt the first story, go back to bed.
Why do I get the feeling that whenever this vaccine is ready I’m not going to see a government cheese and flu shot tent, I’m going to see it offered for a price at doctor’s offices and clinics like always?
Dave R.
August 23rd, 2009
8:56 am
The swine flu pandemic is almost as overblown as a typical post by Taxcheat.
Almost.
What is not surprising is that our Government failed to order enough vaccine in time for it to be delivered.
But we all know it’s Bush’s fault, right?
josef nix
August 23rd, 2009
9:00 am
Cherokee
August 21st, 2009
10:20 am
“Only in Georgia would someone make a comment like this…”
Or as the Unmentionable would say:
O-si-yo, Tsa-la-gi! Ts-la-gi-s-go hi-wo-ni?
U-ne-gv? Ha-tlv u-na-di-at-s-di-i? J
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:00 am
Hunt now for GOP candidates – I hope Cheney is involved….
Any word on when Kyle’s training wheels come off? the column has said “later this month” for about a month.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 23rd, 2009
9:01 am
Great minds think alike-
Another important reason Mr. Perry believes the bill is flawed is because it ignores tort reform. “To talk about health-care reform and not talk about tort reform is like whistling past the cemetery. . . . In this administration’s case, it’s because they’re bought and sold by the trail lawyers.” The governor puts his cap back on, adding, “I’ll be the pope before we get tort reform with this administration.”-Rick Perry, Governor of Texas.
Ha ha.
Taxpayer
August 23rd, 2009
9:02 am
January, 2006 – As we consider our goals for the New Year, what is more important to American taxpayers: free Viagra or providing essential food, health care and education for our neediest families? According to our congressional leaders, free Viagra is the priority.
This sounds like a bad joke. It isn’t. Congress decided this week to restore Medicare funding for Viagra and other erectile-dysfunction drugs at a cost of $90 million for 2006. To do so, they had to cut other programs, mostly for our country’s most vulnerable adults and children.
Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, led the charge in favor of Viagra funding, insisting that Congress keep its promise to the drug industry — which had expected ED drugs to be reimbursed under Medicare in 2006. He apparently thought it was unfair when, a few months ago, Congress decided to instead use those $90 million in taxpayer money for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:04 am
I’ll suffer the flu, thanks anyway!
And if your infection is spread to someone who can’t survive the flu and dies as a result of your selfishness, that’s just the Invisible Hand of the marketplace doin’ it’s thang.
josef nix
August 23rd, 2009
9:08 am
MsG–good a.m. to ya! That was a good one, what color do we a-pox-on-both-their-houses get?
RW–see below. Seems you got somebody riled up last p.m., eh?
As for today’s topic for the Koffee Klatch–I’m in Jay’s camp on this one. Gasp!
jt
August 23rd, 2009
9:08 am
“Here comes more government health care”
“Officials say only about a third as much vaccine as they had been expecting by mid-October is likely to arrive by then, when a new wave of infections could be peaking….”
Typical government incompetence.
I would bet every food stamp in Detroit that a private entity could handle the research, manufacture, and distribution of this vaccine more competently and much more efficiently. If the government wasn’t involved, I would even get one.
Oh well.
RW-(the original)
August 23rd, 2009
9:09 am
And if your infection is spread to someone who can’t survive the flu and dies as a result of your selfishness, that’s just the Invisible Hand of the marketplace doin’ it’s thang.
And that compassionate statement, ladies and gentleman, comes from someone that advocates throwing cripples down a flight of stairs just to hear them scream.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:09 am
Tort Reform = Shiny Bauble.
The GOP had control of three branches of government for four years and never once made this a priority. Now it’s the Most Important Thing Evah.
Nice try.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:11 am
comes from someone that advocates throwing cripples down a flight of stairs just to hear them scream.
Liar.
I advocated throwing one (1) specific cripple, singular, down a flight of stairs just to hear him scream.
(I also shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.)
RW-(the original)
August 23rd, 2009
9:19 am
josef,
Getting Chadly riled up is about as hard as blinking.
The GOP had control of three branches of government for four years
Isn’t it funny how that “control” word gets defined depending on which party has the majority? I recall no time during those four years that the Republicans had 60 Senators, but the Democrats have that number now so why not quit whining and just pass whatever you want?
Irregular Paul
August 23rd, 2009
9:20 am
Question, I know what I received and it wasn’t last years seasonal flu vaccine, so I’ll thank you to spare us from your verbal diarrhoea. Limited numbers of volunteers in the priority groups have been getting the swine flu vaccine for almost a month now.
Dave R.
August 23rd, 2009
9:22 am
You know, decibel, you really need to learn a bit more about the legislative process before blaming one side or another for not passing reform bills.
In case you missed it in your Government-educated lifetime, any bill in the U.S. Senate needs 60 votes in order to move forward. That’s because of Senate rules. The GOP never had such a majority (as the Dems have now), therefore such reform was doomed to fail, as the Dems stopped everything they could with that rule.
And Taxcheat, we’re in August of 2009. You might wish to catch up with the rest of the class and stop posting 3 1/2 year-old “news”.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:24 am
the Democrats have that number now so why not quit whining and just pass whatever you want?
No argument from me on that one. I fully grant that the GOP should be considered more or less irrelevant to this discussion at this point, and that the Dems need to pass a bill with (and own, politically, for better or for worse) a public plan at minimum.
And they should be open about a desire to making this a gateway to single payer if things work out as hoped. About that, there’s little daylight between your views and mine.
(I also concur that employer-based healthcare coverage was/is folly. another conversation, another time. Gots to run.)
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2009
9:25 am
One last thing–Dave R., do not lecture me about Senate procedures. The GOP had the same opportunities to ram through stuff via reconciliation that the Dems do today (and they did just that when it suited them.)
Joey
August 23rd, 2009
9:29 am
Jay;
I assume that you are not here, that you are off to play golf or something. I hope you have a fun day. I intend to do the same.
I admit, I am intrigued by the question: What is your purpose in issuing, how many, 12, 18, 24 blog post about health care?
I am pretty sure it is not about informing your readers. You have not provided much actual information. Maybe you are just picking the low hanging fruit, chosing a topic that will generate hundreds of comments. Maybe you are hoping to help wear down the opposition. Maybe, maybe…
I admit that I am tired of this subject as least as far as Jay’s blog is concerned. But be assured that my senators and my representative will continue to hear from me. And any of the politicians who send me questioniares and fund raising letters will get them back with notes about my total lack of trust in the Federal Government’s ability to impliment, much less operate, a health care program.
RW-(the original)
August 23rd, 2009
9:34 am
(and they did just that when it suited them.)
Let me be among those to call BS on that one. The reconciliation process is set up and intended to be used for budget bills and I don’t recall it being using for anything other than those.
number1ninja
August 23rd, 2009
9:40 am
PLEASE no more about health care unless you’re actually talking about the bill, Jay, and not just yelling at people who we already know are idiots.
Oh wait, but you know it sucks too…..just another reason why the democrats have never been more than the lesser of two evils.
Michael H. Smith
August 23rd, 2009
9:44 am
Just look at the miserable failure of the free market to produce and deliver vaccines Comrade Bookman!
The State should produce all vaccines and drugs. Whatever shall become of Socialism brother man, when the comrades must depend on a bunch of lousy greedy capitalists rather than solely wet nursed by the nanny state relying upon the big socialist government bosom?
Uh… Comrade, some things the Federal government should do, other things the State governments should or the local governments should do and there are some things no government should do that we should do. Our government has a role to fulfill but the role of government has limits, as does the so-called free market, as do we.
RollerGirl
August 23rd, 2009
9:45 am
RW is right, the GOP did not use reconcilliation for any non omnibus spending bills. And when they even talked about the so called “nuclear option” just to pass thru some judges, the democrats screamed like little whiney banshees. The lefts hypocricy knows no bounds.
RollerGirl
August 23rd, 2009
9:49 am
Friday night, September 25th, at 8pm
See roller derby one last time this year at the Southern Fried Smackdown. Don’t miss this derby-pa-looza, September 25-27th, 2009. It’s the Biggest Derby Festival ever to hit the Southeast!
http://www.southernfriedsmackdown.com/