Russell Redenbaugh

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is one of several government initiatives designed to provide low-cost vaccinations for poor children. In the following viewpoint, Russell Redenbaugh, a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and president of a consulting firm, criticizes the VFC program. He argues that by making government the dominant purchaser of vaccines, the VFC program and other government regulations effectively limit their price. The government thus deprives medical and pharmaceutical companies of revenues and removes the incentive to research and develop new vaccines, he maintains. America’s failure to improve existing vaccines and to develop new ones could result in disaster for future generations, Redenbaugh concludes.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Why are most Americans not terribly concerned about viruses and diseases, according to Redenbaugh...