The flu vaccine shortage will leave millions of Americans vulnerable this winter. The Bush administration received warnings about a vaccine shortage and could have acted to solve the problem before it became a potential health crisis. But President Bush will say anything to deflect responsibility and chooses instead to blame anyone but himself. The vaccine shortage could have been averted and the president needs to take responsibility and action. Send a message to the White House.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Across the country, my fellow seniors are standing in long lines because of a flu vaccine shortage that your administration could have prevented. In 2001 and again in 2004, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) repeatedly warned of a possible shortage, which would threaten high risk groups including America's 35 million seniors.

It seems your solution to the problem is to place the blame elsewhere, on the American company, Chiron, that outsourced the job to England, or to tell seniors to relax and not panic because "the flu season isn't here yet" according to your Health and Human Services secretary. You've also blamed you the shortage on legal liability when that is not the complete truth. Drug companies won't manufacture the vaccines because it isn't financially worth their while to produce it. The government could avert future shortages by guaranteeing to purchase the amount needed to vaccinate our most vulnerable citizens.

You accuse others of scaring seniors when it's the inactivity of your administration that strikes fear into our hearts. Seniors need to know help is on the way!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
October 19, 2004