Publish Day - Ink Blog - Flu Shot

Here's the first entry of the fourth "wave" or "flight" of Ink Blog column entries that I publish every two or three weeks in the London Free Press.

I wrote this after hearing from yet another person how he absolutely couldn’t be bothered to get his flu shot this year. He said he hated needles, and never gets sick anyway. As if to convince us that everyone else is nuts, he finished off by saying every time he’s ever had a shot in his life, he’s gotten sick.

Um, right.

I suspect he was simply afraid of getting a needle – most overly-macho men typically overcompensate on the excuses when trying to justify their refusal to roll up their sleeves. But I frankly didn’t have the energy to argue with him.

So I published it in the paper instead:

Don’t fear flu shot as vital season nears

Published Tuesday, October 18, 2005

The London Free Press

I’ve never much liked birds. Try to pet them and they peck your finger. Forget to lock their cages and they fly away. Park under a tree and they’ll happily redecorate your car.

This year, it appears birds can kill us, too.

Headlines warn of an impending avian flu pandemic. Chickens in Europe and elsewhere are being methodically destroyed as officials try to keep the deadly infection from spreading.

This coincides with the advent of our annual flu season. Already, doctors everywhere are gearing up to deliver vaccinations to those unafraid of a little needle prick.

I’m under no illusion that my regular flu shot will protect me from the avian, or bird, strain.

But I remember Toronto’s SARS experience well. Ignoring a public health crisis, wherever it is, significantly increases our chance of becoming victims.

Proactive health management must start at home. We’re all at risk if our neighbours fail to pay attention.

You can never be too prepared. Please get your flu shot, and stay home – and alone – if you don’t.

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