CDC officials have acknowledged that the H1N1 death toll has exceeded 10,000 since April, well after the alarms were sounded. More than 200,000 Americans have been hospitalized and 15% of the American population has been sickened with the swine flu.
Availability of the H1N1 vaccine continues to be a nationwide crisis. Earlier today, CDC head Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters that the vaccine is now more generally available to the point that they are opening up access to the general populous. I have to wonder what planet Dr. Frieden is living on (or what recreational drugs he’s indulging in). In some parts of the country, there are still waiting lists for priority groups (such as children and healthcare providers), much less making the vaccine available to general public.
Despite his personal promise to become actively engaged in the H1N1 vaccine crisis, President Barack Obama has largely ignored the massive supply problems of the vaccine. The recent OpEd on MSNBC really hit the nail on the head – calling the White House’s flu response “dismal at best.” The article states, “The Obama administration bears much of the blame for the fear the public and health care workers have of the swine flu vaccine.”
While President Barack Obama has finally declared a state of emergency, he hasn't gone beyond that. Many critical months were lost when his Administration could have responded, but didn't. Clearly, Obama’s trust in HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was misplaced at best. It’s a pity that President Obama hasn’t addressed this crisis and investigated the failings of his Administration to adequately distribute the limited vaccine supplies.
Availability of the H1N1 vaccine continues to be a nationwide crisis. Earlier today, CDC head Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters that the vaccine is now more generally available to the point that they are opening up access to the general populous. I have to wonder what planet Dr. Frieden is living on (or what recreational drugs he’s indulging in). In some parts of the country, there are still waiting lists for priority groups (such as children and healthcare providers), much less making the vaccine available to general public.
Despite his personal promise to become actively engaged in the H1N1 vaccine crisis, President Barack Obama has largely ignored the massive supply problems of the vaccine. The recent OpEd on MSNBC really hit the nail on the head – calling the White House’s flu response “dismal at best.” The article states, “The Obama administration bears much of the blame for the fear the public and health care workers have of the swine flu vaccine.”
While President Barack Obama has finally declared a state of emergency, he hasn't gone beyond that. Many critical months were lost when his Administration could have responded, but didn't. Clearly, Obama’s trust in HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was misplaced at best. It’s a pity that President Obama hasn’t addressed this crisis and investigated the failings of his Administration to adequately distribute the limited vaccine supplies.
Ref: Reuters
Ref: H1N1 Death Toll Soars