Friday, January 8, 2010

Government health care in action

Truckloads Of Unused Swine Flu Vaccines
Updated: Friday, 08 Jan 2010, 8:37 AM ESTPublished : Friday, 08 Jan 2010, 7:10 AM EST
MYFOXNY.COM - After months of fear, media coverage and government warnings there wasn't as much demand for the swine flu vaccine in New York state as expected.
Truckloads of swine flu vaccines are being returned by counties that say the expected demand for the shots never happened.
When the state's H1N1 vaccination program kicked off in the fall there were fears that there wouldn't be enough of the new vaccine to go around.
The flu strain has not spread as wide as feared and some people were also unsure of pumping a quickly developed vaccine into their bodies.
On January 1, state health officials urged people who haven't been vaccinated to get a shot.
"When it's in a shortage, everyone clamors for it," said Dr. Richard Daines, commissioner of the state Department of Health. "Now that it's abundant, people don't think they need to fight for it."
New York is among 11 states that has widespread flu outbreaks. Daines says another wave of flu could hit the state.
The swine flu first turned up in New York last April at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens.

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