States Not Prepared

[DamnYankee]

This is a rather interesting indictment on the states. After being funded by the feds, many have failed to follow through with the preparation -- particularly stockpiling of Tamiflu and antibioltics -- citing various "reasons", which I can only characterize as excuses. If and when an actual epidemic/pandemic occurs, I'm certain that they'll be looking to the Federal government for help, and I wonder what they've done with the funds they've already received if those dollars weren't used as they were designated for.

washingtonpost.com

Many States Do Not Meet Readiness Standards
(By Kimberly Kindy, The Washington Post)

 

[manu1959]

lets see....the feds got all the money from the states in the first place....bad form not to spend it on what you were suposed to though....but then again the feds do the same thing.....i guess this will be a case of do as i say not as i do.....

 

[Missourian]

We got ours.​

 

[garyd]

Without nknowing what the feds require them to stockpile the map is merely interesting...

By the way given the numbers of unfunded federal mandates over the years most states have all they can do to with sales tax and other revenues down this year to just stay even with all they are supposed to do without expanding any programs.

 

[Missourian]

Without nknowing what the feds require them to stockpile the map is merely interesting...

By the way given the numbers of unfunded federal mandates over the years most states have all they can do to with sales tax and other revenues down this year to just stay even with all they are supposed to do without expanding any programs.

It's in the article Allbiz qouted.

"The federal government has met its goal of accumulating 50 million courses of the antiviral medications."

"Along with the federal doses, the plan called for states together to create a cache of 30 million doses, but they have fallen short of that figure by one-third. Maine, for example, which has three confirmed cases of swine flu, has stockpiled no medications."

"The combined federal-state stockpile would provide enough medication to treat 25 percent of the population. Health officials believe that treatment at such levels would be sufficient to stop a pandemic. "

​

 

[garyd]

Doesn't really matter though if you haven't the money you haven't the money and they largely don't have the money because of other thing the feds insist that they do without ever bothering to supply them the money to do it. And some of those programs go back decades.

 

[DamnYankee]

Quote: Originally Posted by garyd
Without nknowing what the feds require them to stockpile the map is merely interesting...

By the way given the numbers of unfunded federal mandates over the years most states have all they can do to with sales tax and other revenues down this year to just stay even with all they are supposed to do without expanding any programs.

Quote: Originally Posted by Missourian
It's in the article Allbiz qouted.

"The federal government has met its goal of accumulating 50 million courses of the antiviral medications."

"Along with the federal doses, the plan called for states together to create a cache of 30 million doses, but they have fallen short of that figure by one-third. Maine, for example, which has three confirmed cases of swine flu, has stockpiled no medications."

"The combined federal-state stockpile would provide enough medication to treat 25 percent of the population. Health officials believe that treatment at such levels would be sufficient to stop a pandemic. "

Quote: Originally Posted by garyd
Doesn't really matter though if you haven't the money you haven't the money and they largely don't have the money because of other thing the feds insist that they do without ever bothering to supply them the money to do it. And some of those programs go back decades.


Which part are you having a problem understanding?

 

[DamnYankee]

We got ours.​

Not sure how much of ours we got, but it's in the 75-99%.

 

[KittenKoder]

Considering there is no real threat ... look at all that wasted money!

 

[DamnYankee]

Considering there is no real threat ... look at all that wasted money!

In this case, and in the case a few years back of the avian flu (which is how the "preparedness" funds came to be appropriated), I absolutely agree -- there was and, apparently, is no real threat.

The point, though, is that public health is about prevention, and that means "preparedness" in the event of a real threat. Had someone paid closer attention to the strange "illnesses" that were occurring in the early '80s, it's highly probable that the HIV/AIDS virus would not have become the threat that it is today.

 

[KittenKoder]

One thing, the truly deadly viruses have no way to really prepare for, and they have no cure. They are almost alien in nature, flus are well ... flus. We know these viruses and know that by themselves they pose absolutely no threat. Overreaction is a serious problem that our country has fallen into a habit of feeding, and look where it's gotten us ... billions wasted on every scare. Wasted, because when the next scare hits they usually have to dispose of what they bought for the last one to make room for the new "supplies". It's a vicious circle which profits only a specific few companies.

 

[garyd]

Apparently the part you are having trouble with is that no matter how much you want to call it making excuses the various are extremely hard up against it money wise right now and they simply haven't the money to do everything they'd like.

 

[DamnYankee]

One thing, the truly deadly viruses have no way to really prepare for, and they have no cure. They are almost alien in nature, flus are well ... flus. We know these viruses and know that by themselves they pose absolutely no threat. Overreaction is a serious problem that our country has fallen into a habit of feeding, and look where it's gotten us ... billions wasted on every scare. Wasted, because when the next scare hits they usually have to dispose of what they bought for the last one to make room for the new "supplies". It's a vicious circle which profits only a specific few companies.

Partially true. It is generally "complications" (pneumonia, etc.) that occur as a result of the flu that cause death. While there is no cure for flu, Tamiflu has proven to be an "arrester". In any case, flu (and its "resolutions") is but one of the "scares" that health officials attempt to prepare for, and they have improved in their efforts to be proactive rather than reactive.

Yes, there's "waste", but then that begs the question already asked: Where did the federal funds go that were already doled out that weren't spent as designated? If the supplies had been needed, what do you think would have been the reaction by those states? Call on the Federal Government for a declaration of a National Disaster, of course.

I realize it's somewhat of a Catch-22, but there are an awful lot of government and school officials out there running around wondering what to do, and closing their facilities -- probably figuring on "assistance" when this blows over.

 

[DamnYankee]

Apparently the part you are having trouble with is that no matter how much you want to call it making excuses the various are extremely hard up against it money wise right now and they simply haven't the money to do everything they'd like.

Seems obvious, to me, that you read only part of the OP. Here it is again for you:

This is a rather interesting indictment on the states. After being funded by the feds, many have failed to follow through with the preparation -- particularly stockpiling of Tamiflu and antibioltics -- citing various "reasons", which I can only characterize as excuses. If and when an actual epidemic/pandemic occurs, I'm certain that they'll be looking to the Federal government for help, and I wonder what they've done with the funds they've already received if those dollars weren't used as they were designated for./B]/COLOR]

 

[KittenKoder]

One thing, the truly deadly viruses have no way to really prepare for, and they have no cure. They are almost alien in nature, flus are well ... flus. We know these viruses and know that by themselves they pose absolutely no threat. Overreaction is a serious problem that our country has fallen into a habit of feeding, and look where it's gotten us ... billions wasted on every scare. Wasted, because when the next scare hits they usually have to dispose of what they bought for the last one to make room for the new "supplies". It's a vicious circle which profits only a specific few companies.

Partially true. It is generally "complications" (pneumonia, etc.) that occur as a result of the flu that cause death. While there is no cure for flu, Tamiflu has proven to be an "arrester". In any case, flu (and its "resolutions") is but one of the "scares" that health officials attempt to prepare for, and they have improved in their efforts to be proactive rather than reactive.

Yes, there's "waste", but then that begs the question already asked: Where did the federal funds go that were already doled out that weren't spent as designated? If the supplies had been needed, what do you think would have been the reaction by those states? Call on the Federal Government for a declaration of a National Disaster, of course.

I realize it's somewhat of a Catch-22, but there are an awful lot of government and school officials out there running around wondering what to do, and closing their facilities -- probably figuring on "assistance" when this blows over.

Nothing says those funds weren't spent for what they were told to spend them on by the paranoid morons in charge. You do realize one thing our medical industry is famous for: claiming a shortage to inflate the cost. This stuff isn't as hard to make as they want you to think, they could make enough for the entire globe at half the cost they charge for one state. They will use scares like this to boost the cost even more. They have you by the short hairs and many states probably put in the orders but are they are being delayed so the drug companies could demand more money, however, the scare is ending sooner than the last ones, so they failed this time. Which makes me laugh more.

 

[garyd]

Did the feds give them enough money to buy all the doses or just some of them. And if the FEd gave them the money in the first place to do what the Fed was already doing please tell me who it was that thought that was a better idea than just having the state buy all they thought was needed and then distribute then to the various states as needed?

 

[DamnYankee]

One thing, the truly deadly viruses have no way to really prepare for, and they have no cure. They are almost alien in nature, flus are well ... flus. We know these viruses and know that by themselves they pose absolutely no threat. Overreaction is a serious problem that our country has fallen into a habit of feeding, and look where it's gotten us ... billions wasted on every scare. Wasted, because when the next scare hits they usually have to dispose of what they bought for the last one to make room for the new "supplies". It's a vicious circle which profits only a specific few companies.

Partially true. It is generally "complications" (pneumonia, etc.) that occur as a result of the flu that cause death. While there is no cure for flu, Tamiflu has proven to be an "arrester". In any case, flu (and its "resolutions") is but one of the "scares" that health officials attempt to prepare for, and they have improved in their efforts to be proactive rather than reactive.

Yes, there's "waste", but then that begs the question already asked: Where did the federal funds go that were already doled out that weren't spent as designated? If the supplies had been needed, what do you think would have been the reaction by those states? Call on the Federal Government for a declaration of a National Disaster, of course.

I realize it's somewhat of a Catch-22, but there are an awful lot of government and school officials out there running around wondering what to do, and closing their facilities -- probably figuring on "assistance" when this blows over.

Nothing says those funds weren't spent for what they were told to spend them on by the paranoid morons in charge. You do realize one thing our medical industry is famous for: claiming a shortage to inflate the cost. This stuff isn't as hard to make as they want you to think, they could make enough for the entire globe at half the cost they charge for one state. They will use scares like this to boost the cost even more. They have you by the short hairs and many states probably put in the orders but are they are being delayed so the drug companies could demand more money, however, the scare is ending sooner than the last ones, so they failed this time. Which makes me laugh more.

Now you just gave me one.... Careful now, or this will be moved to "Conspiracy Theories".... LOL

What actually happens, with the "normal" flu vaccine, is that it isn't a money-maker for the manufacturers, and they really don't want to produce it, but they aren't given a choice. Now a few years back, when Chiron fucked up the vaccines, there was a severe supply and demand problem which drove up the cost from the other manufacturers as they scrambled to try to make up for the shortage.

You can only make so much flu vaccine from the available eggs, which is what determines/fixes the price. Not saying that drug manufacturers don't screw the public, but they do it with their new products -- the "new and improved" drugs that are supposedly so much better than the older, "tried and true" ones. Hypertension meds are the perfect example.

 

[dilloduck]

One thing, the truly deadly viruses have no way to really prepare for, and they have no cure. They are almost alien in nature, flus are well ... flus. We know these viruses and know that by themselves they pose absolutely no threat. Overreaction is a serious problem that our country has fallen into a habit of feeding, and look where it's gotten us ... billions wasted on every scare. Wasted, because when the next scare hits they usually have to dispose of what they bought for the last one to make room for the new "supplies". It's a vicious circle which profits only a specific few companies.

Why do you consider only a virulent deadly flu to be threat. How well do you think a heavily populated area would manage if a third to a have of it's people had to stay home in bed with an illness for a week ? No problems, huh ?

 

[KittenKoder]

Partially true. It is generally "complications" (pneumonia, etc.) that occur as a result of the flu that cause death. While there is no cure for flu, Tamiflu has proven to be an "arrester". In any case, flu (and its "resolutions") is but one of the "scares" that health officials attempt to prepare for, and they have improved in their efforts to be proactive rather than reactive.

Yes, there's "waste", but then that begs the question already asked: Where did the federal funds go that were already doled out that weren't spent as designated? If the supplies had been needed, what do you think would have been the reaction by those states? Call on the Federal Government for a declaration of a National Disaster, of course.

I realize it's somewhat of a Catch-22, but there are an awful lot of government and school officials out there running around wondering what to do, and closing their facilities -- probably figuring on "assistance" when this blows over.

Nothing says those funds weren't spent for what they were told to spend them on by the paranoid morons in charge. You do realize one thing our medical industry is famous for: claiming a shortage to inflate the cost. This stuff isn't as hard to make as they want you to think, they could make enough for the entire globe at half the cost they charge for one state. They will use scares like this to boost the cost even more. They have you by the short hairs and many states probably put in the orders but are they are being delayed so the drug companies could demand more money, however, the scare is ending sooner than the last ones, so they failed this time. Which makes me laugh more.

Now you just gave me one.... Careful now, or this will be moved to "Conspiracy Theories".... LOL

What actually happens, with the "normal" flu vaccine, is that it isn't a money-maker for the manufacturers, and they really don't want to produce it, but they aren't given a choice. Now a few years back, when Chiron fucked up the vaccines, there was a severe supply and demand problem which drove up the cost from the other manufacturers as they scrambled to try to make up for the shortage.

You can only make so much flu vaccine from the available eggs, which is what determines/fixes the price. Not saying that drug manufacturers don't screw the public, but they do it with their new products -- the "new and improved" drugs that are supposedly so much better than the older, "tried and true" ones. Hypertension meds are the perfect example.

The difference between this is that it's based on a very common trait, greed. A "conspiracy theory" has no winners, this one there is, the drug companies. They do make a profit off all flu vaccines, and why wouldn't they collaborate to help boost their market? It's easy for them to do since 99% of the population knows so little about it, and no matter how much you tell them most people don't want to learn anything about it. They would rather just do as they are told and not think about it. If people knew more about these viruses (or about the medical industry as a whole) they'd be outraged at how much we have been conned by it. The "mistakes" can be done on purpose, since there is no way for people to really look into it such cons are difficult to spot. Just because it's a major company doesn't make it less likely to con people, on the contrary, the more they can make you think you need their products the more often they will con you.

 

[dilloduck]

Nothing says those funds weren't spent for what they were told to spend them on by the paranoid morons in charge. You do realize one thing our medical industry is famous for: claiming a shortage to inflate the cost. This stuff isn't as hard to make as they want you to think, they could make enough for the entire globe at half the cost they charge for one state. They will use scares like this to boost the cost even more. They have you by the short hairs and many states probably put in the orders but are they are being delayed so the drug companies could demand more money, however, the scare is ending sooner than the last ones, so they failed this time. Which makes me laugh more.

Now you just gave me one.... Careful now, or this will be moved to "Conspiracy Theories".... LOL

What actually happens, with the "normal" flu vaccine, is that it isn't a money-maker for the manufacturers, and they really don't want to produce it, but they aren't given a choice. Now a few years back, when Chiron fucked up the vaccines, there was a severe supply and demand problem which drove up the cost from the other manufacturers as they scrambled to try to make up for the shortage.

You can only make so much flu vaccine from the available eggs, which is what determines/fixes the price. Not saying that drug manufacturers don't screw the public, but they do it with their new products -- the "new and improved" drugs that are supposedly so much better than the older, "tried and true" ones. Hypertension meds are the perfect example.

The difference between this is that it's based on a very common trait, greed. A "conspiracy theory" has no winners, this one there is, the drug companies. They do make a profit off all flu vaccines, and why wouldn't they collaborate to help boost their market? It's easy for them to do since 99% of the population knows so little about it, and no matter how much you tell them most people don't want to learn anything about it. They would rather just do as they are told and not think about it. If people knew more about these viruses (or about the medical industry as a whole) they'd be outraged at how much we have been conned by it. The "mistakes" can be done on purpose, since there is no way for people to really look into it such cons are difficult to spot. Just because it's a major company doesn't make it less likely to con people, on the contrary, the more they can make you think you need their products the more often they will con you.

Being outraged that you have been conned is evidence that you are relying to much on others.