WP,pg1: U.S. Builds Stockpile of Vaccine for Flu Pandemic

U.S. Builds Stockpile of Vaccine for Flu Pandemic
By Justin Gillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 30, 2005; Page A01


The government expects to stockpile nearly 8 million doses of an experimental vaccine against pandemic influenza by February, and studies are underway that could stretch that supply to cover more than a third of the population, federal health experts said yesterday.

Two manufacturers are already making doses of the experimental vaccine under contract, and most of them will be delivered to government stockpiles by late December, according to presentations made to an advisory panel of the Department of Health and Human Services.

That unusually rapid clip reflects the high priority the Bush administration has placed recently on preparing the nation for a catastrophic flu outbreak. The immediate plan is a start toward building a stockpile that eventually could reach tens of millions of doses, assuming that Congress appropriates enough money.

In the worst case, scientists said, the vaccine being manufactured now would immunize only 4 million people, each of whom would need two shots a month apart. That means the vaccine would probably be restricted to critically needed personnel who would keep the government and public-safety services running during a pandemic. About a quarter of the vaccine is destined for a stockpile controlled by the Pentagon.

A pandemic would be expected to confine millions of people to their homes for weeks or months, shutting down much of the economy....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/29/AR2005112901849.html

Am thinking am not in the top three of the Golden mean.

and the fear is free.

I'm convinced this is all about giving our tax dollars to Rummy's old pharma company. There is always the possibility of a good excuse for martial law, of course.

Worst case is 4 million get 2 doses of this experimental vaccine? Worst case is it doesn't work after getting a brazillion doses made and ignoring... oh, never mind, getting cynical here. sorry.