H1N1 – BOO!
Wow – H1N1 mania has swept the nation – or at least has swept the media.
Well, except for Olympic Torch mania I guess, which had it’s own dedicated section of the Globe and Mail this weekend, and many pages in every other print publication.
Actually I don’t find that anyone that I know cares too much about either of these high-profile causes célèbres. Some people are getting immunized, some aren’t, and few seem all that worried about getting the swine or any other flu.
Maybe it’s just that with the ongoing recession (or jobless recovery if you wish), global warming, terrorism, and road rage fueled cel phone distracted street racers all over the place, there just isn’t room in our fear calendar for a few aches, pains, and vomiting.
Besides, it’s pretty much impossible top know whether or not you can actually get H1N1 vaccine.
The North Shore News reports that shortages of H1N1 vaccine mean that many health care workers can’t be immunized:
NOT all health care workers will be getting their swine flu vaccines as originally planned this week, after the B.C. Centre for Disease Control received fewer doses of the H1N1 shots than anticipated.
CBC News reports that RBC/Coca Cola Torch Relay runners are a priority group for H1N1 immunizations:
Public health officials say it was vital to give members of the Olympic torch team inoculations for swine flu, despite the short supply of vaccine for people in other high-risk groups.
In most respects H1N1 has been a public relations disaster for politicians, health authorities, media, and anyone else involved. One day they try to frighten us all into getting immunized, or at least staying home and obsessively washing our hands. The next they’re trying to convince us that hey, it’s no big deal, send you kids out trick or treating, don’t worry!
My brother got infected with H1N1 or Swine Flu in Mexico. He got a mild fever and luckily he did not die.
At least a hundred persons in our city have been infected with the H1N1 virus. I was very scared to get infected with this disease during the pandemic:::