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medpundit |
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Sunday, October 31, 2004The Chicago Public Health Department's recent appeal to employers to donate flu vaccines has largely fallen on deaf ears. Just one company responded, saying it might give up its vaccine. "I had hoped that we would have heard from more,' said Dr. Julie Morita, the department's vaccine chief. This is one of the fundamental flaws in our flu vaccine distribution system. The vaccine supply is fragile, as we've learned this year, and yet the big buyers, like Maxim Healthcare Services, which provides the flu vaccines that people line up for at drug stores and corporations, get first dibs on the vaccine supply. Small buyers, such as private physician practices are the last on the distribution list. It's no coincidence that churches and drug stores and employers had the vaccine while hospitals, health departments and doctors go without. Of course companies are going to favor their biggest customer. This wouldn't be such a big deal if the supply of flu vaccine were as reliable as the supply of the syringes they use to give it. But it isn't. There have been enough vaccine shortages over the past decade for us to realize it. Maybe it's time to restrict the sale of flu vaccine to physicians, hospitals, and health departments, where those who need it can get it without standing in line for hours. At least until things stabilize on the supply side. posted by Sydney on 10/31/2004 07:23:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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