No Panicking Canada.

[ashforestwalker]

I figure that by the time I get to my turn on the H1N1 priority list I will have gotten the Flu and burned through it. Which may have to happen if the Canadian Heath office doesn't get there butts in gear and secure more vaccine. I know its a lot of work but it's not like we did not know that the flu season was coming

Comments

[owldaughter]

I think the speed is less of an issue than the unclear information and poor handling of panic. They've developed the vaccine in a decent amount of time and tested it. It's the distribution and the conflicting information that has me throwing my hands up in the air.

[meallanmouse]

It doesn't help that those spreading the panic don't care about the effects of what they're doing. And once someone's glommed on to the "omg, DEATH BY VACCINE" thing, it's hard to shake them out of it. /sigh

[owldaughter]

Well, that's the goal of the panic-spreaders, isn't it? They *do* want people terrified; it's the effect they're striving for. They want disinformation.

Bah. I think everyone needs to think realistically and act sanely instead of flipping out at one end of the spectrum or another.

[meallanmouse]

You'd think. But I'm doing my best not to brain my sister-in-law with a brick these days, because she's determined she's not getting her kids vaccinated and will start going on a tirade about the evils of vaccines/whatever the second the subject comes up.

I just hope my nieces don't end up paying for it. :(

[the_adzo]

I think the biggest issue is that H1N1 is a very harsh flu and it spreads fast. The issue isn't that people get sick (lost on the media) but it's that "everyone gets sick" at the same time. Now the extra punch for kids and other highlighted groups is a concern because it means that this flu is unlike the ones we're used to, though most uninformed folks seem to lump it together with the 'general' flu.

Media wise, I look at the US media who really really seems to want a civil war to spark.

[fearsclave]

Oh god don't get me started on Glenn Beck...

[the_adzo]

It amazes me that that guy can talk out both sides of his mouth, simultaneously, AND THEN the lid on his head opens up and the Devil himself adds to the conversation.

You know, I once bought a Louis Dobbs book. The title was something like War on the Middle Class. I just had to understand how he sees the world, and it was interesting in that he clearly sees the world just "off" enough that you have to really think about how his arguments are either self-defeating when put together, or that there is a set of inherent assumptions that are flawed.

[fearsclave]

I've never paid any attention to Dobbs, but Beck? THE. MAN. IS. A. COMEDIAN!

Gah. It amazes me to think that people pay any attention to him.

[ai731]

Huh. I've heard nothing about shortages, mass panics, long waits, or anything like that out here. We got a flyer in our mailbox telling us where & when our local vaccination clinics are, and we will probably go either this week or next. So far I have seen exactly zero evidence of the government fumbling anything - I have been kept up to date with information on H1N1, the vaccine, and my options by the government by mail. Then again, we don't have TV and I haven't been listening to the radio lately. Ignoring the mass media is the best way not to get annoyed by it, we've found.

OTOH, the local school board panicked when a little girl in Cornwall died of H1N1 recently, and banned all community events from schools. So our Farmer's Market is probably canceled (unless they can find an alternate venue) and my Karate classes have moved to a church basement. Dumb useless reaction by the school board, who need to feel that they are "doing something".

[ashforestwalker]

Your one of the lucky ones. We got something in the mail also, to no ones surprise it was all in french.

I guess it would have cost to much to make it bilingual.

Like I said, Disappointed.

HRH

[owldaughter]

Most of the conflicting info we've found is in newspapers and online news articles, so yes, you're probably missing it. No loss, really.

[fearsclave]

It's just the lamestream media doing what they do best...