The Bush administration said Tuesday it intends to buy 1.2 million doses of flu vaccine from a plant in Germany to ease this year’s shortage. At the same time, health officials said they will miss today’s deadline to report to Congress on the hot-button question of whether Americans should be allowed to buy lower-priced prescription drugs from countries such as Germany and Canada.
Although administration officials contend the two are distinct matters, the juxtaposition of the announcements sparked swift and harsh criticism by elected leaders in both parties who accused the White House of hypocrisy.
“Here we are buying flu vaccine from Germany, and yet they’re sitting on a report that probably says it is dangerous to purchase medicines from other countries,” said Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn. “Why is it that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) can do this safely but your local pharmacist can’t?”
Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette articleAlthough administration officials contend the two are distinct matters, the juxtaposition of the announcements sparked swift and harsh criticism by elected leaders in both parties who accused the White House of hypocrisy.
“Here we are buying flu vaccine from Germany, and yet they’re sitting on a report that probably says it is dangerous to purchase medicines from other countries,” said Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn. “Why is it that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) can do this safely but your local pharmacist can’t?”
I think you know the answer to that.
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