But are we really to the point where we can truly feel safe? Or is there a reason for concern... Such as, a shortage of flu vaccines? Yeah, we should be.
We Texans already know what actions are already been taken to handle this flu nonsense in order to maintain the integrity of the general public's health. For instance, survey's are used on the official TCCD website to determine where the source of the swine flu outbreak is taking place (well whichever campus)...
Some of us remembered reading The Collegian (uh some of us, not all of us) advising us to look for elsewhere for vaccinations...
Surely a sign to explain that we probably on a verge of a shortage of vaccine for this wintry season. I'd like to think I'm doing pretty well off not having taken the shot yet, but let's say for those who aren't in a satisfactory health condition, this is something they really need...
But it sure does seem difficult for a Los Angeles family of 4.
"I feel that the government and health officials, they knew this was big when it first started, they know the size of our population before it started, and they didn't make leaps and bounds to make sure it was available to everyone when they would need it,"
I would say that's a sound argument. The government / health bureaus could definitely do a more efficient job of catering the public for their needs.
It's easy to remember that the government is suppose to protect the public's well-being. We voted all those officials to represent our nation and to maintain it, so we deserve at least things such as an ample amount of vaccination for a virus... Cater to the base, and help those in need.
"It shouldn't be a supply-and-demand thing."
Exactly! We should know for a fact that situations like this can't be labeled as simple as 'supply-and-demand' - people with power should do whatever they can to help the needy.
That's like saying the Hurricane Katrina aftermath shouldn't be a pause for concern until this X amount of damage caused to the city of New Orleans. It shouldn't be like that, The welfare of our nation's people shouldn't be a business or a system of economics, but based on the morality of man.
Help because we can help, not because it can make us millions of dollars because 'WE HAVE THE CURE!'.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionannounced last week that production of the vaccine is slower than expected. While the CDC had hoped for 40 million doses by the end of October, the real numbers will be about 30 million doses because of manufacturing delays, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, CDC's director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
I thought we have the ability and the technology to overcome problems such as this? Maybe I just have this natural distaste for bureaucracy.
Now that isn't to say that we should completely put the entire blame on our health departments and officials, maybe it really is just a natural occurrence that when we have an 'epidemic' such as this, supplies tend to run short in a matter of months as everyone becomes very self-aware of the situation regarding the flu and its dangerous effects on our health if untreated.
Priority groups for the vaccine include pregnant women, caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and anyone ages 25 to 64 with existing health problems. Health care and emergency medical services personnel in contact with high-risk patients, or patients with flu-like illness, are also on the list.
That's actually a pretty well-made decision as to taking steps in providing a cure for those who should be given priority. Yes, I know everyone else would be frustrated with how the system is being handled, but that's probably just a sense of selfishness that we all have inside of us.
Some of other greater concern that seem to have stemmed from this is the occurrence of a dreadful 1-in-a-millionth side effect called 'Dystonia'.
Cheerleader developing Dystonia:
Other reference:
Dystonia is a rare occurrence - but when it happens, it's cause by a severe reaction of the body to the flu vaccine that causes neurological damage (more or less noticeable through uncontrollable muscle spams).
(Watch the videos, it's truly saddening to see this happen to people who wanted to take a simple vaccination for their health).
However, this shouldn't really keep us from taking the actual vaccine (as stated, it's a very very rare chance for the side effects to happen to someone).
