Flu Vaccine Gouging

The News: Less than a week after the report that there was 50 % shortage of flu vaccine due to contamination of our supply, several complaints have already surfaced from hospitals and doctors about price gouging by third party distributors who are claimed to be charging as much as a 1000 % mark-up, or $800 a vial. Apparently, the companies got the inside track about the contamination and held onto their uncontaminated stocks to cash in on the sellers-market wind-fall they knew would be coming.

The Views: Personally, I think the government should claim Eminent Domain, give those distributors a fair price and seize their stocks. It'd be refreshing if the government used Eminent Domain at least once for the public good, instead of using it for land giveawys to private interests like big-box stores and auto factories. But oh, that's right, we decided to out-source the productioin of our flu vaccines to another country. Now there's homeland security planning for you. Gee, too bad.