Published October 22, 2009

H1N1 blamed for 3 deaths in Minnesota, state flu hotline is busy chat

By Don Davis, West Central Tribune

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Barb K.
Olivia, MN     10/23/2009 9:44 AM

There would probably be enough flu vaccine if back in the 90's the Clintons decided that flu vaccine manufactures should't be allowed to make a profit on it. That's why the US companies quit. Government at it's best again.

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Shelly E.
Montevideo, MN     10/22/2009 4:21 PM

I like this idea of a hotline for the flu. ER's and clinics are getting hit hard with phone calls and sick people coming in. If hotline nurses can get information Tamiflu to sick people without them seeing a doctor, it keeps less sick people from going out and infecting others. I'd hate to have to go to an ER for a broken foot and sit in the middle of 25 people coughing. It's the flu, drink fluids, watch for dehydration and rest. I also agree with Larry. CDC knew about this pandemic a long time ago, they should have been way more prepared with vaccines. Instead, they wait until the kids go back to school where it's spread like wild fire. What if it were a much worse strain?

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Larry P.
Brooten, MN     10/22/2009 3:11 PM

Three out of four manufacturers of H1N1 vaccine for HHS, and approved by FDA, are based in foreign countries. They are: Sanofi Pasteur (France), Novartis (Switzerland) and CSL Limited (Australia). MedImmune, though manufacturing in the U.S., is a subsidiary of AstraZeneca, based in London. Tamiflu, the antiviral used to treat H1N1, is also in short supply for children. It's made by Roche, another global drug giant, also based in Switzerland. It occurs to me that we have to get in line behind foreign competitors to get either H1N1 vaccine or Tamiflu. Why isn't New York based Pfizer, the world's largest drug company, making H1N1 vaccine or Tamiflu? I guess they're too busy selling their big money maker -- Viagra. Oh, and defending themselves from lawsuits. Pfizer just pleaded guilty to the largest drug marketing fraud in U.S. history. I don't know what's worse, foreign competitors or corrupt U.S. drug companies. Prepare for the worst. It's going to be a long flu season.

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