Today I called to confirm the appointment for my son's first flu shot. He will turn 6 months old next week. As a local public health physician and clinical faculty at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, I am very aware of the importance of these vaccinations.

What I was told was that there might well not be a shot there for him. As a physician who provides direct patient care, I too should be vaccinated, and when I called my own physician about an appointment, they too told me that vaccine might not be available for me either. This will not only put me at increased risk of getting the infection but, more important, it will put all those I care for at increased risk of getting the infection from me in its early stages.

The frustration, fear and anger have grown in this crisis to the point that some accountability for this situation is necessary.

Vaccines for several "routine" immunizations have been in short supply over the past several years. In June 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspected the Chiron plant. Initially, the FDA found that the plant was contaminated with bacteria but later announced, "The problems were corrected to their satisfaction" and allowed the plant to continue to operate.

Although Bush administration officials were specifically warned again on Sept. 13, 2003, about the problems at the California-based Chiron's plant in England, they took no action to fully evaluate these problems or to secure an alternative supply (which the British government did arrange for from other manufacturers). This is after ignoring two GAO reports prior to that warning of impending shortfall.

President Bush's record of defending the interests of his cronies and ignoring the needs of the rest of us has become a pattern that we need to act on now by sending a clear message about accountability. Putting the needs and interests of the Enrons and Halliburtons of the world ahead of those who are most vulnerable, like my son and the other 280,000 children in Washington who are at risk for severe complications from influenza, is not acceptable.

It is time for new leadership that will protect working families in the United States. Please take action to replace this incompetence with leadership that will work hard to provide safe, effective medications for all of us, but particularly those who are most vulnerable. I voted as a Republican in the primary. I certainly am not going to on Tuesday. It is time for change.

Frank James is a physician in Seattle.

© 2004 Seattle Post - Intelligencer

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