Bush Wants Canada's Flu Vaccine

[brandon184]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...91/?hub=Health

Quote:

TORONTO — When President George W. Bush spoke of importing Canadian flu vaccine during Wednesday's election debate, many in the U.S. public health community were struck by the irony of an administration that slams the door on cheaper Canadian drugs, but looks north for help with an embarrassing vaccine shortage.

"It seemed ironic to many of us who were watching that the president had kind of disparaged the importation of Canadian (prescription) drugs but seemed to be interested in exploring the possibility of importing Canadian vaccine," Dr. William Schaffner, a member of the U.S. advisory committee on immunization practices, said in an interview Thursday.

Schaffner and others took as hopeful Bush's comment that the administration was looking into the possibility of purchasing flu shots from Canada's major influenza vaccine manufacturer, ID Biomedical of Vancouver.

The company has between one million and 1.5 million surplus doses it has offered to sell to American authorities who have been scrambling since vaccine giant Chiron Corp. revealed it could not provide the up to 48 million doses it had contracted to supply to the U.S. market.

Their hopes may have been dampened later in the day, though, when Tommy Thompson, the U.S. secretary of health, said it was doubtful that vaccine from producers not currently licensed in the United States could be imported to help with this year's massive shortage.

"It doesn't look promising," Thompson said in Washington.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration would not comment on any talks it might be having with ID Biomedical.

"FDA is not allowed to disclose information about our discussions with companies about such matters," spokeswoman Lenore Gelb said in an e-mailed response to an interview request.

But an ID Biomedical executive confirmed the FDA hasn't asked to see safety data for the vaccine. Any serious discussions on licensing the vaccine would require the sharing of such information.

"Frankly, we are not there yet. We are really in the process of offering what we could offer," said Michele Roy, director of corporate communications.

Still, Bush's words gave Schaffner and others cause for hope as they try to cope with the nightmare of facing flu season with half the needed doses of vaccine.

"It gives us some guarded optimism that perhaps some vaccine can be imported, which is something that we would strongly support," said Schaffner, chair of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

"The shortage, of course, has stimulated a great desire to receive vaccine. And so any additional vaccine would be a little bit of help. It won't be a total solution by any means, but anything helps."

If Schaffner and his friends in public health were chuckling over the apparent contradiction in U.S. policy towards drug imports from Canada, others weren't amused.

"They've been disparaging the Canadian drug system, saying how it's a buyer beware situation, completely unsafe, can't guarantee the safety," said David MacKay, executive director of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. "Then the moment that they need to go to Canada to find our flu vaccines, all of a sudden, magically, things are safe."

The association represents Internet pharmacies that have earned the ire of the U.S. administration by shipping cheaper Canadian prescription drugs to American consumers.

"It's absolutely ironic and ludicrous to think that (U.S. regulators) can assure safety for flu vaccines ... but they won't do it for life-saving Lipitor (a cholesterol-lowering statin) as well," MacKay said.

"What's the difference between flu vaccine and Lipitor?"

I'm awfully confused... one minute Canadian drugs are heinously unsafe, the next minute he wants vaccines?!

Sounds like a flip-flop to me. Or is it a waffle?

Brandon

[Hungrycookpot]

Its hard to say with this republican crowd, one minute its a flip flop, the next its a waver, why cant they just make up their minds?!

Well brandon, i say if Bush wants our Flu Vaccines, we make him pay for it! I say we give them the vaccines, and we get Hawaii!!!

[vass0922]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon184

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...91/?hub=Health



I'm awfully confused... one minute Canadian drugs are heinously unsafe, the next minute he wants vaccines?!

Sounds like a flip-flop to me. Or is it a waffle?

Brandon

no no silly canadian
You got it all wrong
This is Bush, Not Kerry

if its Bush, then its "changing his mind, for the sake of all Americans"
Haven't you read enough political threads to know this?

[brandon184]

I get confused!

[M_Six]

This is Bush "staying the course" as usual; ignoring mistakes and driving on like everything is ok and will only get better. I just hope there's no cliffs around.

[Pexster]

Hey, "it's hard work" but somebody has to do it!

[LeftCoast]

Bush isn't at high risk, but I'd bet my left (and favorite) you-know-what he's got a shot.

[Smidley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vass0922

if its Bush, then its "changing his mind, for the sake of all Americans"

I sincerely hope you're joking.

I've heard the "lost driver" analogy before: the typical stubborn male refusing to stop for directions. It's very fitting.

[Chuckiechan]

Well Canada, why don't you just say "No" to our request for vaccine instead of trying to make a political issure about it?

Maybe we should export some malpractice lawyers up your way! They shut vaccine production down here in the '80's.

[Theophylact]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoast

Bush isn't at high risk, but I'd bet my left (and favorite) you-know-what he's got a shot.

For what it's worth, Bush claims he's foregoing his flu shot:

Quote:

Bush called on healthy Americans to forgo flu shots because of vaccine shortages. The president said he was leading by example after learning British regulators had found manufacturing problems at the Liverpool plants of a major U.S. supplier. "I haven't gotten a flu shot, and I don't intend to because I want to make sure those who are most vulnerable get treated," he said.