Land of Oz

Flu Shots

A couple of weeks ago flu was a bad, bad thing. Here's some quotes;

From CNN Sept 24

"But every year, it [flu] kills about 36,000 Americans and hospitalizes another 200,000."

"Yet too many people don't bother to get flu shots, even those at highest risk of influenza-caused complications."

""When you are vaccinated, you not only protect yourself, you protect your loved ones," stressed Dr. Walter Orenstein, the associate director of Emory Vaccine Center."
From medicinenet.com Sept 23

"That's why it's crucial that people -- particularly those most vulnerable -- get a flu shot this fall, U.S. health officials said at a press conference Thursday in Washington, D.C."

"Annual hospitalizations for the flu now average approximately 200,000, up from 114,000 a few decades ago. And there were 36,000 deaths last year, compared to 20,000 annually just 20 years ago, said officials at the conference, which was sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Coalition for Adult Immunization."
From seattlepi.com Sept 23

"Virginia Mason [medical center] officials, saying flu is the most frequent cause of death from a vaccine-preventable disease nationwide, believe the policy is not only desirable, but also necessary."
From fredericksburg.com Sept 25

"In other words, everyone should get it [flu vaccine]. Or as Dr. Michael P. Neylon put it this week, "Anybody who does not want to miss a week of work or be miserable for a week."

"Interest in the flu shot is expected to be high this year after an unusual season last year. The CDC describes the 2003-04 flu season as "moderately severe."

Ooops - never mind, we don't have any flu vaccines, so you don't really need one after all.

2fers: CDC and NIH