Michael Fumento

The CDC is sayingU.S. demand for swine flu vaccine could reach 600 million doses. "That's in case two doses are required for children and adults under 50, CDC representatives said," according to CNN. Really?

If people over 50 didn't need two doses, then that would be more vaccine than we'd need assuming ever last American were vaccinated. But as the CNN story notes, with no irony, "That would come on top of the 115 million doses of seasonal flu that are distributed annually, health officials said Friday." In a typical year, about 80 million Americans get flu shots.

So let's get this straight. The CDC can only manage to distribute 115 million doses of vaccine for seasonal flu, which is many times deadlier than swine flu. But it's determined to vaccinate every last American for swine flu. Does that make sense? Medically, no. From a power-seeking bureaucrat's perspective, absolutely.