All across California, shortages of swine flu vaccination doses are making it unlikely for the state to reach its goal of inoculating all “high risk” residents by December according to the Los Angeles Times.
Statewide, 6 million doses were supposed to have been distributed, but in reality, only half of that has been accounted for. EC is also experiencing this shortage with only 100 of the 1,500 doses requested arriving next week.
In addition, EC will be offering the seasonal flu vaccination for free this year, but have yet to receive any of the 500 doses requested.
Waiting is something to be expected at theme parks, restaurants and red lights, but not when it comes to students’ health. These shortages are preventing “high risk” students (such as pregnant women, people with young children and people with chronic health problems) from receiving the safety of inoculation from a potentially deadly disease.
Waiting for these students won’t just mean not getting a table or not getting to baseball practice on time, it means the risk of being put in a life or death situation.
Since we have been aware of the H1N1 virus for some time now, we should be more prepared for this year’s flu season than an average year. But instead we are under prepared and the fault lies not with EC or the state, but with manufacturers.
Manufacturers are so flustered to get the swine flu vaccination out, that seasonal vaccinations are also in short supply. The government needs to have better control and perhaps get more manufacturers to produce these vaccines so that we do not face these delays.
There has been confusion over numbers and projections that have slowed down the production of vaccine doses, according to NPR.org. These mix-ups are an outrage and are costing lives.
As people are waiting, 74 people in Los Angeles County have died, 32 in San Diego County and 18 in Riverside County, according to the OC Register. Statewide, 17 deaths occurred in just this last week. Even a single death is a tragedy. The government needs to get these manufacturers to get their acts together and provide. We can’t afford more time. We need the vaccine now.