Virginia Mason Medical Center, where I work in Seattle, mandated a month ago that all employees get a flu shot. The reason for this directive- the first in the nation- is that vulnerable patients are most at risk from exposure from their caregivers.

Of course, now that there is no flu vaccine, the mandate is off. I agree with Peter. Meeting basic public health concerns is Homeland Security at it's most elemental. This Administration's lack of vision, lack of understanding, and lack of interest in anything other than Iraq, gay marriage, tax breaks for their friends, seeding the courts with conservative judges, and ridiculous legislation aimed at destroying our public education system are directly related to the absence of vaccine as the flu season draws near.

Flu vaccine is inexpensive to produce and decidedly not profitable. Any doses left over at the end of the flu season are destroyed because the strains change every year. There does not appear to be much incentive- or directive- to produce this vaccine to protect our vulnerable populations.

Ask yourself why this crucial vaccine is produced in Liverpool ? Seems to me that it should be a national priority to control the production of vaccine.