Getting H1N1 vaccinations a serious matter

November 03, 2009

Letter to Editor

Angela Wilson, who is 31 weeks pregnant, gets her H1N1 vaccine from public health nurse Kathy Palmer at the Saanich Health Unit. Wilson arrived at the clinic to line up at 7:45 a.m. Monday.

Sharon Tiffin/News staff

Regarding Wednesday’s edition (Oct. 28), may we suggest a different attitude in photos showing H1N1 vaccinations.

We want to encourage people of all ages, including young children, to receive this vaccine as soon as it is available to their age or health group. The large photo on your front page of a young boy in pain, or anticipated pain, will do nothing to encourage other children or their parents to opt for this procedure. The very small photo below it of Dr. Stanwick obviously not in pain receiving his shot is not really featured.

A much better photo is the one you show on Page A6 (pictured) of a happy, smiling expectant mother receiving her injection. This photo would be encouraging to anyone at all concerned about the discomfort of an injection. I should add that we, as senior citizens, received our annual regular flu vaccinations last week by our family doctor, and neither of us even felt the needle.

We have our November appointments for the H1N1 vaccinations and would expect the same lack of discomfort. However, even if there were a moment of discomfort, it would be much more appreciated than the disease. We have a grandson in hospital in Calgary with H1N1. He was in the ICU in an induced coma, with an unsure outcome, for six days. It is not a sickness to be wished on any family.

Treating his pneumonia is of first concern to the ICU Isolation staff in Calgary, but his condition seems now to be stable.* There have been two pregnant women admitted. For one, an emergency C-section was done as drugs for H1N1 could have affected the baby. The baby is doing well, and hopes are better now for the mother. There are also a number of H1N1 cases of children in the ICU.

Mary Trickey

Saanich

Editor’s note:

* Shortly after receiving this letter, Mrs. Trickey wrote back with the following comment:

“We’ve just had a call from our oldest son in Calgary that our grandson Jonathan, 25, died this morning.

“Anything you can do to persuade people to get the vaccinations would help us feel better. Thank you for your interest and concern.”

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Getting H1N1 vaccinations a serious matter

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