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This nation is currently experiencing an unacceptable shortage of the
flu vaccine. Individuals at high risk for the disease are being selected
for the vaccine through lotteries from coast to coast and are even traveling
to Canada because there is not enough to be distributed within our borders.
This is but another example of the government’s inability to provide
protection for the American people through contracts with independent companies.
America should not have to depend on Europeans to provide such a vital
vaccine at the peak of flu season.
In 1998, a contract for producing vaccines for military personnel was
awarded to BioPoint, a private company based in East Lansing, Michigan.
The military later had to suspend vaccinations after BioPoint was unable
to deliver bio-terrorism vaccines, resulting in a shortage of vaccines
needed to adequately protect our soldiers from bio-terrorism threats.
Therefore, with the past unsuccessful efforts of the private sector to
provide the needed vaccinations to our military combined with the recent
developments that have resulted in a shortage of supply for the public,
the government must take responsibility to protect its citizens and the
military.
While Members of Congress have been encouraged to receive the flu vaccine,
I have refused. I am 43 and healthy and feel the vaccine should be
reserved for those at high risk of contracting the disease. During
my first term in office, I began meeting with Pentagon officials to work
toward creating a Government Owned, Contractor Operated facility in Pine
Bluff to provide the military with the vaccines they need to adequately
protect themselves when fighting wars in foreign countries. There
is not an easy solution to this issue, but as your United States Representative,
I will continue to ask the Pentagon to consider alternate ways to ensure
the American people and the military are provided the vaccines they
need and deserve.
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