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What a difference five years makes on flu vaccine shortage

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
10/26/09 6:53 PM EDT

Hardly a negative word has been uttered in the mainstream media this week about President Obama and the shortage of swine flu vaccine shots, despite assurances from his administration in September that an "ample supply" would be available by "mid-October."

But five years ago when it was George W. Bush in the White House and sufficient supplies of flu vaccine were not available in a timely manner, folks in the media were jumping all over the administration. Earlier today, a friend pointed me to a bunch of examples of such coverage, including these two:

“While many Americans search in vain for flu shots, members and employees of Congress are able to obtain them quickly and at no charge from the Capitol's attending physician, who has urged all 535 lawmakers to get the vaccines even if they are young and healthy… But people of all ages who are credentialed to work in the Capitol can get a shot by saying they meet the guidelines, with no further questions asked… The practice appears to directly contravene the instruction being given by the government's executive branch.” --- Charles Babington and David Brown, The Washington Post, Oct. 20, 2004.

"Yesterday, on the way from St. Petersburg to New Port Richey, the presidential entourage stopped at the Paradise Restaurant in the little town of Safety Harbor, where the president and his brother posed for pictures and were served coffee and baklava. While in the restaurant, a member of the press pool shouted out a question to the president: 'Are you accountable for the flu vaccine shortage?' Bush ignored the question. And reporters were hustled out of the restaurant." --- Dan Froomkin’s White House Briefing Column, Oct. 20, 2004.

There are more such examples collected on Wikipedia here for those interested in a more detailed comparison of the flu vaccine shortage coverage under Bush compared to the present shortage.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

ladybug

Oct 26, 2009

If anyone shouted a question of Obama about the missing vaccine they might end up on an enemies list. :)

bobc

Oct 27, 2009

The seasonal flu vaccine is not in my area!

All are made in foreign countries, but one..which is a foreign owned company...

Our government ran out most of our R & D and makers of medicines...

Don't you ever wonder, if a foreign country ever wants to get back at us..all they have to do is with hold medicines!

junglejim123

Oct 27, 2009

Members of Congress will always have the best care available. We will get the Obamacare- rationed care- inferior care- the type of care that Congress turns their nose up at. Yet they now have the nerve to sell that care to us..

StepIntoTheLight

Oct 27, 2009

The liberal mainstream media has continued to give their messiah, Barack Hussain Obama, a free pass while he continues failing miserably on nearly all policy fronts -- rising unemployment, national debt, deficit spending, energy, cap and trade, immigration, health care, foreign policy, etc. -- all the while ignoring the critical issues around the country.

Had the "journalists" actually done some research, we would have had a completely different outcome last November. Hope the American voters get it right in the 2010 mid-term elections.

DRB

Oct 27, 2009

As I read the Washington Post editorial, it criticized congress, not the Bush administration.

Mad Monica

Oct 27, 2009

Don't forget, we're discussing Obama. He Who Can Do No Wrong could murder bunnies and pimp out underage girls on video in living technicolor and the libs would give him a pass. NOTHING is ever his fault. The only time owns up to anything is when there's praise to be had.

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What a difference five years makes on flu vaccine shortage

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
10/26/09 6:53 PM EDT