pbriand
 
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Birthday: June 19
Location:
DURHAM, New Hampshire
United States
School:
University of New Hampshire, 1975
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About Me

Semi-retired after 30 years in newspapers. Now working as a newspaper operations consultant and publisher of on-line content, all found at www.broadcovemedia.com

Interests:
Fitness year round, skiing in the winter, surfing (at least trying to learn) during the summer, reading, music (listening and playing guitar), Red Sox baseball and college hockey
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Wait your turn, Baby Boomers
I hate it when people cut in line.

That's the sense I get when I see long lines of people waiting to get H1N1 flu vaccines and some of those people in line are older folks.

They shouldn't be in line to begin with, at least not yet.

In an odd twist, the H1N1 is a flu that doesn't seem to affect older people as badly as it does younger people. During normal seasonal flu the older folks are right up there, as well they should, to get their vaccines.

But the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other health professionals are advising older people to make way for the folks who are most at risk for H1N1:
  • Pregnant women,
  • People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
  • Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
  • Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.

According to the CDC, people ages of 25 through 64 years of age -- and that includes us Baby Boomers -- aren't a priority for the vaccine unless we are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. That's something your doctor would advise you about.

Read the CDC's Q&A here.

It's women (specifically pregnant women) and children first, just as it was going for the life rafts on the Titanic.

I can't help but seethe when I watch television coverage of this H1N1 outbreak. I'm ticked off that the vaccine suppliers overpromised when the vaccine would be ready and how much of it would be available. It breaks my heart to hear that there isn't enough yet to go around and kids are becoming infected and some are dying.

And I really get ticked off when I see the reports and the long lines and the older man or woman who's being interviewed about how they couldn't get the H1N1 vaccine because they ran out.

"You shouldn't be in line to begin with!" I yell at the television.

I was heartened by one report that showed an older guy who had given up his spot in line to a pregnant woman. Great, I thought, but you still shouldn't have been in that line.

I talked to my doctor about my risk. Low, he said. Just follow good hygiene practices, he advised.

So I try to make an effort to cough and sneeze into my elbow. Those who know me know I sneeze a lot, so I'm getting well practiced at crooking my elbow to my mouth every time a sneeze comes on. I try to wash my hands frequently. I have hand sanitizing wipes and gels at the ready at home and at the gym where I work out most every day.

We can't be selfish about this. My nieces and nephews need the vaccines first. My daughter who's in health care in a large hospital needs the vaccines first.
 
I can wait. You can wait. We can get at the back of the line.

Read more about Baby Boomer issues .
 
 
 
 
Added: October 30, 2009
Views: 13 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
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  Comments (3)  
frosie56
frosie56 says:

I am an avid red sox fan since 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox when I was 10 years old in 1967 Let's Go Red Sox!!!
Posted: July 8, 2009 11:33PM EDT
Lowell25
Lowell25 says:

Hi pbriand,

I saw your featured journal on the AARP online community homepage and notice that you are a Red Sox fan. I just wanted to let you know that there happens to be a Red Sox fan group on here... its pretty empty right now but I'm trying to get it going.

Stop on by if you can, and keep on writing!
Posted: July 24, 2008 2:34PM EDT
pbriand
pbriand says:

Thanks ... I'll check it out
Posted: July 24, 2008 2:46PM EDT
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