Jean MeriamHas H1N1 Media Attention Altered your Lifestyle?
September 22nd 2009 19:17
I'll admit it. I have N95 masks on top of the refrigerator, waiting for that hapless circumstance when they might be needed. Victim of fear mongering? Germaphobic? Maybe. But cut me some slack. I'm asthmatic. For people like me any flu can be dangerous. I will confess though that this year I am a little more worried than usual. I am not really certain this new strain of flu virus is any more dangerous than any other, but with all the media attention it has got me looking.
There have been a few other changes I have made too. My purse and home are stocked with a good supply of hand sanitizers. I have been carrying hand sanitizer in my purse for a lot longer than H1N1 has existed but these days I am more likely to use it. I especially use it on the hands of my three year old whose fingers seem to dip themselves into her mouth more often than I would like to have to wash them. I have also been nagging at the older kids more. “Did you wash your hands before lunch today?”
“You didn't sit near any sick kids at school did you?” “Go wash your hands again.”
The worst thing is I am now afraid of the vaccine. Ironic for a woman who has been vaccinated against seasonal flu for the last five years. I think my fear is caused by a combination of factors, all of them relating back to something I read on a news site. The first one was the story of the 1976 vaccination. That did not go well at all. Then there were articles about vials of viruses missing from major laboratories. Articles about one major drug company settling a lawsuit worth millions for lying about their product. With each new article I read, more alarm bells begin going off in my head. If fear mongering is involved, I am not really sure which side is doing the mongering and which side is being sensible. I also have a fear of being first. I am the type of person who wants a review before I try anything. This vaccine has come too quickly for me. Who were the test populations? Where are they today? Have they published anything on epinions?
I don't think I have quite gone over the deep end yet. I haven't pulled the kids out of school, bought a six month supply of canned food, or nailed 2x4s across the doors. When I see on the national news a video capture of a woman wearing a mask on a bus in the middle of July, I know I am still relatively sane and calm. I, at least, only fear influenza during its season.
Today though I started to wonder how much change is in the air. I was surfing my local news site and came across an article about a Manitoba aboriginal chief who wants to lock down his reserve until the new vaccinations become available. He wants the people of his reserve to stock up on medical supplies and hunker down until at least December. No travel in. No travel out. At this point he is even questioning why the local school is open.
So big changes, small changes or no change at all: how has the media blitz affected you?
And if you would like to see my hub on heart disease and H1N1 vaccination it is here
Heart Disease Experts Advise H1N1 Vaccine
There have been a few other changes I have made too. My purse and home are stocked with a good supply of hand sanitizers. I have been carrying hand sanitizer in my purse for a lot longer than H1N1 has existed but these days I am more likely to use it. I especially use it on the hands of my three year old whose fingers seem to dip themselves into her mouth more often than I would like to have to wash them. I have also been nagging at the older kids more. “Did you wash your hands before lunch today?”
The worst thing is I am now afraid of the vaccine. Ironic for a woman who has been vaccinated against seasonal flu for the last five years. I think my fear is caused by a combination of factors, all of them relating back to something I read on a news site. The first one was the story of the 1976 vaccination. That did not go well at all. Then there were articles about vials of viruses missing from major laboratories. Articles about one major drug company settling a lawsuit worth millions for lying about their product. With each new article I read, more alarm bells begin going off in my head. If fear mongering is involved, I am not really sure which side is doing the mongering and which side is being sensible. I also have a fear of being first. I am the type of person who wants a review before I try anything. This vaccine has come too quickly for me. Who were the test populations? Where are they today? Have they published anything on epinions?
I don't think I have quite gone over the deep end yet. I haven't pulled the kids out of school, bought a six month supply of canned food, or nailed 2x4s across the doors. When I see on the national news a video capture of a woman wearing a mask on a bus in the middle of July, I know I am still relatively sane and calm. I, at least, only fear influenza during its season.
Today though I started to wonder how much change is in the air. I was surfing my local news site and came across an article about a Manitoba aboriginal chief who wants to lock down his reserve until the new vaccinations become available. He wants the people of his reserve to stock up on medical supplies and hunker down until at least December. No travel in. No travel out. At this point he is even questioning why the local school is open.
So big changes, small changes or no change at all: how has the media blitz affected you?
And if you would like to see my hub on heart disease and H1N1 vaccination it is here
Heart Disease Experts Advise H1N1 Vaccine
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