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March 19, 2001
“Vaccine Shortage Spurs Legislation Proposal” Associated Press
(www.ap.org)
(03/19/01)
In the wake of last fall’s flu vaccine shortage, in which production
delays led to shipment and supply problems, rationing, and price gouging,
legislators in Washington D.C. and Oregon have been looking to give health
officials authority to assume command during periods of emergency and be
proactive in the vaccine distribution process.
In Oregon, State Rep. Jeff Kruse’s (R-Roseburg) bill would allow the
Oregon Health Division to declare a vaccine emergency and assume command of
distribution if supplies are expected to be 25 percent short for at least two months,
or a vaccine crisis if supplies are expected to be 50 percent short. The federal bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep.
Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), would give the secretary of Health and Human Services
the authority to order flu vaccine manufacturers to honor sales contracts with
states or counties before other organizations in times of national
emergency. Legislators, as well as
proponents of the bills within the medical community, are stressing that they
are not interested in removing vaccine production from the private sector, and
that the rules would only rarely take effect.
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