Sniff, snufflle, cough and hack......

Well the flu season is in full swing.

I am sure everyone is feeling they have heard just about enough about the H1N1 virus and vaccination, but please bear with me as I would like to put my two cents in.

For the past five years I have run the "flu shot clinic" for my doctor's office and I have really enjoyed it. I think one of the things I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to talk with folks who were there not because they were ill, but rather they were trying to prevent an illness. In preparation for the clinics I always do the research on what is the contents of the vaccine, side effects and contraindications. This year was no exception.

This year in fact was far more challenging as the government was gearing up for the H1N1 campaign and were changing the rules on who and when people could get the "seasonal" flu shot and who and when people could get the H1N1 vaccine.

The government's change in the administration of the "seasonal" vaccine really threw many people for a loop. At the beginning they seemed to be changing their minds almost daily on who should get the shots, and when they should get them. As a healthcare professional I felt this very frustrating as I was being asked regularly what I thought about the vaccines, and how the government was proceeding with the administration of the drug. It was very difficult to get my head wrapped around their rationale for who would get what vaccine and for what reasons. In this case I am talking about the "seasonal" flu vaccine.

You see up until this year anyone who wanted the "seasonal" flu vaccine could get it. Healthcare workers were almost forced to get it. What I mean by that is that as a healthcare worker if you were sick with the flu and opted not to get vaccinated you were penalized. Anyhow, this year they changed all that. They decided that the first folks who should get the vaccine were people over 65 and anyone with a chronic illness. Well you can imagine the flack I got from people when I told them they didn't meet the criteria for the seasonal flu vaccine.

Now we are at the stage for the H1N1 vaccine. Again, government is being very restrictive on who should be the first to get the vaccine. They decided that pregnant moms, people with chronic aliments(especially those with respiratory issues)and Indigenous people should be amongst the first. Now don't get me wrong here, but wouldn't you think that you would want your front line workers to get the shots so they could remain healthy to care for these folks or be able to go out and provide the immunization clinics? Well as far as the government is concerned that is not the case. I am not sure, but I suspect part of their decision came from the fact that they say they didn't have enough of the vaccination to go around. And yet, we hear stories of athletes getting the vaccination, politicians getting the vaccination....and yet...still a front line health care provided did not qualify for the vaccination! I am not certain what swayed the governments minds on who would be first in line, but starting last week healthcare workers who had direct contact with H1N1 patients or healthcare workers themselves who had chronic health issues i.e asthma would be able to get the shot if they wanted it, as far as I was concerned the goverment and health authorities were being reckless not to immunize those who would have direct contact with these people. It just seems like a logical thing to do(but when did the government do anything that was logical)make sure the folks that are responsible for caring for the ill are available to you...and by being available to you that would mean ensuring they are protected from the virus.

The H1N1 virus has been around for awhile now...people were getting sick with it in the spring and summer months. The government and health authorities have spent so much money on stupid mail out cards, when they should have been focusing on getting the drug approved, and ready for distribution.

This is a pandemic and we all need to keep ourselves very informed and make the decision that we believe is right for us. I am not here to debate the pros and cons of vaccinations I am hear to help ensure that folks continue to stay informed.

I think our best defense in situations like this is to use common sense, wash your hands, sneeze and cough into your arm.....don't spread your germs to others....keep a sanitizer in your bag, purse or pocket. If you have a fever and are coughing STAY home!!!!!!! Your colleagues and those that you might expose to your germs will thank you.

I really think this H1N1 virus is a huge wake up call to society. Hygiene and health smart is what is going to turn this around.