Swine Flu tale from the 70's

I have no idea if this tale is true or where I read it. Fact, Swine flu was reported among a small group of service men at Fort Dix in 1976. The tale is that Intelligence learned that Russia intended to introduce a strain of the Swine Flu into the US just to see what would happen. President Ford responded by a massive Inoculation Program which made Ford look foolish when there wasn't an epidemic, and maybe cost him the election. Foolish, but I kind of like the idea that he would sacrifice the election for his country.
Bob

the CDC was on the ball and presented what the facts were as they knew it.

Ford grew up after the Spanish Influenza, and thought it the best interest to offer the vaccine that was available, based on what was presented.

The vaccine was a disaster due to side effects.

How the BALL was dropped this time, go ask the "globe-trotter" @ 1600 Pa. Ave.

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Originally Posted by jjroth

the CDC was on the ball and presented what the facts were as they knew it.

Ford grew up after the Spanish Influenza, and thought it the best interest to offer the vaccine that was available, based on what was presented.

The vaccine was a disaster due to side effects.

How the BALL was dropped this time, go ask the "globe-trotter" @ 1600 Pa. Ave.

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In the 70's there were only four companies in the United States that had the capability to manufacture influenza vaccines. At the time govt. health authorities perceived a potential outbreak of the swine flu, which hadn't been seen for many years, in the coming flu season. The govt asked the manufacturers to switch gears and cook up swine flu vaccine instead of the formula they had been told to plan for earlier.

The planning and production cycle for flu vaccine is measured in months. More than likely the strains the manufacturer's were told to produce for this coming Fall were planned before O took office maybe even before the election.

In normal circumstances my company used to complete the bulk manufacture of vaccine around June or July of each year. The rest of the summer was spent packaging it into dosage form so it could be distributed t clinic and docs from September on.

There was a controversy in the 70's vaccine program when government, having created the contoversy. tried to walk away from any potential liabilty resulting from the use of the vaccine. They ultimately lost that battle.

Jim

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Originally Posted by jjroth

Ford grew up after the Spanish Influenza, and thought it the best interest to offer the vaccine that was available, based on what was presented.

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Ford was born in 1913, so he would have been about 5 when the influenza hit.

Obviously he would not remember the event -- but I'm sure he got an earful from family members and neighbors shortly thereafter.

When a third of the neighborhood disappears, you can bet his family talked about it.