Making the most of your IT department. Got this link from Josh: Making the most of your IT department It's funny 'cause it's true… [Life of a one-man IT department]
eu problems and solutions
eu problems and solutions. Today's failure in Brussles is a perfect opportunity to point to Lousewies van der Laan's reccomendations for a stronger european parliment, that contains several easy to read, understand and implement solutions that will solve many of the EU's 'growing pains' and structural issues. I've met Lousewies twice and am very impressed… Continue reading eu problems and solutions
failure
failure. According to several official news sources, the european union's two day effort to finalize the european constitution has failed. By 2pm today most leader's private jets were reported to be warmed up and ready to fly back to their individual countries. Update: The BBC reports: European summit ends in failure The problem is, as… Continue reading failure
The vaccine oligopoly
This week, in the face of the most serious influenza scare for over a decade, the US has basically run out of flu vaccine. And part of the problem, according to the Wall Street Journal, is due to oligopoly.
In an article called “Lack of Vaccines Goes Beyond Flu Inoculations,” (12/8/2003), reporter Bernard Wysocki Jr. writes about “the malfunctioning of the small but vital marketplace for preventive vaccines in America.”
There are only two companies making injected flu vaccines in the US, the article points out, French Aventis SA, and Chiron Corp. There is a third company called MedImmune Inc. with a nasal spray vaccine. But it isn't just a one-time shortage or just about the flu, the article states. “This is the eighth major shortage of preventive vaccines in the U.S. since the beginning of 2000. Shortages of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox and measles have occurred since then. Flu vaccines have been in short supply for three of the past four years.”
The reason behind these problems is a steady oligopolization of the vaccine industry. From 1970, when there were 25 vaccine makers, there are now only five. Companies like Merck, Wyeth, and Pfizer have gotten out of the vaccine business. “With such a small number of producers, shortages can develop quickly as a result of manufacturing problems, poor management, or a bad guess on the expected demand.” In fact, flu is better off than diseases tetanus or chickenpox, which have a monopoly supplier in the US.
Part of the reason has to do with exposure to lawsuits for real or perceived vaccine-caused illness, a growing problem or delusion, depending on who you talk to. But the main problem, as the WSJ article makes clear, is price controls, on of the few areas in the US where there are government-mandated controls for pharmaceuticals.
For makers of all types of vaccines, the Institute of Medicine's report traced the decline in manufacturers' interest to the fact that the U.S. government — predominantly through the Vaccines for Children program run by the CDC — buys slightly more than 50% of the vaccines in the U.S., and keeps prices low.
One observer quoted in the article calls this an issue of monopsony power, where the government sets the prices. But I see it as a fight between oligopoly and monopsony, where the monopsony is working for the public good, offering free vaccines to poor children and protecting the public health from pandemics.
Pharma companies
In an article called “Lack of Vaccines Goes Beyond Flu Inoculations,” (12/8/2003), reporter Bernard Wysocki Jr. writes about “the malfunctioning of the small but vital marketplace for preventive vaccines in America.”
There are only two companies making injected flu vaccines in the US, the article points out, French Aventis SA, and Chiron Corp. There is a third company called MedImmune Inc. with a nasal spray vaccine. But it isn't just a one-time shortage or just about the flu, the article states. “This is the eighth major shortage of preventive vaccines in the U.S. since the beginning of 2000. Shortages of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox and measles have occurred since then. Flu vaccines have been in short supply for three of the past four years.”
The reason behind these problems is a steady oligopolization of the vaccine industry. From 1970, when there were 25 vaccine makers, there are now only five. Companies like Merck, Wyeth, and Pfizer have gotten out of the vaccine business. “With such a small number of producers, shortages can develop quickly as a result of manufacturing problems, poor management, or a bad guess on the expected demand.” In fact, flu is better off than diseases tetanus or chickenpox, which have a monopoly supplier in the US.
Part of the reason has to do with exposure to lawsuits for real or perceived vaccine-caused illness, a growing problem or delusion, depending on who you talk to. But the main problem, as the WSJ article makes clear, is price controls, on of the few areas in the US where there are government-mandated controls for pharmaceuticals.
For makers of all types of vaccines, the Institute of Medicine's report traced the decline in manufacturers' interest to the fact that the U.S. government — predominantly through the Vaccines for Children program run by the CDC — buys slightly more than 50% of the vaccines in the U.S., and keeps prices low.
Pharma companies
The vaccine oligopoly This week, in the face of the most serious influenza scare for over a decade, the US has basically run out of flu vaccine. And part of the problem, according to the Wall Street Journal, is due to oligopoly. In an article called “Lack of Vaccines Goes Beyond Flu Inoculations,” (12/8/2003), reporter… Continue reading
The vaccine oligopoly
This week, in the face of the most serious influenza scare for over a decade, the US has basically run out of flu vaccine. And part of the problem, according to the Wall Street Journal, is due to oligopoly.
In an article called “Lack of Vaccines Goes Beyond Flu Inoculations,” (12/8/2003), reporter Bernard Wysocki Jr. writes about “the malfunctioning of the small but vital marketplace for preventive vaccines in America.”
There are only two companies making injected flu vaccines in the US, the article points out, French Aventis SA, and Chiron Corp. There is a third company called MedImmune Inc. with a nasal spray vaccine. But it isn't just a one-time shortage or just about the flu, the article states. “This is the eighth major shortage of preventive vaccines in the U.S. since the beginning of 2000. Shortages of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox and measles have occurred since then. Flu vaccines have been in short supply for three of the past four years.”
The reason behind these problems is a steady oligopolization of the vaccine industry. From 1970, when there were 25 vaccine makers, there are now only five. Companies like Merck, Wyeth, and Pfizer have gotten out of the vaccine business. “With such a small number of producers, shortages can develop quickly as a result of manufacturing problems, poor management, or a bad guess on the expected demand.” In fact, flu is better off than diseases tetanus or chickenpox, which have a monopoly supplier in the US.
Part of the reason has to do with exposure to lawsuits for real or perceived vaccine-caused illness, a growing problem or delusion, depending on who you talk to. But the main problem, as the WSJ article makes clear, is price controls, on of the few areas in the US where there are government-mandated controls for pharmaceuticals.
For makers of all types of vaccines, the Institute of Medicine's report traced the decline in manufacturers' interest to the fact that the U.S. government — predominantly through the Vaccines for Children program run by the CDC — buys slightly more than 50% of the vaccines in the U.S., and keeps prices low.
One observer quoted in the article calls this an issue of monopsony power, where the government sets the prices. But I see it as a fight between oligopoly and monopsony, where the monopsony is working for the public good, offering free vaccines to poor children and protecting the public health from pandemics.
Don't Make Me Think
Don't Make Me Think. Can you describe how you use the Internet? What catches your eye, how you scan pages, and generally how you seek information? I know I can't. But it's almost spooky how the author of Don't Make Me Think perfectly describes my surfing mannerisms. This book should be required reading for anyone involved… Continue reading Don't Make Me Think
Magnetic Field Is Fading, but No Dire Effects Are Foreseen
Magnetic Field Is Fading, but No Dire Effects Are Foreseen. Geophysicists increasingly wonder whether the magnetic field has begun one of its occasional reversals that, over time, might lead to compasses pointing south instead of north. By Kenneth Chang. [New York Times: Technology]
Another Study Shows Law Firms Disregard for Cost Controls, Innovation
Another Study Shows Law Firms Disregard for Cost Controls, Innovation. The number of chief legal officers who fired or thought about firing an outside law firm increased to a stunning 59% in 2003. If you want to know a statistic lawyers should think carefully about for 2004, this is the one. A PDF copy of… Continue reading Another Study Shows Law Firms Disregard for Cost Controls, Innovation
LawLibTech
LawLibTech. Good news: Leading law librarian Cindy Chick, formerly with LLRX.com, is now back in the online publishing game with–what else?–a blog. Cindy's LawLibTech lives up to its tagline, “A conversation on law library technology and knowledge management.” It is a most welcome addition to the web scene. One of the excellent postings archived there… Continue reading LawLibTech
Making KM Work: CIO Article
Making KM Work: CIO Article. Thanks to Jeff Beard for highlighting an excellent article in CIO magazine about the toughest problem in knowledge management: Persuading people who already have real jobs to do that they should take the time to contribute their knowledge. [Netlawblog]
I'm off to see a local production of “A Christmas Carol” this afternoon. It's the 15th anniversary production. I've seen all but one or two of them. Update: The performance was great, as usual.