Truck Carrying Flu Vaccine Supply Is Stolen

[kpete]

Source: New York Times

Truck Carrying Flu Vaccine Supply Is Stolen

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: November 6, 2009

CHICAGO — The swine flu vaccine has become a coveted commodity all over the country, but someone in Milwaukee appeared at first glance to carry the notion to a new level this week, stealing off in a refrigerated truck that was hauling 930 of the prized doses.

The doses were being returned to Milwaukee’s main storage facility on Thursday evening after a public vaccination clinic when one or more people took off in the truck, which had been left idling and unattended only for moments, the authorities said.

The police found the truck 40 minutes later, and said the crime appeared to have been inspired more by the easily available vehicle than by the H1N1 vaccine inside. In fact, the vaccine was all found, apparently untouched and perhaps even unnoticed.

The doses will now be sent back to their manufacturers, although Milwaukee, like seemingly every other city, has plenty of people hoping to get one. “Given that it was out of our chain of custody, we cannot validate the integrity of that vaccine,” said Bevan K. Baker, the city health commissioner.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07truck.html?_r=1&hpw

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I hope common sense prevails

and that the doses are actually administered - provided the seals are intact, of course.

[Vehl]

2. Its good that they do not administer these vaccines..becoz what if they are tainted?

The last thing we want to have is a mass panic due to the prank of some anti-social elements who doctored the vaccines.

ps: Even though its 99.99% safe why take a chance?...if someone who gets this vaccine falls sick(due to some other reason)...and some lame radio-talkshow guy floats some insinuations...we will have mass panic on our hands

[tomm2thumbs]

3. yup, you'd have a Tylenol panic all over again which took years to overcome

[UnderDem]

5. Understandable concern, but

the truck was only gone for 40 minutes. I suppose a determined person could tamper with the vials in that short of a time, but it doesn't seem likely 2 me.

[Blandocyte]

4. Thief prolly thought it'd be something cool

in the back.

[Teramis]

6. Who in his right mind would do such a thing

Stealing money is bad, but darn. Medicine!