I was working in the Emergency Department yesterday when one of the Clinical Care Coordinators came up to me and asked if I knew that the hospital was giving out flu shots, and I should go on up there and get one. Evidently my name got on a list of those eligible for the most coveted immuniztion of the year. (Only Techs/RNs working in patient care roles in the ED/ICU/CSU were initially being offered the shots.) Now I am a young (24-year-old) male in generally good health, well that is as long as I eat well and sleep regularly. Since I work in an Emergency Department/volunteer on an ambulance, neither of these are likely to happen. So while I was technically "at-risk," I still fell like I was stealing that flu shot from a more deserving candidate.

In related news, [1] Yahoo News/AP is reporting that the US is working to import 5 million doses of Influenza vaccine from Canada and Germany:

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said Thursday it is working to buy another 5 million doses of flu vaccine from manufacturers in Canada and Germany, mixing the ticklish issue of prescription drug imports with the flu shot shortage.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said government inspectors next week will visit plants where the vaccine is made to assess whether it is safe for Americans' use.

If the vaccine eventually makes it to this country, patients who receive it would have to sign a form acknowledging they are aware their flu shots were not originally destined for the United States, Thompson said.

The administration has refused to approve widespread importation of prescription drugs, saying it can't assure their safety. Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) and other Democratic candidates have used the issue to paint President Bush (news - web sites) and the Republican party as too cozy with drug manufacturers, who also oppose drug imports.

But with 48 million doses of flu vaccine, roughly half the anticipated U.S. supply, unexpectedly withdrawn from the market because of bacterial contamination, the administration is scrambling to make up the shortage.

It's Canada people - it's practically the 51st state, not some third-world country. Bush's opposition to importation of low-cost medications or immunizations from Canada has nothing to do with safety; rather it has everything to do with pharmacuetical company profits.