EDMOND — The Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Ind., on flu shot hysteria
In spite of an overwhelming endorsement from medical experts, some folks continue to be skeptical about the flu vaccine.
That skepticism hasn’t been helped by television and radio commentators, one of whom went so far as to say his listeners would be idiots to get a vaccination.
Asked by the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes” on Sunday what she thought about such talk, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius didn’t hesitate.
“Well, I tend to like to get my medical advice from doctors and scientists,” she said. “And that’s what we would urge people to do.”
We join in that recommendation.
Part of the concern about vaccinations grows out of a federal program in 1976. Roughly 40 million people got shots, and about 400 developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a form of paralysis. Some died.
Scientists were never able to figure out what caused those 400 cases, but some say it might have had no connection to the shots. About 140 new cases of the disease are diagnosed in the United States every week.
In any case, medical experts argue that not taking the vaccine is a lot more dangerous than taking it.
Some point out that for the vast majority of patients, the flu is no big deal. Its victims will feel lousy for a few days, and then they’ll be back at work or in school, good as new.
Why, then, should people take the risk of getting the shots?
The answer, the experts say, is that in a very few cases, the flu can be a very big deal. It can be deadly. About one in 8,400 Americans dies from the flu every year.
And the only way to protect yourself from becoming one of those victims is to take the vaccine.
Thus, the advice from the experts is straightforward: Get a vaccination.
Children under 6 months are too young for the vaccine, but everyone else under the age of 25 should get it. So should pregnant women and anyone caring for youngsters under the age of 6 months. The target groups also include health care and emergency medical service personnel, and anyone between 25 and 64 with a chronic illness or compromised immune system.
What will happen if people ignore that advice? Medical experts say the answer is simple: A lot more people will die.
If you want to be protected, get the shot.
Opinion
11-4 Editorial: other view
- Opinion
-
-
Aerospace tax credits ensure viability of industry
April 15, 1953. Tax day again. It also marked the last time the U.S. lost a soldier from an enemy air attack.
-
Tax outrage stems from moral distaste
A study published this week in the journal Symbolic Interaction revisits the relationship between taxation and morality.
-
Suddenly, Asperger’s Syndrome is cured
My 11-year-old grandson just took his first trip off the diving board.
-
Book recalls Anastasia's story
In February of 1916 a young woman was pulled from the icy waters of a canal in Berlin, Germany.
-
iRead, you read, we all win
I’m thrilled to be able to announce the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s iRead initiative. Check out our iRead page on our website, http://ok.gov/sde/newsblogs/iRead.
With iRead, our goal is to ensure literacy for all Oklahomans from birth to 12th grade. Literacy is more than just reading. Being literate encompasses listening, speaking, reading, and writing — really all of communication. -
Growth revenue should go back to taxpayers
Over the next few days, the Legislature will consider a proposal to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax.
-
Thunder Up for Oklahoma
The Thunder basketball team has a big impact on the state of Oklahoma. Not just because we are excelling in the NBA playoffs.
-
Growth revenue should go back to taxpayers
Over the next few days, the Legislature will consider a proposal to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax. This year, Oklahoma state government will have more than $200 million of new growth revenue to spend. I believe it is vital for this revenue to go back to the taxpayers who overfinanced state government. This is important, because if the money is not returned, it will almost certainly be used to grow the size of government.
-
Tax cuts don’t make the grade
When is not big enough also too big?
-
Tax plan means keeping more of what you earn
The discussion about cutting Oklahoma’s income tax started before the legislative session.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Aerospace tax credits ensure viability of industry
