(no subject)

[primroseburrows]

So I'm up early with the Cough O'Doom, drinking coffee and watching a recording of yesterday's (US) Health & Human Services budget meeting on CSPAN, like you do.

And they're talking about how to battle next year's flu season, Tom Harkin^* suggests, hey, make the flu vaccine available free, nationwide, and then he talks about how yeah, it'll cost a bunch of money upfront, but that it would save a bunch of money when people start not getting sick and missing work and being hospitalized and dying because of the flu.

And so I'm thinking, woah. Government-funded healthcare with an emphasis on prevention that will end up saving money. What a fracking concept.





^*Totally not dissing Tom Harkin here. I'm thinking he'd agree with me.

Comments

[luzula]

Heh. Sweden did just that with the swine flu vaccine, actually.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Yay, Sweden! :D (I have issues with the swine flu vaccine, but the point is still valid). :)

[moony]

I think the idea of 'spend now, benefit later' is something that the US government is never going to accept.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Sadly, you're probably right. Alas, cannot afford to move yet.

[goseaward.livejournal.com]

Yay, Tom Harkin! :D (The only Democratic senator from Iowa that I can remember...)

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I don't know that much about him, but IIRC he has a good voting record on stuff like this.

[jesse_the_k]

He was the primary force "inside" force for the Americans with Disabilities Act. OTOH, since he's from Iowa, he's supported lots of corporate welfare for mega-agriculture.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

So he gets a point on either side. And, he's a supporter of healthcare reform.

[euphoricagony.livejournal.com]

Lmao! Oh, American health care. It makes me go O_o .

It used to be that the flu vaccine was available in Canada free of charge to those at higher risk: children, elderly, those with chronic illnesses that would put them at higher risk. It was also given to those working in health care facilities, and I'm sure there were other companies who did it as well. For the past few years it's been free to anyone who wants it. Actually, even before that you could easily get it free...just go to one of the public flu clinics that were held in community centres, malls, etc....they'd give it to you.

Anyway, yeah...prevention...what a concept! /o\

I do hope you feel better soon! *hugs*

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Dude, it's like a different PLANET down here. And I don't mean just different from Canada, but from the rest of the whole bloody WORLD.

I hope I feel better soon, too, thanks. :) I'm at a surprise!work shift, which isn't really conducive to being my own nurse, but oh, well.