I am delighted that Dr. Regina Benjamin has finally been confirmed as our new surgeon general. Perhaps if the Senate had confirmed her earlier we would not have the disorganized swine flu vaccine mess we are now enduring. I would not be surprised to learn that Congress has all gotten the shots.
Since Benjamin had to contend with an even worse mess after Hurricane Katrina, as the national public health spokesperson, I am hoping she jumps in with both feet to force the reorganization of the manufacture and distribution of both the vaccines and the Tamiflu treatment, which, I understand, can also be hard to find.
It is both infuriating and sad to see Washington make this same mistake again. There was ample time to prepare a centralized, prioritized distribution strategy and not leave it to the discretion of local authorities, many of whom seem to be using what amounts to an "every man for himself" distribution process. I have wondered why there was no surgeon general leading the charge.
We need a recognizable face and a voice out there daily to reassure the public and a taskmaster to get the national public health structure to pull itself together. Ventura County is fortunate in that our public health department is organized and aggressive, but we still lack sufficient vaccine. Giving 1,000 doses of this precious commodity to Goldman Sachs while pediatricians go begging is even more disgusting than those big bonuses.
Welcome, Dr. Benjamin! Now, please get to work!
-- Lauraine Effress, Oxnard