Editorial: A healthy conspiracy

It is easier to find a conspiracy theorist to outline reasons why people should not take the H1N1 vaccination than it is to get the shot itself.

Who is a health care consumer to trust – the physicians and biochemists charged with protecting the public from this global pandemic, or someone equipped with a blog and a hyper-developed sense of skepticism?

Yes, health care officials concede, there is a small amount of the toxin mercury in H1N1 vaccine. But the trace amounts to be found are less than what you would consume in a tuna salad sandwich.

Yes, there is the possibility of health complications from being injected with the vaccine, but physicians judge the potential side effects from the vaccine to be far less of a concern than the potential effects of the pandemic.

This is not new ground being trodden. Even the regular, seasonal flu can and does ravage the health of the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. The difference with the pandemic is in the number of people getting sick – reportedly already eight times what is seen during the peak of the normal flu season, and expected to climb.

And, as has been widely reported, the pandemic is less a threat to the elderly, but can be fatal for young people – even those in good health.

Getting an inoculation is a prudent measure, especially for those in high-risk groups, or who come into contact with them. Pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than six months, health care professionals, and those with underlying medical conditions should all consult their doctor about getting the H1N1 vaccine.

The facts are, H1N1 is a pandemic flu that is capable of killing the youngest, healthiest among us, and a vaccine deemed safe through clinical trials has been made available to avoid becoming sick.

It shouldn’t be a difficult decision.

–The Abbotsford News (Black Press)

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