- Vaccine shortage of 2004
The vaccine shortage of 2004 came to light in the final weeks of the US Presidential Campaign. An American company, Chiron, had their operating licence suspended by British officials following problems at their manufacturing plant in Liverpool, England. Due to contamination in a batch of vaccines intended for American market they were unable to supply their flu vaccine,
Fluvirin . Fluvirin made up approximately 50% of America's expected demand for the winter flu season.Partisans in both the Democratic and Republican parties blamed the policies of the other party's recent administrations for the shortage. Senator John Kerry (the Democratic Presidential hopeful in the 2004 general election) blamed President George W. Bush, and made it a focus in the waning days of his campaign. Republicans blamed former President Bill Clinton. Journalist
Mark Steyn wrote:" [T] he Clinton administration's intervention into the flu-shot market resulted in American companies getting out of the vaccine business entirely." [http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20041024-110608-1806r.htm]
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