No one actually seems to be counting anymore, but as of October 1, there were 500 possible cases (people who had flu symptoms but hadn't been tested.)
That's another thing... who's getting tested? People with health insurance and sick days. People without those things are going to spend whatever time they can scrape together resting (rather than sitting in a clinic all day to get a test and be told 'rest and fluids'), get out of bed far sooner than they should in order to make rent and keep their jobs in a POS economy, and infect plenty of people in the process. They're simultaneously screwing up the statistics and spreading the thing.
If we were to be thoughtful and serious about these things we'd have to go and do things comprehensively. And nobody wants that - we're 'murricans and someone brown might get somtehin' free. Much better to go with the hysteria policy that characterizes so much of our healthcare.
The whole thing is so discouraging.
On that facebook thread, a few people are citing Dr. Marcola about why to not get vaccinated. [link] The friend who posted the question says that her OB said to get it, her mother (who is a nurse) said to get it, a few of her facebook friends who are nurses (including one who's been taking care of some H1N1-infected pregnant women in the ICU) say to get it, but she's still unsure because of worries that the vaccine could be dangerous.
I wish teachers were considered high risk. I swear we get exposed to just as many germs as the average health care worker. I mean, totally wouldn't take one from a pregnant woman, but I am exposed to a lot of illness and have the chance to expose it to a lot more people, many with young immune systems.
I'm also biased right now because I'm sick and worried about what the sick is. I took a sick day today but don't want to take more if possible. I wish I knew it this were just a simple cold.
Hil, re your friend and Dr. Mercola's advice, if you felt up to the potential stomach quease of a Facebook kerfuffle, you could always post Science-Based Medicine's brutal takedown of Mercola from a few days ago.
Cindy, that's fabulous, fantastic news!
Yay, Cindy! I'm so relieved for you!
Hil, re your friend and Dr. Mercola's advice, if you felt up to the potential stomach quease of a Facebook kerfuffle, you could always post Science-Based Medicine's brutal takedown of Mercola from a few days ago.
I don't think I really want to get into a kerfuffle tonight. I posted this article, and I'm leaving it at that. [link]
On that facebook thread, a few people are citing Dr. Marcola about why to not get vaccinated. [link] The friend who posted the question says that her OB said to get it, her mother (who is a nurse) said to get it, a few of her facebook friends who are nurses (including one who's been taking care of some H1N1-infected pregnant women in the ICU) say to get it, but she's still unsure because of worries that the vaccine could be dangerous.
I think I'm having an allergic reaction to human stupidity. Dealing with this shit is like fighting the Hydra - cut off one stupid head, and two more stupid heads grow to replace it.
Really, don't you just every once in a while want to shout out to all humanity, "WTF is wrong with all of you?"
Really, don't you just every once in a while want to shout out to all humanity, "WTF is wrong with all of you?"
No.
I want to carve it on the moon with a giant fucking laser.
Thus the Miracleman WTF Moon Project, now taking donations through PayPal.