Politics and Medicine

An average of 30,000 citizens dies each year as a result of the flu. Recent influenza vaccines have not been effective enough to deal with the various strains of the decease that manifest themselves. Efforts to better deal with the problem or find a cure for the basic viruses of influenza have been frustrated by a lack of funds for research. According to an article by the Associated Press- “In the best flu seasons, the vaccines were 50 to 60 percent effective.” Further, the AP reported: “But this year’s formula didn’t include the strain of H3N2 virus that ended up causing about two-thirds of the illnesses this winter. And that strain tends to cause more hospitalizations and deaths, particularly in the elderly.” However, Obama has asked congress to earmark $6 billion to research and combat the recent outbreak E-bola in Africa which has thus far caused a fraction (about 7,000), of the deaths caused by influenza. At best this is preferential political prioritizing and gone amok and at worst an argument about government rationing of medical resources. Perhaps lawsuits should be filed against the government for anyone who severely suffers or dies as a result of influenza in America.