This topic has been an undercurrent on the diary boards here at Kos since the vaccine shortage was announced. There was a diary
here titled
Flu vaccine shortage will kill more than 9/11.
Here's the link to a diary I wrote last week. There was a diary last night (that I can't find, unfortunately) commenting on how Kerry should have answered during the debate.
The newspapers and TV stations are paying attention. The LA times had this story on the front page of the local section yesterday
here. They also had a front page article, above the fold,
here detailing the Justice Dept. probe. More stories today, front page of the NY Times above the fold
here.
Last night, while freeping the polls, I hit a bunch of local TV station websites. I was surprised to see how many had stories about the shortage and the desperation of people to get their shots.
Congress is now into the act.
Two committees, the House Government Reform Comittee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee,( see the Boston Globe today
here) have started investigating. I don't know for a fact, but judging by how quickly the government is jumping on this I would bet that people are calling their Senators and Congresspeople. Don't forget , Congress is on recess, yet they're still trying to show that they're on top of it. This story is already 8-9 days old and shows no signs of slowing down. Instead, it seems to be getting bigger.
It impacts not only seniors, who I don't need to remind
this community vote in disproportionate numbers, but it affects their children and grandchildren. Who wants to have to worry that mom or dad, or grandparents' have to scramble to get vaccinated? And don't forget all those people who normally get a shot but can't get the vaccine this year. The easiest way to get someone to want something is to tell them they can't have it. People are scared.
Kerry and every Democratic candidate should be hitting the administration hard over this. As the Kossack from last night's diary suggested, the theme should be Bushco
outsourced our health and safety. They took their eye off the ball again, and people are suffering because of this.
I'm sure you folks can certainly add more talking points.