2008 Woodie Awards
Bioterrorism: Just Scare Tactics
Tax money should be spent to deal with real diseases not imaginary threats.
Zabie Mansoory
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: Opinion
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It is time for our government to getbe realistic and look at the problems in front of us.
While the government we'reis busy spending billions of dollars on bioterrorism, weAmericans still depend on the British for 100 million doses of influenza vaccine, which never came.
Our government is blind to our needs or they're just ignoring the fact that flu shots are more important than an imaginary bioterrorism threat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified six diseases that are high priority when it comes to defending against bioterror. These are considered "Category A" threats which are the most dangerous diseases likely to be used for terrorism. They include anthrax, plague, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, and viral hemorrhagic fever.
These are pretty frightening diseases for a country where people are dying from the flu. Think about the fact that we're not prepared for a basic flu epidemic. Influenza poses a very real and immediate danger and currently threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. Some of the $5.6 billion that President Bush approved signed for bioterrorism should be spent to buy next year's flu shots.
Typically, up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, resulting in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
A total of 61 million doses of vaccine will be available this season, far shy of the anticipated 100 million doses and approximately 90 million people are in the high-risk category, according to Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the C.D.C.
Typically, up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, resulting in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
On December 13, 2003, President Bush ordered vaccinations for members of the military serving in areas of the world that are considered at high risk for terrorism. It makes perfect sense to immunize thousands of military personnel and defense workers. But attempting to have vaccines ready for the entire nation is just a waste of money.
While the government we'reis busy spending billions of dollars on bioterrorism, weAmericans still depend on the British for 100 million doses of influenza vaccine, which never came.
Our government is blind to our needs or they're just ignoring the fact that flu shots are more important than an imaginary bioterrorism threat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified six diseases that are high priority when it comes to defending against bioterror. These are considered "Category A" threats which are the most dangerous diseases likely to be used for terrorism. They include anthrax, plague, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, and viral hemorrhagic fever.
These are pretty frightening diseases for a country where people are dying from the flu. Think about the fact that we're not prepared for a basic flu epidemic. Influenza poses a very real and immediate danger and currently threatens the lives of thousands of Americans. Some of the $5.6 billion that President Bush approved signed for bioterrorism should be spent to buy next year's flu shots.
Typically, up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, resulting in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
A total of 61 million doses of vaccine will be available this season, far shy of the anticipated 100 million doses and approximately 90 million people are in the high-risk category, according to Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the C.D.C.
Typically, up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, resulting in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
On December 13, 2003, President Bush ordered vaccinations for members of the military serving in areas of the world that are considered at high risk for terrorism. It makes perfect sense to immunize thousands of military personnel and defense workers. But attempting to have vaccines ready for the entire nation is just a waste of money.
