Thursday, November 05, 2009

My Soapbox

Over the last couple of days I have been working at the hospital and am amazed at how H1N1 has effected the healthcare system. Amazed at how the majority of people in ICU are there for H1N1. Amazed at how there are now separate waiting rooms for H1N1 patients. Some hospitals are not sending patients out of there rooms to try to prevent the spread. Some hospitals are not allowing students to do isolation cases because they don't want to use extra supplies for them. In some hospitals they have to stop doing cases till more laundry can be done for isolation gowns.

People are dying from this flu. People who are young and healthy. The largest percentage of people in the hospital with H1N1 are children 9 and under. I know that most people recover just fine from it. But I've seen the other side. I've seen how sick it can make people and if a needle can prevent that why not. We are lucky enough to live in a country that will provide a shot to everyone. I know that most provinces have not rolled it out in the best fashion and then there was a shortage. But when you can, as soon as you can I would.

I know I'm biased. I know I'm in the thick of it. But for the benefit of the health care system go and get your shot. If you have to wait in line, your kids will survive I promise. Have they never been on a plane, bring things to entertain them. Get them vaccinated so they don't have to be hospitalized.

K I'll get off my soap box now.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

1 comment:

Lori Aitken said...

It's well known that I'm a flu shot advocate. I remember having the flu once when I was about 12 or so and although I recovered just fine, I remember how miserable it was.
I vividly remember several days in bed sweating buckets and shivering my butt off all at the same time. The "is it a cold or flu" information sheets that can be found online or at your local health unit talk about body aches with influenza and I certainly remember that, too. I remember my skin hurting in a way that was hard for a 12 year old to describe.
I was also the kid who had every chest infection turn into bronchitis so I ended a round of the flu with a round of antibiotics to combat that...and I'm the lucky one because it didn't get any worse than than bronchitis.
I don't think you're on a soap box, Jenn. You're seeing first hand what the media has been telling us about. People are more likely to believe someone they know than the media though. Your "speech" was real, compassionate and compelling. If one more person gets their flu shot (or vaccinates their kids) who might not have done so otherwise...then in my book, you'll be on a pedestal...not a soapbox.

Hang in there...and keep us posted, please?