2008 Woodie Awards
All the News That Gives Us Fits : Thievery Reaches Flu Level
Katharine Anderson
Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: Opinion
Most people know the outrageous costs of pharmaceuticals and many students without health insurance quiver at the thought of the medicines necessary to cure common illnesses.
A good defense is to spend a few dollars every year and get the flu vaccine. Twenty dollars is a good investment to prevent the financial worry of missing work, school and life in general.
Not this year.
Consumers are lucky if they can even find a vaccine, making this season's hottest ticket the flu shot.
Chiron Corporation announced Oct. 5 that its flu shot production was stopped because of bacterial contamination in the company's plant in England. This annihilated America's supply by almost half, forcing health officials to recommend that the limited doses be given to the elderly, children and other high-risk individuals.
If a consumer is actually able to find a dispensary for the shot, they need to be wary of the cost. According to recent news reports, some flu shot distributors may be guilty of price-gouging - raising the selling price to hospitals more than 500 percent. If the hospitals buy, this translates into a whole lot more money the consumer will pay.
Just another way for thieves to take advantage of the average person.
The flu vaccine has been selling for $80 - to - $100 per 10-dose vial. Price-gougers have been offering the same 10-dose vial for as high as $950.
Guess we know who the fat cats are this year.
Med-Stats, a Fort Lauderdale pharmaceutical company accused of price-gouging, relinquished to the state of Florida it's last five vials of the scarce vaccine and agreed to no longer buy or sell the flu shots.
ASAP Meds, conducting business as Med-Stats, contends that they had to pay $610 per vial for the majority of the vaccine it purchased from its distributors. The company then allegedly marked up the price to $900 per vial.
So, if you get ripped off it's OK to rip off someone else?
Not in the least.
A good defense is to spend a few dollars every year and get the flu vaccine. Twenty dollars is a good investment to prevent the financial worry of missing work, school and life in general.
Not this year.
Consumers are lucky if they can even find a vaccine, making this season's hottest ticket the flu shot.
Chiron Corporation announced Oct. 5 that its flu shot production was stopped because of bacterial contamination in the company's plant in England. This annihilated America's supply by almost half, forcing health officials to recommend that the limited doses be given to the elderly, children and other high-risk individuals.
If a consumer is actually able to find a dispensary for the shot, they need to be wary of the cost. According to recent news reports, some flu shot distributors may be guilty of price-gouging - raising the selling price to hospitals more than 500 percent. If the hospitals buy, this translates into a whole lot more money the consumer will pay.
Just another way for thieves to take advantage of the average person.
The flu vaccine has been selling for $80 - to - $100 per 10-dose vial. Price-gougers have been offering the same 10-dose vial for as high as $950.
Guess we know who the fat cats are this year.
Med-Stats, a Fort Lauderdale pharmaceutical company accused of price-gouging, relinquished to the state of Florida it's last five vials of the scarce vaccine and agreed to no longer buy or sell the flu shots.
ASAP Meds, conducting business as Med-Stats, contends that they had to pay $610 per vial for the majority of the vaccine it purchased from its distributors. The company then allegedly marked up the price to $900 per vial.
So, if you get ripped off it's OK to rip off someone else?
Not in the least.
