Obama agenda: Vaccine blame game

Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Barack Obama

So why are we short vaccines? Does the administration have to answer for this? They are blaming the drugmakers (who apparently over-promised) and everyone is blaming science. "In July, Obama administration officials said companies could make 80 million to 120 million doses by mid-October. They outlined an aggressive response to the pandemic, spending more than $2 billion to buy 250 million doses of vaccine and promising enough to inoculate every American,” the Washington Post says.

"But only about 16.5 million doses have become available so far, putting the administration in an uncomfortable political position regarding what President Obama declared last week to be a national emergency. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in television interviews Monday that officials had been ‘relying on the manufacturers to give us their numbers, and as soon as we got numbers we put them out to the public. It does appear now that those numbers were overly rosy.’”

"Senator John F. Kerry defended President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan as 'a patriot' yesterday and suggested that the United States should not try to make Afghanistan into a perfect democracy," the Boston Globe writes. "Days after he persuaded Karzai to agree to a Nov. 7 runoff election following widespread allegations of fraud, Kerry told the Council on Foreign Relations that the United States should radically lower its expectations for Afghanistan. In his most comprehensive remarks yet on his view of the way forward in Afghanistan, Kerry said there are no good options, but that transferring responsibility to an Afghan government that is capable of battling the Taliban offers the best chance for US troops to be able to come home."

Roll Call: "President Barack Obama will be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning for a ceremony honoring former Sen. Edward William Brooke (R-Mass.), the first African-American elected by popular vote to the Senate."

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Comments

Just think if Bush had been asleep at the wheel like Obama is regarding the flu vaccines. The Obama administration had months to prepare for the flu, but have failed the people badly. But now the press just ignores yet another one of Obama failures.

Press Club (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:20 AM)

The Obama administration is responsibile for what appears, . . . . nothing. Unless it's something they've done that is good and benefits Americans, which hasn't happened, at least not yet.

Tarra Mendez, South Florida (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:22 AM)

I heard a doctor explain that time was the real problem in the H1N1 vaccine supply. Drug companies must first grow the virus which takes time. For seasonal flu, the determination of what to produce occurs nearly a year before production based on guess work. The H1N1 outbreak occurred during the spring, it took time to develop a vaccine, test it; then grow it for mass production. I don't think anyone is to blame but no doubt there will be plenty of it leveled at the administration and anyone else involved.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:25 AM)

Obama can't even get the vacines here when we need it most.

The golf addict can't get anything done that's worthwhile.

Louisianna CoCo (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:49 AM)

It's George Bush's fault. Cheney's too.

BHO - Chicago (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:53 AM)

Why does anyone need to be blamed. The estimate was a little to ambitious. Too bad. As long as they keep working on it and get the innoculations to those who want them and we prevent or significantly reduce the pandemic that is the h1n1 flu virus we can claim success.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:55 AM)

And, as usual, the Main Stream Media ignores the failure of the Obama administration to have enough vaccine available. Well, all of the MSM, except for Fox News. As in the norm for Fox, they have it covered.

Very Fair and Very Balanced (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:57 AM)

Why was everything the president's fault in the previous administration but in the current one it is never the president's fault??

WOW talk about a teflon president.

Barb, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:29 AM)

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