There is absolutely nothing the Republicans won't politicize. Now, they have launched the War on Vaccination. For a decade, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a foundation dedicated to improving public health, particularly among the poor and the elderly, has funded a "Vote and Vax" program at early voting facilities that serve poor neighborhoods in 24 cities. Basically, if you're over 50, you can get a vaccination at the polling location.
Thursday, in Houston, the Republicans filed a lawsuit to stop this program.
Nevermind that the program has been running for ten years. When the program started in Houston, Houston was safely Republican, and the Houston GOP didn't seem to have a problem with the program. The Republicans' argument:
"I think the program was completely motivated by a plan to turn out Democratic voters," Mr. Woodfill said.
Of course, the Republicans have had six years of virtual control of the entire federal government to institute a widespread, comprehensive influenza vaccination program. And they have done nothing: last year, sixteen million doses went unused, and just like every other year, roughly 37,000 people in the U.S. died from influenza. Yes, 37,000: twice the AIDS deaths in the U.S., and roughly equal to breast cancer.
Had the Republicans followed the existing advice by experts to increase vaccination among 5 to 18 year olds, which would lower the death rate by 80%, maybe these elderly people would vote Republican. Instead of prattling on about TEH GAY!, maybe the Republicans should fucking govern responsibly.
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This seems a non-sequitur at best: the stats I found by a quick googling don't point to 4 out of 5 flu deaths occurring among the school-age set. Are the little brats serving as vectors to infect Grandma & Grandpa?