Flu and Pandemonium

One of the top headlines in Britain has been the high number of deaths from flu this winter. For the most part, people have become ill from H1N1. The last numbers released by the government were 50 deaths so far, but that number is expected to be revised in the next day or two.

I am so happy I am from Canada and got my flu shot for free already because there isn’t a hope that I could get one over here, now, even if I found a pot of magical money.

Part of the problem is that not everyone is eligible for a flu shot under the national health plan. As of now, the shot is available to you if you are over 65, pregnant, or have underlying health problems (such as asthma) which would make you prone to getting sick. Anyone outside of this group has to pay to get their shot.

This policy has created mass shortages, because now that people are dying everyone wants to get vaccinated. Also, those eligible for a free shot have to wait to get one because supplies are so low. Last year’s H1N1 vaccine is being used because this year’s supplies are essentially gone. And the papers are also helping to blow this story up to epic heights, especially because only very ill children can be vaccinated and otherwise ‘healthy’ kids have started dying.

For example, the parents of three year old Lana Ameen, an otherwise healthy child who died from swine flu on Boxing Day, are trying to shame the government to allow all children to be vaccinated for free. They released a very grim picture of their daughter hours before she died to all the papers today, in the hopes that something will happen.

I know that vaccination numbers worldwide (including Canada) are down this winter compared to last, but isn’t the danger of swine flu that it impacts perfectly healthy people (compared to regular flu)? What is the point of vaccinating select members of the population when everyone is at risk? Everyone is a critic, I guess. It shall be interesting to see how this plays out.