Ever wonder why the US doesn't make the flu vaccine?

nedro · 10-25-2004, 12:31 PM

I already knew this but some people may still be wondering
Subject: Flu Shot Anyone??

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 years 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 outweighed 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.

Heavy-Dee · 10-25-2004, 12:36 PM

Snopes

luvtolean · 10-25-2004, 12:39 PM

Edwards is a slimy prick but he isn't responsible for that one eh? He's held accountable by Dr's groups in the Carolinas for destroying their system though.

So plausible...

Heavy-Dee · 10-25-2004, 12:49 PM

I didn't say anything. Just posted a link. Make your own conclusions.

luvtolean · 10-25-2004, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

I didn't say anything. Just posted a link. Make your own conclusions.

Thanks for the link. Just spoutin' off in my own way....

Heavy-Dee · 10-25-2004, 1:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Thanks for the link. Just spoutin' off in my own way....

figment · 10-25-2004, 2:17 PM

y'know, snopes is not 100% correct 100% of the time. No comment on this subject, but reader beware...

Edwards is a rascal

Heavy-Dee · 10-25-2004, 2:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by figment

y'know, snopes is not 100% correct 100% of the time. No comment on this subject, but reader beware...

Edwards is a rascal

yup, only when I want it to be.

figment · 10-25-2004, 2:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

yup, only when I want it to be.

me too.