Vaccination: Test for the Obama Administration

With the flu season right around the corner, there is believed to be a shortage of flu vaccines. How the Obama administration handles this could-be epidemic is on everyone's mind. With the Center of Disease Control and Protection reporting that the H1N1 virus is already widespread in 46 out 50 states and a shortage of vaccines predicted, the Obama administration is getting mixed reviews.

Taking cues from previous instances similar to this during the administrations of George Bush, and Gerald Ford, the Obama administration is setting out to inform and educate the public on the H1N1 Virus and the flu vaccine. From the moment that H1N1 Virus made the news the administration set out to prevent a shortage and an epidemic. The website Flu.gov was created and public service announcements were made featuring the popular Sesame Street characters Elmo and Rosita. The president even made rounds urging the American people to wash their hands. Obama himself hasn't been vaccinated, allowing women who are pregnant, children, and those with health problems to get their vaccination first.

The administration has received high remarks on its education of the general public on vaccination as well as how quickly a vaccination was able to be put out. However in July it was estimated that by the end of October 120 million vaccinations would be available, but that number has now been lowered to 23.2 million vaccinations. This could be very bad for the administration. If an epidemic does break out fingers will be pointed at Obama, even if this situation spiraled out of control of the federal government, and this will set a precedent in peoples mind on how the Obama administration will handle national problems.