Ottawa Sun
Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Personal reflection: Battling a pandemic is about those that you care for

Let’s start with the good news: Local clinics for the H1N1 vaccine have been overwhelmed since Monday. Translation: Many folks understand that H1N1 influenza is novel; it can attack young people and healthy adults more so than seasonal flu; and getting inoculated is a responsible thing to do.

The bad news, as we’ve seen in several public opinion polls, is that only half of the Canadian population, at best, say they plan to get vaccinated against H1N1. And the myths and conspiracy theories — all anti-vaccination — are more virulent in their spread across the Internet than even H1N1 is as it moves through our community.

The immediate challenge for Ottawa Medical Officer of Health Dr. Isra Levy and his team is to quickly re-tool their logistical approach, figure out and quickly implement a better way to get more people vaccinated each day. While waiting three or four hours for a vaccine that could save your life is trivial in the grand scheme of things, in today’s right here, right now, “what do you mean I have to wait” society, this could be the difference between the perceived and actual success and failure of local vaccination efforts.

This is critical not only for the present H1N1 battle, but for future public health efforts to combat other epidemics, not to mention the elusive and hopefully eventual promise of more vaccines against site-specific cancers, HIV/AIDS and a litany of diseases that come with the aging process.

In terms of my bias, yes I’m a big fan of vaccinations as a strategic and tactical public health tool. And not just because I worked for the research-based pharmaceutical sector in 2005 and 2006, but because vaccines — along with fresh water and better hygiene — have played a tremendous role in doubling our life expectancy over the last century. Of course there are also the dozen-plus booster, tetanus, influenza, prevention of tropical disease shots that I’ve gladly received over my lifetime as well to tilt my view.

Yes, the vaccination debate is intensely personal for some folks and may challenge your faith or deep held convictions. But battling a pandemic requires personal reflection. It’s about your kids and those that you care for. It’s about your obligation to your patients if you are a health-care provider. It’s about the kids in the day care or school where you work.

It’s about setting an example and rolling up your sleeve if you are a leading or influential political, business or media figure. And any photo-ops for political leaders (like the PM, federal opposition leaders, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones) should be just that, a short clip of them getting their shots and encouraging all other citizens — in about 10 words or less — to do the same, period.

As for our MPs, MPPs and our city councillors, let’s hope they stand in line with their constituents in the coming weeks at local clinics.

Finally, I trust our public health officials who tell us the H1N1 vaccine in Canada is safe. But don’t take my word for it, or their words either. If you are unsure, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist. And avail yourself of the wealth of information found at www.fightflu.ca, or www.ottawa.ca.