Ten million swine flu doses this week, officials say

Ten million new doses of vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus will become available in the next week, easing the shortages of vaccine that have occurred around the country, administration officials said over the weekend. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Saturday and presidential adviser David Axelrod reiterated today that manufacturers were shipping vaccine seven days a week, and Axelrod predicted that the U.S. would have all the vaccine it needed "in very short order."

The amount of swine flu vaccine is well below what officials had been predicting in the past. Officials had said that 40 million doses would be available by the end of October and that companies would be delivering 20 million doses per week by now. Sebelius said those early estimates were based on "overly optimistic" predictions by the vaccine makers and that officials were now getting more realistic estimates from the companies.

Sebelius said the United States still intended to donate 10% of its vaccine supply to developing countries but that that will not occur until after priority populations here had been vaccinated. "The first priority is to get the vaccine to the American people," she told CNN. "That's always been the plan. It continues to be the plan.

-- Thomas H. Maugh II

Comments

[archangel]

"Ten million swine flu doses this week..." Awwwwwwesome, I can hardly wait to get mine. Can ya' jump start me with a couple extra hits?
OK, humor done so on to a more somber and chilling thought;
Is there any swine connection with Wal-Mart and Sam's Club hurdling full speed into the cheapo coffin market? You know, with the economy as it is and all that. I mean, if 'Auntie Fanny' drops, you can bargain 'park' her in the backyard. And which component of this media inspired epidemic might do her in; the swine in the wild.... or the population regulator built into the vaccine? Can't trust those swines ya' know!

[steve tanaka]

Does American people also mean illegal Mexicans and others here from parts unknown will also get the shots?

[mike bayer]

Sebelius said the United States still intended to donate 10% of its vaccine supply to developing countries but that that will not occur until after priority populations here had been vaccinated. "The first priority is to get the vaccine to the American people

Ummm, The first priority should be to get the vaccine to ALL the American people not just those who are considered priority populations!

What the heck is wrong with this administration putting its own citizens at the end of the line. We are paying for this vaccine and we should all be protected before any of it is shipped overseas.

[Medical Equipments Online Shop]

Americans get the H1N1 virus samples from Indonesia through NAMRU project. Americans can make a more powerful vaccine and in large numbers not only for domestic needs but also for the needs of other developing countries and without any intention based business

[NameLess]

I hope this virus gets under control..and the pig too.. http://typobounty.com/Funny/Swine_Flu_2.htm

[John Anon]

This is a nice preview of the type of rationing we can expect from nationalized healthcare. Government bureaucrats will determine who is "a priority" and who isn't (dies). People will wait in 8-hour lines only to be turned away at the end.