Cough and cover

I'm not sure exactly who or what is responsible for the flu vaccine shortage. Kevin Drum looks at some possible causes here. It's not surprising, however, that Bush failed to take any leadership responsibility at all, claiming it all boils down to a "manufacturing defect" and not lack of planning or foresight from the administration itself.

Luckily, the federal CDC has come up with a solution to the whole problem:

"Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough and use good hand hygiene," she said. "Also don't go to work if you're sick with a respiratory illness and don't send your kids to school if they're sick."

Well, that should solve all the problems, shouldn't it?

*UPDATE* Reports now are that we will receive 2.6 million vaccines to replace the 46 million lost to contamination. The vaccines will be shipped down from Bush's "third world" Canadian friends shortly after the recommended time to get your flu shot has passed. Sounds like the perfect plan from Bush, doesn't it? Too little, too late.