jor

Who would have thought it? Canada has become a prime destination for seniors. The bus loads started with cheaper perscription drugs and now has grown to seniors desparate for flu shots. Something is really wrong in the United States when something like this should have to take place. Perhaps our Senators have become travel agents to promote Canada.

diddl_maus

But they must promise the Senator/Travel Agents that they will not buy any Canadian beef, pork or softwood lumber. While they are at it they could show president Bush a map of Canada. He didn't know where Prince Edward Island was when he was first elected.

jor

diddl, There's lots of ranchers in ND, SD, Wyoming and Montana that would agree with you about Canadian beef. Its a political campaign beef in those state.

ncgrrl

This will get the message pulled: remember when the US federal government was trying to make Americans believe prescription drugs from Canada were dangerous? (well, dangerous to the profit of big political supporting pharm. companies) NOW the US gov't wants to buy flu vaccines from our buddies up north. ROTFLMAO over that.

I'm surprised there aren't gambling busses heading north to save on gambling winning taxes.

jor

ncgrrl, They Still are doing that! Yet the flu vacs don't need and scrutiny by the US gov because our gov screwed up and won't fes up.

atilla

You know what is really interesting ncgrrl? Here in Canada, we have a longer slower process of approving new drugs. New drugs are ALWAYS out in the U.S. before they become available to us. In other words, the FDA has already done alot of the testing and has data on drugs well before we do.

It is unbelievable that the U.S. Gov't could claim Canadian drugs are unsafe when they have already allowed distribution of these drugs before Canadians get them. Like you said, only dangerous to the Pharmaceutical companies who contribute such huge bucks to political campaigns.

ncgrrl

Back when the 'dangerous Canadian drugs' promo was first out, someone around here traced a few Glaxo drugs (sorry, I don't remember if it was the tv or newspaper). Found out drugs from the factory in NC went to both US and Canadian outlets. Somehow while crossing over the border the drgs became 'dangerous'

jor

If I was Canadian I would be insulted that drugs already approved which come form the same factory somehow become unsave when they are in Canada. Is Canada some third world country with no health and safety standards? Pharm companies have bought far too many Senators.

atilla

The unsafe Canadian drug thing was goverment scare tactics, nothing more. Our government actually does not allow the distribution of many of the drugs that are on the market in the U.S. today, our regulations are more rigid.

I think the people who would be insulted would be the American public because of the fact that their leaders continually mislead them on such facts. Does the government not realize that the American public is smarter than that and will do their own research and figure out what the truth is? Now that's insulting.

FainaAgain

Did you hear the news this morning - the flu shots which we don't have enough for elderly and babies, will be given to all senators, no questions asked. Are you still surprised the drugs are so expensive and Canadian drugs declared unsafe?

jor

All senators who have gotten or will get a flu shot should be forced to identify themselves.

And here's a really great injustise. Prison inmates are getting flu shots on demand at no cost to them. They get the same privileges as Senators or vis-versa.

jor

It was just announced by the official Congressional doctor (I wish I remembered his name) that members of Congress need flu shots because they "shake the hands of many people and kiss babies".

Perhaps the good doctor should tell them to quit kissing babies and wash their hands more often. I don't think that the average person who comes in contact with a baby or shakes a person's hand are included in this exclusive flu shot on demand group.

I called my two US senators and two local state reps today to ask if they got a flu shot. Mark Dayton said he has not and will not get a flu shot. One of Norm Coleman's aids said he got a flu shot on Sept 30th.

One of my state reps said he has not nor will not get the flu shot. The other did not return my phone call.

Your law makers' phone numbers are listed in most phone books. They love to take your calls before an election. Call them.

FainaAgain

Just show them a "Monk" movie and get assistants to carry hand wipes

elle

>>>Prison inmates are getting flu shots on demand at no cost to them. They get the same privileges as Senators or vis-versa.

Prison inmates, senators. Not really all that much difference between the two populations.

miguelgcuadra

NO MORE BUSH.......OUT, DONE ,

cassidy2002

Faina, hilarious, I thought exactly the same thing...

What I wonder is, who is the person that actually believes that crap about drugs from Canada being "unsafe"??? Who on Earth is that gullible??? Oh, wait, we ARE in the US aren't we?? Scary.

Borealis

Having worked in the pharma/biotech field in CANADA for several decades, I feel that I must dispel some myths being bandied about in this post:

1. Drugs & medical devices from Canada ARE as SAFE as those from the US simply because most pharma and biotech companies in Canada adhere to both FDA as well as Health Canada regulations and guidelines - the US is a huge market compared to Canada and it doesn't make much business sense to market only in Canada.

2. Health Canada regulations seem to have been written by a demented lawyer while the FDA regulations are much much better written, clearer, and easier to understand. Take it from me, I've had to deal with both sets of guidelines. That being said, there isn't that much significant difference between them.

3. Note also that most pharma companies are multi-national, or have intent to market internationally, and they have to work with an additional oversight - the ICH - these guidelines harmonize regulations between the FDA, European regulatory guidleines (EMEA) and Japan. Canada and Australia also "sat in" on the harmonization.

4. Health Canada approval is not longer and more rigid (as someone stated above) - it is just very slow. They don't have enough inspectors with the appropriate background and knowledge (corollary of this is that it is easier to fool a Health Canada inspector than a FDA inspector).

5. The shortage of flu vaccines is a direct result of business decisions as well as government policy - vaccines simply do not make as much profit as other drugs.

8. This year's flu vaccine will not protect you from all the flu viruses out there - it will only protect you from the viruses that have been identified and for which the vaccine has been manufactured (there was choice involved - there were undoubtedly many other viruses that were identified but were not considered for use in the manufacture of the vaccine).

You best bet to avoid flu is to wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!!! (and avoid people who cough and sneeze without covering their mouths).

LoveItaly

I am going to run to the sink right now and wash my hands!!!!

Since I had the flu most of this week, does this mean I am won't get it again?

There are some people I don't want to kiss, will this be a good excuse?

Maybe we should adapt the Japenese custom, lets all bow to each other rather than shaking hands, what do you think?

Oh, isn't life fun?

Borealis

LoveItaly - LOL !!
Actually, cold sores are an even better excuse for not kissing .

A now for a serious answer to your question about getting the flu again: you will be immune to the identical virus that caused your current flu, and will be immune in varying degrees to other viruses depending on how similar they are to the virus that caused your current flu. However, you will not be immune to viruses that are significantly different.
The same applies to colds (which are also caused by viruses).
Hope this helps.

LoveItaly

Borealis, being sincere here for a moment, thank you. I just had my HMO change my medical group which means again for the 4th time in 4 years I have a new Dr., who I "will get acquainted with" in November.

Felt to sick most of this week to even attempt to get in to see her. And thanks to Scarlett who nagged me "go back to bed" I did on Wednesday and actually felt more human that evening.

There definetly is a bug going around, my family had it too, grandson was really sick.

So, I will keep fingers crossed I will not get it again. Your good advice makes me feel more positive about that.
Usually I don't get sick often so this was sort of a surprise.

With good advice on Fodor's, who needs the doctor? .
Thanks again for your advice.