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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
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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