If you ask John Kerry, Bush is responsible for the lack of flu vaccine:

As far as Kerry is concerned, the blame for the vaccine shortage this year is simple: It is President Bush's fault.

"If you can't plan to have enough of that vaccine, what are they doing with respect to other things that could potentially hurt America in terms of bioterrorism, chemical terrorism, and other kinds of things?"

Kerry added, "You're telling me your flu shots were canceled because the administration was unwilling to play straight with the American people. That's wrong. As a value system, that's just wrong - not to mention the incompetence of not planning so that you know you have enough vaccine."

Which is exactly what we would expect him to say. And wouldn't we all feel safer with JFK sitting at his desk in the oval office, keeping is eyes fixed on the nation's supply of vaccine?

If you want to know the real reason why we are facing a shortage, I would recommend this op-ed from the Long Beach Press-Telegram:

In 1980 as many as 20 companies produced vaccines for the U.S. market. Now just two of them manufacture the vast majority of the U.S. supply: Chiron and Aventis Pasteur. If something went wrong at both companies, there would be almost no flu shots available in America.

Business competition has diminished largely because federal and state health departments undervalue the vaccine and refuse to guarantee the purchase of fixed amounts. One by one private companies have dropped out of the vaccine business in favor of more lucrative enterprises, such as pharmaceuticals, and the ones that remain use a cheaper but outdated manufacturing system that is vulnerable to contamination.

In a bungled attempt to privatize vaccine manufacturing, the Food and Drug Administration has discouraged competition and diversity when adequate supply not necessarily lower prices is the top goal. If the government is going to outsource vaccine manufacturing, it has to make the deal worthwhile for manufacturers. Otherwise it should do the job itself, which would cost more but at least guarantee proper supplies.

It is just basic economics. Behold the harvest of price-fixing.