Our Say: Swine flu presents health officials with multiple problems

Published 10/23/09

Public health officials always walk a tightrope. When major health problems come up, they want the public to be concerned - or at least concerned enough to show up for vaccinations and take sensible countermeasures. But they don't want to spark hysteria.

This dilemma is only sharpened this fall by the spread of the H1N1 virus (swine flu), which is threatening this country with its first genuine pandemic in decades.

As a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control put it, in a story on the National Public Radio Web site: "While we don't want to scare people into getting vaccinated, we also want to make the...

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Don't Blame Residents if Flu Spread - 2009-10-24 13:56:23

I agree with David M. - I couldn't contain my anger when I read this editorial. We're supposed to be thrilled when 450 (!) doses become available, in a county with thousands of residents? I, too, have been trying to get my family vaccinated. My health provider has no vaccine. I can't get through to the county. Even my active duty husband can't get vaccinated for H1N1.

The problem does not lie with local residents who don't want the vaccine. Trust me, we want it. We know H1N1 is a "serious illness" - we are not stupid. The problem lies with the vaccine production and distribution systems, not with reluctant residents.

The kicker? You guessed it - my child came down with the flu on Thursday. Too bad none of us could have been vaccinated instead.

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Nancy P. - Millersville, MD - Karma: Neutral

April Fools? - 2009-10-23 22:16:18

Is this an April Fools column? Both times that the AA County Health Dept. had vaccines available, the phones were constantly busy. All the available vaccines were gone with plenty of people still waiting to get one. I personally tried all day both times to no avail. I know plenty of parents who are waiting/trying to get themselves and their children vaccinated. Why in the heck don't you use this space to find out/call out our politicians on what is causing the shortage?? We should all have been vaccinated by now. We have the resources, they just are being mismanaged by our "leaders". Don't worry, there are plenty of takers. Just read some of your own news stories to get the picture.

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David M. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral