Sunday, October 13, 2019

2004 Influenza Vaccine Shortage Essay -- essays research papers

2004 Influenza Vaccine Shortage Internal PR Action Plan MKT 438 November, 22, 2004 Abstract This year’s flu season is supposed to bring a strain of the virus with a severity unlike any other seen in previous years. This supposed new strain is a mutated, currently untreatable strain that is expected to be responsible for several deaths. The media has caused such a wide spread panic over the Influenza bug this year and then claimed that 48 million vaccines mysteriously became contaminated rendering the public virtually helpless against the attack of this new strain of flu. This paper will discuss the strategies used by public relations representatives to calm the public as well as educate them by giving alternative ways to reduce the spread of catching this year’s most infamous bug.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal PR Action Plan Each year, the public is forewarned of the upcoming, potentially lethal, flu season. Along with the public warnings come the recommendations from the public health department identifying which groups of people including all small children, the elderly, and those with possibly weakened immune systems that are most at risk. There has been a growing concern that there would come a time that the supply of vaccine could not meet the demands of the population. However, no one thought that this shortage would come so suddenly, without fair warning, and would affect such high numbers of people. In fact, the current story is that approximately half of the total supply of the vaccine, roughly 48 million doses, were contaminated and therefore rendered useless. To compound the problem, this also means that 48 million people are being forced to play Russian Roulette with an invisible enemy. Many cases of the flu can be avoided through the quick release of information concerning the impending dile mma that we face as a nation, educating the public, and by communicating an effective internal public relations action plan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Public Dilemma  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America used to have five manufacturers that developed the flu vaccines that were used to vaccinate the entire nation. However, over the past few years, those five suppliers have diminished to only two suppliers, Chiron Corporation and Aventis Pasteur. Lester Crawford, acting commissioner for the Food a... ...g a resource that is unavailable to all. In other words, by informing the public that we need flu vaccines and then taking the option to get a vaccine away, they are making us feel that our government is not in control. 2. The government needs to try every option available if it protects their people, such as having Aventis produce the 2-3 million vaccines per week and then agreeing to purchase the excess to use toward next years flu epidemic. That way the drug manufacturer stays happy and so does the public. 3. Provide the public with a weekly update on preventative measures and alternatives to follow that will hel[p reduce their susceptibility to the virus such as â€Å"wash you hands,† â€Å"cover you mouth when you cough, â€Å" â€Å"cover your nose when you sneeze†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ etc. References www.home.frontiernet.net http://home.frontiernet.net/newsdetail.asp?cat=3&id=1670).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2004 Influenza Vaccine Shortage Essay -- essays research papers 2004 Influenza Vaccine Shortage Internal PR Action Plan MKT 438 November, 22, 2004 Abstract This year’s flu season is supposed to bring a strain of the virus with a severity unlike any other seen in previous years. This supposed new strain is a mutated, currently untreatable strain that is expected to be responsible for several deaths. The media has caused such a wide spread panic over the Influenza bug this year and then claimed that 48 million vaccines mysteriously became contaminated rendering the public virtually helpless against the attack of this new strain of flu. This paper will discuss the strategies used by public relations representatives to calm the public as well as educate them by giving alternative ways to reduce the spread of catching this year’s most infamous bug.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal PR Action Plan Each year, the public is forewarned of the upcoming, potentially lethal, flu season. Along with the public warnings come the recommendations from the public health department identifying which groups of people including all small children, the elderly, and those with possibly weakened immune systems that are most at risk. There has been a growing concern that there would come a time that the supply of vaccine could not meet the demands of the population. However, no one thought that this shortage would come so suddenly, without fair warning, and would affect such high numbers of people. In fact, the current story is that approximately half of the total supply of the vaccine, roughly 48 million doses, were contaminated and therefore rendered useless. To compound the problem, this also means that 48 million people are being forced to play Russian Roulette with an invisible enemy. Many cases of the flu can be avoided through the quick release of information concerning the impending dile mma that we face as a nation, educating the public, and by communicating an effective internal public relations action plan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Public Dilemma  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America used to have five manufacturers that developed the flu vaccines that were used to vaccinate the entire nation. However, over the past few years, those five suppliers have diminished to only two suppliers, Chiron Corporation and Aventis Pasteur. Lester Crawford, acting commissioner for the Food a... ...g a resource that is unavailable to all. In other words, by informing the public that we need flu vaccines and then taking the option to get a vaccine away, they are making us feel that our government is not in control. 2. The government needs to try every option available if it protects their people, such as having Aventis produce the 2-3 million vaccines per week and then agreeing to purchase the excess to use toward next years flu epidemic. That way the drug manufacturer stays happy and so does the public. 3. Provide the public with a weekly update on preventative measures and alternatives to follow that will hel[p reduce their susceptibility to the virus such as â€Å"wash you hands,† â€Å"cover you mouth when you cough, â€Å" â€Å"cover your nose when you sneeze†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ etc. References www.home.frontiernet.net http://home.frontiernet.net/newsdetail.asp?cat=3&id=1670).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

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