Certainly, the public was informed in early 2009 that there was a new flu occurring in Mexico with far different epidemiologic characteristics and clinical profiles than traditional flu strains. Yet, our healthcare officials seem to be caught off guard by H1N1 spiking months earlier than other flu strains. Given a new flu strain, it seems reasonable that there should have been expectations that it could have different seasonal patterns. The fact that there are only five manufacturers is another issue that needs to be understood. Why so few, given the many warnings of the potential for a wide-spread pandemic? One has to wonder if our government should have done more to encourage additional manufacturers, perhaps even subsidizing or offering other financial incentives for production. The article doesn't discuss the percentages of the H1N1 vaccine that the manufacturers are producing and which ones are experiencing glitches. Perhaps a larger number of producers and better diversification would have helped...

However, it's difficult to imagine how this advice would do much to actually contain such a highly infectious disease. This move just seems to be an attempt to make people think the government is taking action.
The issue of the H1N1 vaccine shortage is new and all the resulting consequences haven't yet been fully experienced, so, to date, there hasn't been too much criticism of how our government has handled the H1N1 pandemic. but, time will likely reveal the answers to the concerns raised in this paper that will increase awareness of our government's need to be better prepared to move forward more quickly and efficiently in future pandemics.

Bibliography

Fiore, M. (2009, October 21). H1N1 running rampant amid shortage of vaccine. Fox News.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568838,00.html