H1N1

[Polarice]

They just starting giving out the vaccine for the H1N1 virus here. I haven't decided if I'm gonna get yet. The last time they came out with a new vaccine in the 90's hundreds of people died from it. I usually get the regular flu shot though.

Anyone here thinking of getting it?

[franko]

I'm around people all the time . . . in and out of hospitals and nursing homes . . . so most definitely.

I know its controversial, and there is a lot of misinformation going around . . . but better to have it, I think.

[Polarice]

Oct 28, 2009 13:11:53 GMT -5 franko said:

I'm around people all the time . . . in and out of hospitals and nursing homes . . . so most definitely.

I know its controversial, and there is a lot of misinformation going around . . . but better to have it, I think.

yeah...I think I'm just gonna stick with the regular flu shot again this year.

[CrocRob]

I've already had, and recovered from, H1N1. No shot for me!

[ValkyrieNS]

I've never had a flu shot and as far as I know, I've never gotten the flu (I do get weird colds that hang on forever though so maybe it is the flu... but I never feel like trucks have run me over, so I'm pretty sure they're just colds).

Flu vaccines are cultured in eggs, so I can't/won't get them on general principle.

RS, glad to hear you have "mended"

[CentreHice]

Oct 28, 2009 15:18:59 GMT -5 CrocRob said:

I've already had, and recovered from, H1N1. No shot for me!

How was your bout?

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2009 15:42:34 GMT -5 ValkyrieNS said:

I've never had a flu shot and as far as I know, I've never gotten the flu (I do get weird colds that hang on forever though so maybe it is the flu... but I never feel like trucks have run me over, so I'm pretty sure they're just colds).

Val, if you've ever had a fever alongside other symptoms, you may have had the flu. It's no fun if you have it; you seriously feel no improvement for days at a time.

As for this vaccine...no thanks.

[CrocRob]

Oct 28, 2009 16:45:36 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Oct 28, 2009 15:18:59 GMT -5 CrocRob said:

I've already had, and recovered from, H1N1. No shot for me!

How was your bout?

I was sick for a week back in July. It wasn't that bad. Didn't take any medicine or anything.

I would have just passed it off as the normal flu, except that I never get sick. It must be 5 years since I've had anything more than the sniffles. I went to the doctor after I'd been sick for about 5 days and a couple days after I had recovered he got tests back that said I had H1N1.

It's hard for me to listen to all the "be scared of H1N1" hype that's going around since I had a pretty easy time with it. But then again, lots of people die from normal influenza.

[franko]

I'm not getting it for me but for the people I come in contact with.

I'm healthy and not in the high risk category, but I am in constant contact with people who are.

While receiving the vaccine is a personal choice, I think it important to think of others [and that's as lectury as I'm going to get ]

[Cranky]

I'm not too thrilled of taking shots like this. I'm fairly healthy and I can isolate my contact with people as much as I want. On the other hand, my wife is arranging to go to a show with her friend as I'm typing this. Mehh....

[habernac]

yeah, I'm getting it. I have two very young kids, they need all the protection I can give them.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Haven't had a flu shot in many years and can't remember the last time I had the flu (knock on wood). Big time precautions being taken in the military school. I see about 24-30 students each day and try to wash my hands between each new class of students.

I don't know if the students (military) have been ordered to get their H1N1 shots or not, but it wouldn't surpise me. Just about everyone in the military resembles a pin cushion at one time or another.

Cheers.

[Polarice]

Oct 28, 2009 15:42:34 GMT -5 ValkyrieNS said:

I've never had a flu shot and as far as I know, I've never gotten the flu (I do get weird colds that hang on forever though so maybe it is the flu... but I never feel like trucks have run me over, so I'm pretty sure they're just colds).

Flu vaccines are cultured in eggs, so I can't/won't get them on general principle.

RS, glad to hear you have "mended"

I'm the same way Val...I've never had the flu(well only self-afflicted ). I just get the odd cold now and again. I've gotten the flu shot the last few years only because we had an outbreak here at work a few years ago and made it very difficult to conduct business with over half your staff off sick.

[CentreHice]

The death of the 13-year-old Etobicoke boy has thousands, if not more, changing their minds. Others died before that....I wonder why that particular case struck a chord with so many. The media's really pushing it, I guess.

Not minimizing it, by any means. Horrific.

My wife's a teacher....so she's going to get it...and I'm a teacher's husband...so I guess I should as well.

Plus, I'm in and out of studios all the time....using microphones that I dare say aren't sanitized in between sessions. Especially audition sessions....one guy after another.
Gotta wait a couple of weeks, though.

[MC Habber]

Oct 28, 2009 15:42:34 GMT -5 ValkyrieNS said:

Flu vaccines are cultured in eggs, so I can't/won't get them on general principle.

I'm curious, what's the principle?

[ValkyrieNS]

Oct 30, 2009 1:10:33 GMT -5 MC Habber said:

I'm curious, what's the principle?

I'm vegetarian, with strong vegan leanings and I don't knowingly consume/use animal products, including eggs and honey. I do still eat cheese, but that's only because vegan cheese is terrible and doesn't melt properly (how can you have a grilled cheese sandwich that is unmelted... not). At some point I plan to eliminate cheese as well and then I will be completely vegan, much to Mr. Val's dismay...

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Major pushes on now here at work. We have PATs (persons awaiting training) are going around disinfecting door knobs and handles daily. The cleaners dropped off some disinfectant for our office here for wiping down the desks, keyboards and phones.

We've had one fatality due to H1N1 here in Kingston already. Don't know any of the particulars; where she first contracted it, etc.

Having said that, I went out for breakfast with some of the lads from work; Friday routine. There was plenty of bacon, ham and sausage at our table. There might be a real risk out there, but we could only take the paranoia so far. Unless there's a real proven threat in the Kingston area, it's not stopping us from eating what we want.

Cheers.

Edit: the lady was from Newboro Ontario. It's not too far from Kingston. Sadly, she was only 52.

[Polarice]

What they're not telling people is what kind of heath these people we're in before contracting H1N1.

From what I'm hearing most people who have died were already in poor heath...the "Flu" basically was the final straw. They're saying the strain H1N1 is serious to these people who are in poor health or young children, because it affects the lungs causing the person to eventually get phenomia.

If you're a healthy adult, H1N1 will be nothing but the normal flu, with a bad cough.

[franko]

Yup, current health condition does indeed make a difference . . . though it doesn't seem to matter in the case of younger people [not just young children, but also teens and young adults] who are healthy.

Some suggestions that it is starting to go right to the lungs, sometimes causing clotting, but usually respiratory failure.

Again, the reason for "healthy people" to get the shot is not just to prevent catching the flu which knocks you out for a week, but also to protect those who you might come into contact with -- if you are even lightly infected you can be a carrier and pass it on to someone more susceptible to its effects.

[Polarice]

Oct 30, 2009 10:05:04 GMT -5 franko said:

Again, the reason for "healthy people" to get the shot is not just to prevent catching the flu which knocks you out for a week, but also to protect those who you might come into contact with -- if you are even lightly infected you can be a carrier and pass it on to someone more susceptible to its effects.

Agree with you 100%...if I had small children I would be the first in line...as far as my friends..the Heck with them!!

[CrocRob]

There's some evil humour in the "Reaper" posting in an H1N1 thread.

[Polarice]

Oct 30, 2009 11:19:46 GMT -5 CrocRob said:

There's some evil humour in the "Reaper" posting in an H1N1 thread.

[MC Habber]

Oct 30, 2009 5:14:12 GMT -5 ValkyrieNS said:

Oct 30, 2009 1:10:33 GMT -5 MC Habber said:

I'm curious, what's the principle?

I'm vegetarian, with strong vegan leanings and I don't knowingly consume/use animal products, including eggs and honey. I do still eat cheese, but that's only because vegan cheese is terrible and doesn't melt properly (how can you have a grilled cheese sandwich that is unmelted... not). At some point I plan to eliminate cheese as well and then I will be completely vegan, much to Mr. Val's dismay...

Ah OK, thanks. I was wondering if you had something against eggs specifically.

[MC Habber]

Oct 30, 2009 9:12:34 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Having said that, I went out for breakfast with some of the lads from work; Friday routine. There was plenty of bacon, ham and sausage at our table. There might be a real risk out there, but we could only take the paranoia so far. Unless there's a real proven threat in the Kingston area, it's not stopping us from eating what we want.

Keep doing that Dis; you can't get swine flu from eating pork.

EDIT: Actually, it seems that you could, but the food safety procedures already in place are supposed to protect you from H1N1 too.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Oct 30, 2009 12:50:03 GMT -5 MC Habber said:

Oct 30, 2009 9:12:34 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Having said that, I went out for breakfast with some of the lads from work; Friday routine. There was plenty of bacon, ham and sausage at our table. There might be a real risk out there, but we could only take the paranoia so far. Unless there's a real proven threat in the Kingston area, it's not stopping us from eating what we want.

Keep doing that Dis; you can't get swine flu from eating pork.

EDIT: Actually, it seems that you could, but the food safety procedures already in place are supposed to protect you from H1N1 too.

There has to be a limit to this, MCH. If I get swine flue then I get it. I'll continue to cough into my sleeve and wash my hands between classes, but I won't be walking on egg shells trying to avoid contracting it.

I didn't see it myself, but one of the guys at work said he saw a young soldier in uniform walking towards the school with a white mask on. I feel for the kid actually. He's probably under orders from the medical staff to keep it on. I think it might make things a tad awkward for both he and his mates if he eats his meals at the dining hall or the mess. Almost like having a spotlight following him around.

Do what you have to I guess, or in this case what you're ordered to do. Knock on wood.

Cheers.

Edit: Maple Leaf thought they had safety procedures in place too. Hopefully other companies learned from that.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Opinions?

=========================================================================================

Flames deny wrongdoing in flu flap

President says H1N1 vaccine obtained through Alberta Health Services
By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA

The Calgary Flames did nothing underhanded to procure H1N1 vaccinations in the past week ahead of thousands of high-risk Albertans, club president Ken King said yesterday.

But despite that claim from the team, the province has launched an investigation into what officials say shouldn't have happened.

While King acknowledged a team doctor and the physician's nurse wife might have been a "point of contact" in seeking the vaccine which is in short supply in the province, King said nothing was done outside Alberta Health Services (AHS) auspices.

"I'm happy to confirm we would not have taken an illicit process," said King.

"It went through an Alberta Health Services process ... certainly we would not have taken anything in any way that wasn't authorized."

Health Minister Ron Liepert said the province has launched an investigation into what happened, adding he wants to know if the shots were "inappropriately diverted" to the hockey players while other Albertans stood in line for hours.

"There is only one supplier in the province and that's us," he said. "They would only be diverted with the approval of the chief medical officer of health."

But Dr. Andre Corriveau, Alberta's chief medical officer, said he was unaware of the team receiving any vaccine, noting none has yet been delivered to doctors' offices.

"We learned about it in the newspaper," he said, adding he could say little else because the matter's being probed.

Said Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta Health Services' chief medical officer: "It's unfortunate -- I can't defend it."

When asked in the legislature yesterday by NDP leader Brian Mason how professional hockey players could jump the queue past vulnerable children, Premier Ed Stelmach replied that, if true, he found it "deplorable."

A number of Flames players and executives, including King, received inoculations at a private location just before vaccination clinics were put on hold Saturday.

King has said the hockey players are at an elevated infection risk due to their physical contact and that they decided to receive the inoculations separately to avoid causing disruptions at clinics.

Team doctors did not return calls for comment.

slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2009/11/04/11627886-sun.html

[franko]

bonehead move by the Flames, pure and simple.

speaks of privileged sports "heroes" . . . isn't going over well and it shouldn't.

And the excuse hockey players are at an elevated infection risk due to their physical contact is lame.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Nov 4, 2009 8:59:46 GMT -5 franko said:

bonehead move by the Flames, pure and simple.

speaks of privileged sports "heroes" . . . isn't going over well and it shouldn't.

And the excuse hockey players are at an elevated infection risk due to their physical contact is lame.

Here at work the guys are washing their hands after each class. The teachers are in constant contact with students, different classes all day long. In fact we're in touch with a large number of people on a daily basis.

I don't know if that qualifies us as high risk, but there are precautions being taken just the same. There are students awaiting training who come by once in the morning and once in the afternoon and their sole job is to wipe down door knobs and empty classrooms with disinfectant.

As for the Flames, they're saying they were just following league policy. Does that policy override priorities in health care? It wouldn't be the first time. I remember people in Ottawa complaining about waiting four hours to have a broken arm set, only to see a professional athlete be wheeled in for treatment immediately upon arrival.

And does anyone listen to those complaints?

Cheers.

[ValkyrieNS]

WRT the Flames...

if any of the wives were pregnant, or any of the kids were younger than 5 years old, then ok, I have no problem with them getting the vaccine [even though they probably should have waited in the "regular lines" with the "regular folks" because I seriously don't think anybody would have recognized them w/o their husbands in tow...]

The Flames players themselves do not fall into the high-priority categories (the 2 above + aboriginal/native or front-line health-care worker) so no, they do not deserve to jump the line.

***

Both my nephews, who are younger than 5, are now immunized, so that's all I really care about. Even if I catch it now, they won't and that's what's important to me [and I get to avoid a needle, so I'm even happier ]

[habernac]

Nov 4, 2009 8:59:46 GMT -5 franko said:

bonehead move by the Flames, pure and simple.

speaks of privileged sports "heroes" . . . isn't going over well and it shouldn't.

And the excuse hockey players are at an elevated infection risk due to their physical contact is lame.

They did nothing wrong. The clinics were all open to everyone, the team president made a call asking to get his guys vaccinated. You want to blame someone, take aim at Alberta Health Services. All they had to do was say no. They didn't. This is political grandstanding by the Liberals, plain and simple.