No vaccine for me! I’m expendable at 65!
For those of you wondering if government-controlled health care means that government may someday decide old people are expendable because it is cheaper to deliver health care to younger, healthier people, here’s food for thought:
Today, after learning my local health department now has swine flu vaccine for adults with certain conditions like asthma and heart disease, I decided to get a shot because I have heart disease, having had heart bypass surgery. So I called the health department to find out when I could come down for a shot.
“How old are you?” the health worker asked.
“Sixty five,” I said.
“You’re not eligible,” she said. “The cutoff is age 63.”
So there you have an indication of what is in the future. There is now enough vaccine for all the children, pregnant women, and adults “who qualify,” but because swine flu vaccine is government-controlled, bureaucrats have decided my age has disqualified me.
I‘m expendable!
November 9th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
While I’m not disagreeing with what will likely happen with government run socialized medicine, in this case, my understanding is that people of a certain age (I suppose above 63) aren’t nearly as susceptible to H1N1 as younger folk. I believe this is due to being exposed to a like flu when your generation was younger and having the appropriate antibodies to fight it off.
So far as rationing goes, I don’t have a problem with the concept of rationing: if you have a limited supply of, well, anything, it’s rationed, at least in some sense. The best way to do this is by market forces, and the very worst is by government bureaucrats. In the case of H1N1, though, some artificial input into the system was always going to happen. So, here’s the topic of conversation: who DOES decide on the rationing criteria? Health insurance companies? The AMA? Hospital groups? The Almighty Dollar? Obama’s minions? What’s the most efficient and moral agency to decide? Just thoughts for a rainy Oregon day.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Texas health departments only received a small supply because they ordered a small supply. The shipments that have been sent out thus far to the states are only a percentage of the amount that you ordered. Some states are getting more because their original orders were larger than others.
Our county only ordered 20000 doses but that won’t even cover the students at the one college, let alone the rest of the population of the county. Of the doses my county ordered only about 1% has come in. Dallas and Fort Worth metro counties did the same stupid thing. Only ordered a faction of a percent of doses for the population. They were allowing only pregnant women and children under the ages of 23 with certain conditions to receive the shots. No one over the ages of 23 here, unless you are pregnant. So that leaves the men out entirely.
Now, my question is, if this is such an pandemic virus and they have made such hype about it, then why did the counties not order enough in the first place. Where do the government officials suppose the other portion of the population is going to get there’s?
Then I heard on the radio that a walk-in occupation clinic in a suburb city of Dallas was giving H1N1 flu shots for $20 to the general public. I called them and they said they did not have lines that were too long and anyone could get one. They had 10,000 doses. I went up there on my lunch break and paid my $20 and was out in 15 minutes. But because I drove the 25 miles over there during lunch break, I was the only one in the family that got one. So this little hole in the wall clinic had more many more doses to give to anyone for 20 bucks than all of the Dallas-Fort Worth county health departments combined.
Apparently this little clinic thought big thoughts when they ordered their flu vacines. Think about how much money that clinic took in during the two days they were giving out shots. This also tells us that the government will say one thing and do another. We are short of vacine because the governments–obviously local ones–are not doing what they are supposed to do or should have done. And that is ORDER enough vaccine for the populations. Is it all about the money!!??!!
November 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Don’t feel bad, Dave. It’s not really your age. They have your name down as a possible terr*rist and you’re automatically disqualified.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
According to the CDC: “The federal government has purchased a total of 250 million doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine.” Since surveys show that nearly half of Americans don’t intend to get the vaccine, there will be more than enough for everyone who does want it. The problem is much of the vaccine is still in the pipeline. I’m assuming that, once enough vaccine is delivered, the local bureaucrats will open the supply up to everyone, even old guys like me.
The problem I have is with a government official making the decision. I want to keep this decision for myself, and I’m willing to keep my insurance paid up for that privilege. Health care reform should do things like keep insurance companies from canceling policies, but it should not open the door to a total government takeover of the health care system. This present situation shows that government bureaucrats will not hesitate to arbitrarily impose an age limit for medication. Those who argue that a government takeover of America’s health care system will lead to rationing, and ultimately to “death panels” for old people, are probably not far off the mark.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
You can have mine. I am 62 but will not get any shots. Especially flu. I had to have one when I went into the army at age 19 and got so ill that I felt I would feel better dead.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Dave. You are seeing a glimpse of what is to come. You can have my shot, I’m not getting it. I am pretty sure I wasn’t one of the ones counted that needs a shot anyway. My father is 74 and will not be receiving a shot. It’s not just age, his doctor has recommend he not get any flu shots since the risk of complications are way to high. He has had three bypasses, diabetes and some other ongoing health issues. His Dr just does not want to risk having to add ractions to flu shots to the problems they work on. Dad stays healthy, lots of time outside is active and generally avoids large concentrations of people in crowded areas (like church).
November 12th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Dave,
That review of supply and demand seems highly suspect to me. As near as I can tell, the distribution of the medicine is based on what clinics and agencies order, and not based on population density or demographics (someone please correct me if I’m wrong.)
So, this system depends on each individual clinic and state—run agency coordinating to best distribute and provide access to the material. Just as clearly, that isn’t happening; which is why one of the previous commenter’s found access at a local clinic while the state was turning people away for lack of inventory..
I wish you and your family the best in these times.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
My husband calls the Dallas VA every day and listens to the recording re: swine flu vaccine. They are suppose to get the vaccine. How it will be distributed is a mystery. But, those eligible for VA care might want to check into this – if you have never been to a VA facility you will need your DD-214 and all the appropriate ID. Call ahead if you have questions. If you go, dress comfortably and be prepared to stay quite a while. I hope this helps somebody. Good luck, America!!! We need it!!!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Although I decided not to get the shot(G-d only knows what’s in the thing), it should be up to the individual rather than bureaucrats. Most of the people I know say they won’t get it, and are worried they may be forced to. If the gov could just let us make our own choices about our own health, then I could get the oral surgery done that I need, but the only pain killers that work on me are all banned because “someone might abuse them”. Sorry to rant, but my point is that we all know how you’re feelin’ right now.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Strange, in The Netherlands it’s the other way around. Everybody over 60 can get the Swine flu vaccine (and between 6 months and 5 year old). I, 40 year old healthy male, can’t get the vaccine, no matter what, no matter how much I’m willing to pay for it.