Why??

I have been reading reports that the swine flu vaccine is going to be rationed closely. There are five groups that will be allowed to get the flu shot and the rest will have to wait until it is determined that there is enough for the general population. Those having priority are:

-- Pregnant women
-- Health care workers and emergency medical responders
-- People caring for infants under 6 months of age
-- Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
-- People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

I can’t be the only one wondering why college kids are getting this shot before the elderly. Please understand that everyone in my family fits into the high priority group (except me). I am not even sure I want to give my children the vaccine, after what happened the last time. I will have to do more research on it before I decide. Every year 36,000 people die from the flu and most of them are the elderly. I wondered if it was a safety issue. But, certainly if this shot is safe for a fetus, it’s been properly tested. There are some news outlets indicating that the elderly simply aren’t at risk from this disease. Indeed, the government explained its decision this way:

“Based on what we know now about the novel H1N1 virus and the most vulnerable groups that are being affected most by this virus and those most likely to encounter it —younger people, pregnant women, healthcare personnel, and people who have underlying health conditions—it is necessary to revise and refine our vaccine prioritization guidance based on real world events.”

By this, we are supposed to conclude that a 65 year old with heart disease is LESS likely to suffer complications from the swine flu than a 64 year old with heart disease. You see, seniors with underlying medical conditions are excluded from the flu shot, unlike those in their 20s-50s with the same conditions.

Are we devaluing human life? Are we rationing health care by prudency? I hope not.

You see, today something else happened that intrigued me. The local radio station was inviting people who “go overboard with their pets” to call in and tell their stories. There were tales of doggy day care with snacks and naptime. There were doggy birthday parties with cakes and doggy neighbors (and, no doubt, doggy friends from doggy day care), There were tales of owners requiring doggy hospitals to provide the dogs with television sets and iced drinks. Meanwhile, Newsweek Magazine’s cover this week featured an article called, “The Case for Killing Granny.” Huh.