H1N1 PRIORITY GROUPS

For those of us over 64 - I guess we are viewed as expendable. I don't quite buy the rationale that perhaps some flu we have had in the past may have been similar to H1N1 and therefore we may have some resistance - resulting in a less serious illness and less mortality.

Cutting the age off at 64 for those with underlying conditions is very poor selection criteria because some of the underlying conditions may be more serious in those older than 64 and also it smacks of age discrimination which isn't permissible.

I also think that those individuals who think they may have the H1N1 should see their physicians and have the swab testing to confirm or vice versa. Think of what anxiety could be avoided if one has already had it and survived, no more waiting for vaccines that may become available too late anyway.

Like so many things attempted in the USA, not having enough lab resources to produce the vaccine in the quantities required and in time to provide the maximum protection, seems to again be a case of where smaller would be better, meaning if it is taking longer for the egg injection of the virus to develop to where it is ready for the next step- then having smaller but more facilities would enable the producers to time programs to minimize this problem.

Will this turn out to be a winter of worry? Seems that is a certainty for those not in the priority groupings.


graysmoke