Flu shots in Canada

In article , Go Fig
wrote:

prior to the U.S. gov taking over the flu vaccine in the 80s, there
were more than 18 companies competing on both price and quality. With
the gov monopoly... there are now 2.

Let's see: per "U.S. gov" is this a conservative attack on the
government as at fault, or per "monpoly" is it a liberal attack on big
business?

--
Bill Pittman; change for e-mail as indicated

In article ,
"Roger B." wrote:

What's the big deal here. If you get it, you'll either die or get better.
I never had a flu shot in my life, don't plan to get one. [R]

If you're in perfect health, I agree fully that you shouldn't get one,
especially this year when people who WANT and REALLY NEED them might
have an easier time as a result.

I happen to be one of those, being 69 and having had Type I diabetes for
66 years. Fortunately, I'm able to get a shot.

--
Bill Pittman; change for e-mail as indicated

In article
,
Bill Pittman wrote:

In article , Go Fig
wrote:

prior to the U.S. gov taking over the flu vaccine in the 80s, there
were more than 18 companies competing on both price and quality. With
the gov monopoly... there are now 2.

Let's see: per "U.S. gov" is this a conservative attack on the
government as at fault,

If the gov hadn't imposed a price fix, more would still be in the
biz... competing on both quality and price.

Price controls lead to scarcity, inferior product and black markets.


jay
Sun Oct 17, 2004




or per "monpoly" is it a liberal attack on big
business?

In article
,
Bill Pittman wrote:

In article , Go Fig
wrote:

prior to the U.S. gov taking over the flu vaccine in the 80s, there
were more than 18 companies competing on both price and quality. With
the gov monopoly... there are now 2.

Let's see: per "U.S. gov" is this a conservative attack on the
government as at fault,

If the gov hadn't imposed a price fix, more would still be in the
biz... competing on both quality and price.

Price controls lead to scarcity, inferior product and black markets.


jay
Sun Oct 17, 2004




or per "monpoly" is it a liberal attack on big
business?

In article
,
Bill Pittman wrote:

In article , Go Fig
wrote:

prior to the U.S. gov taking over the flu vaccine in the 80s, there
were more than 18 companies competing on both price and quality. With
the gov monopoly... there are now 2.

Let's see: per "U.S. gov" is this a conservative attack on the
government as at fault,

If the gov hadn't imposed a price fix, more would still be in the
biz... competing on both quality and price.

Price controls lead to scarcity, inferior product and black markets.


jay
Sun Oct 17, 2004




or per "monpoly" is it a liberal attack on big
business?

Odd. We have price controls here in Canada, yet I have never yet heard
of our pharmacies having a shortage of any medication, nor have I have
ever encountered black marketeers trying to lure people into back alleys
to buy Viagra. And of course, if our drugs are inferior, it would be
largely due to manufacturing practices in the USA, since that's where we
get most of our brand-name pharmaceuticals in the first place.

Odd. We have price controls here in Canada, yet I have never yet heard
of our pharmacies having a shortage of any medication, nor have I have
ever encountered black marketeers trying to lure people into back alleys
to buy Viagra. And of course, if our drugs are inferior, it would be
largely due to manufacturing practices in the USA, since that's where we
get most of our brand-name pharmaceuticals in the first place.

Odd. We have price controls here in Canada, yet I have never yet heard
of our pharmacies having a shortage of any medication, nor have I have
ever encountered black marketeers trying to lure people into back alleys
to buy Viagra. And of course, if our drugs are inferior, it would be
largely due to manufacturing practices in the USA, since that's where we
get most of our brand-name pharmaceuticals in the first place.

Igor the Cuddly wrote:
Apparently that won't happen, as the FDA is mandated to refuse to
admit Canadian vaccine without the standard formal testing period and
approval process. From what I hear, the president cannot simply
override this.
Besides, wasn't it the current US Administration that, as recently as
a few weeks ago, was holding to the line that our Canadian
pharmaceuticals are of inferior, third-world quality?

------------------------------------------------

So because Bush Co. would 1st. have to admit Canada was not a backward 3rd.
world country. Then pass some sort of emergency exemption and allow the
stuff in knowing full well the appropriate Canadian authorities had approved
the shots... ah, who are we kidding. I am sure Bush Co. feels the few
thousand extra Americans who will die this year because of the shortage will
fall within acceptable limits.

Igor the Cuddly wrote:
Apparently that won't happen, as the FDA is mandated to refuse to
admit Canadian vaccine without the standard formal testing period and
approval process. From what I hear, the president cannot simply
override this.
Besides, wasn't it the current US Administration that, as recently as
a few weeks ago, was holding to the line that our Canadian
pharmaceuticals are of inferior, third-world quality?

------------------------------------------------

So because Bush Co. would 1st. have to admit Canada was not a backward 3rd.
world country. Then pass some sort of emergency exemption and allow the
stuff in knowing full well the appropriate Canadian authorities had approved
the shots... ah, who are we kidding. I am sure Bush Co. feels the few
thousand extra Americans who will die this year because of the shortage will
fall within acceptable limits.