I apologize if this has been diaried already - I didn't see anything on it.
This was just covered on our local news - Shawn Rankin, a 25 year old sergeant in the US Air Force, died of the flu early Sunday morning. He had passed a physical on Thursday, and felt sick Friday. He had a doctor's appointment Monday morning, but by Sunday morning, he was dead.
The rest of this diary isn't an IGTNT. It's a plea to get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it's available to you. People are getting the H1N1 (swine) flu all over the US now, and it can be a killer. Even slinkerwink and her spouse got it.
We're not immune just because we read DemFromCT's stories. We have to get the vaccinations ourselves.
In order to prevent an illness from becoming epidemic in a given area, roughly 70% to 80% of the population must be unable to contract and spread the illness. In other words, the majority of the population needs to be vaccinated. This goes for any illness. (DemFromCT did tell me the percent the CDC recommends, but I can't find the comment - sorry!)
Some of you - I hope not many - agreed with Bill Maher's antiscientific anti-vaccination rant this weekend and decided that vaccines are ebil. They're not. I do like Bill Maher, but he's wrong on this one. Maher pointed out that P. J. O'Rourke was wrong when he claimed that his wealth didn't affect others; it does. Maher's refusal to get a flu vaccination and his badmouthing of vaccinations in general does affect the health of other people. Why? Because anyone not getting a flu shot is not contributing to the pool of vaccinated and therefore immune people. Instead, s/he is contributing to the pool of people who may very well get the flu, with or without symptoms, and pass it on to others. Like you and me.
Keep in mind that H1N1 is a nasty flu, and can be lethal, particularly to children.
Bill Maher is an entertainer. He's a great liberal and a wonderful humorist. However, he's not a scientist, and he doesn't play one on TV. He does not understand the basic science behind vaccination or transmission of disease.
Please, please, please - get the flu vaccines when they're available. There are 2 of them - the seasonal one and the H1N1 vaccine. Around here, the seasonal flu vaccine costs about $25 per shot. According to the CDC, the H1N1 vaccine is paid for by the federal government (in other words, you've already paid for it by taxes):
In response to your request for information on the government paying for the seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccines, we are pleased to provide you with the following information.
The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine and supplies (syringes, needles, sharps containers, and alcohol swabs) have been purchased by the federal government and provided free of charge to all providers participating in this voluntary vaccination effort. Therefore, providers may not charge for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine itself.
However, while every effort is being made to ensure that cost is not a barrier for patient receipt of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, providers may charge or bill for vaccine administration.
Administration fees for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine will not be charged at vaccine clinics.
You can learn more about charges for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine on the CDC website:
Questions and Answers on 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Financing
The U.S. Government is not purchasing or distributing seasonal flu vaccines.
I assume that since my state and local taxes have paid for the local health department, the H1N1 vaccination will be free. (If it's not, our worthless local health department had better have a damned good explanation for precisely what they're charging for that I didn't pay for already!)
Mourn for the loss of Sergeant Shawn Rankin to the flu - but don't join him in sickness, OK?
So go get your vaccines already!