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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 8:34:20 AM |
The results of that study were too small to be conclusive; I think it's irresponsible of the media to be distributing information that isn't accurate or helpful. It causes alarm and confusion and leaves people wondering what to do.
The media are in a no-win situation. If they were to withhold this info, as you suggest, and it turns out to be valid, you'd be screaming cover-up. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 10:08:44 AM | | I'm so happy that there's someone in the world that knows me so well that he can predict what I will do in a given circumstance. Warms my heart to see someone jumping to conclusions like that. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 11:24:46 AM | ^^^
It has nothing to do with knowing you, personally. It has to do with your utterly transparent and predicatable character. Blame the media for everything. Blah, blah, blah. I deal with your type every day. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 11:27:39 AM | | Stereotyping people must keep you nice and safe. I don't see that replying to your post is 'taking such issue' but whatever floats your boat... | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 12:16:43 PM |
The media are in a no-win situation. If they were to withhold this info, as you suggest, and it turns out to be valid, you'd be screaming cover-up.
Having worked in media I am often the first to be critical of them but RBG's point is correct.
Some of us are fatigued with the level of coverage the media gives to the H1N1 virus. But if the media paid no heed and a massive outbreak happened the population would be accusing the media of focusing on Britany Spears or the Liberal government.
Secondly (and more importantly) we live in the sound byte generation. Our news is fed to us in short "Twitter" like bursts..basically a headline with a short description and we're on to the next story. Someone mentioned they heard it on 660 News in Calgary..a perfect example of Twitter like news.
And while you can attempt to condemn the media for their less than thorough investigative reporting on all of this..the raw fact is FEW people are interested in long winded articles about the flu. People lack the patience & time to read that type of stuff. It's why more people read "24 hours" than read something like the Economist. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 12:46:54 PM | For the most part, I agree wholeheartedly that media has become reduced to nothing but bottom line. AKA "What'll sell". As already mentioned too, there's virtually zero chance of making a statement that'll please EVERYBODY. Especially as events play out and things change.
As happens so often in the pond though, I suspect a wee tad of sloppiness in a post led to this minor altercation. My guess is that by
you'd be screaming cover-up. rBg actually meant "SOMEBODY'D be screaming......" and I'd agree 100% with that. Levelled as a direct accusation based on strictly assumption (as occurred here) however, is just asking for ripples in the pond.
Soooo........LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!
 
(kidding) | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 5:06:15 PM | If you all want to extrapolate what I said to include me condemning the media for not reporting at all- have at 'er. I'm impressed by your psychic abilities.
What I did say is that it's irresponsible of the media to only give part of the information, especially since this issue isn't the celebrity debacle du jour. It's a problem that we are all facing and we need accurate information about it, not sound bites that are going to scare people away from something that may save their lives. It's just an example of how the purpose of the media is revenue generation, not accurate information dissemination.
People should do their own research and make a truly informed decision as to whether or not to get a flu shot for either the seasonal variety or H1N1, not have a knee jerk reaction to a 30 second or less blurb on the radio that doesn't include all the pertinent facts | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 6:14:17 PM | What I did say is that it's irresponsible of the media to only give part of the information, especially since this issue isn't the celebrity debacle du jour
Antidate..the point you're missing is that the bulk of the population isn't interested "in-depth news". Why do you think there are so many "E" type gossip shows or so many free rags like 24 hours or Dose being handed out at C Train stations? They exist because that's what people want
Do you honestly believe that if the Sun wrote a 10 page article on the dangers of H1N1 that anyone would read all of it? Do you think if CJ92 or Energy 101.5 dedicated an hour of it's time to talking about the flu that anyone would tune into it and listen?
The issue at hand is not THE media AntiDate. The issue at hand is the media YOU consume to get your information. It's like showing up at McDonalds and ordering Steak Tartar and getting angry because it's not on the menu. There is media that discusses H1N1 quite deeply. MacLeans, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post...all available at any local news-stand. I'll add that the CBC has covered it in-depth and I'd imagine there are podcasts available.
Finally "all the pertinent facts" is a subjective statement. Varying opinions exist on all medical fronts including this one. Even those involved in the science of medicine can't agree on things. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 8:05:17 PM | I'm not sure how pertinent this is, but I was reading about the 1918 Spanish Flu; some have speculated that it might be the same type of virus as the H1N1...
Apparently what made that outbreak so deadly wasn't exactly the flu itself, but what the flu did to the esophagus & lungs, damaging it so essentially bacteria could easily infect it and the lungs, killing the host. So it wasn't the flu itself that killed people, it was the bacterial infection afterwards that delivered the final death blow, a one two knockout punch. The good news is that the bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics. So I wonder, even if the flu vaccination doesn't work, as long as you can treated quickly with antibiotics for a secondary infection immediately, you'd probably have a good chance at survival.
I am not a medical doctor, nor do I play one on t.v., so take this for what it's worth... has anybody else read this? | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/24/2009 10:42:09 PM | | It seems that we are getting new information often!!! I think I will hibernate til flu season is over! | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 7:09:53 AM | FANTASTIC fodder for the conspiracy theorists though if nothing else. That Camelot site recently mentioned in the "Swine Flu Alert....." thread is ............
................
.............. 
(I'm still at a loss for words) | |
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Posted: 9/25/2009 8:05:23 AM | | I think it is ridiculous that in my childs school they have a plan for this flu if the kids start getting it. I dont immunize at all....personal choice for sure but if someone wants to get the shot go for it. More people die from colorectal cancer every year then from this flu...but do you go get your butt checked out??? | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 8:15:18 AM |
but do you go get your butt checked out?
Based on the frequent female cat calling I endure, I get my butt checked out ALL the time....even when I'm wearing my track pants with the wolf head on them ! | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 8:32:41 AM | If you all want to extrapolate what I said to include me condemning the media for not reporting at all- have at 'er. I'm impressed by your psychic abilities.
What psychic abilities? It only took READING abilities. You condemned the media when you said...
The results of that study were too small to be conclusive; I think it's irresponsible of the media to be distributing information that isn't accurate or helpful. It causes alarm and confusion and leaves people wondering what to do.
You then went on to post exactly one line from the report you condemn, completely omitting the part where Dr. Ron Low states that "This is obviously important data to help guide policy decisions. How can we best protect people against influenza?" ... not to mention the 'graph in the article where the journalist advises readers that ...
"It's important to validate the information, which has not been peer reviewed, to make sure it's not just a fluke, and that the observation is confirmed elsewhere such as in the Southern Hemisphere, which just completed its seasonal flu season, or in the U.S. and UK."
Or this part ...
Four Canadian studies involved about 2,000 people, health officials told CBC News. Researchers found people who had received the seasonal flu vaccine in the past were more likely to get sick with the H1N1 virus.
Researchers know that, theoretically, when people are exposed to bacteria or a virus, it can stimulate the immune system to create antibodies that facilitate the entry of another strain of the virus or disease. Dengue fever is one example, Low said.
The most amusing part of this entire situation is that you accuse the media of fear mongering, then pick and choose bits and pieces of an article in a weak effort to prove your point. Looks a whole lot to me like it wasn't the CBC that was fear mongering, but rather you, anti-date. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 8:42:29 AM | WHO really is the best for info?World health organization.
As for polio-it is NO fun.So many have post-polio syndrome-but they are lucky to be alive! | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 8:44:04 AM | anti elvis.....I prefer sweatshirts with cats on them myself....do you think you can find a sexy wife beater shirt with a hole in the neck line that has a cat on it??? Make sure those sweats are baggy cause nothing turns me on more then baggy butt...
On the issue of vaccinations though my daughters elementary school tried scare tactics to get me to give her the whooping cough/pertussis vaccine...I refused of course but wow, they were telling her she could die if she didnt get it...I figured hey, if everyone else is immunized then she wont get anyone else sick if she happens to become sick herself. The flu is constantly changing and they really never know if the vacinne is the right one for the virus... | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 9:12:40 AM |
anti elvis.....I prefer sweatshirts with cats on them myself....do you think you can find a sexy wife beater shirt with a hole in the neck line that has a cat on it??? Make sure those sweats are baggy cause nothing turns me on more then baggy butt...
I don't have a wife beater with cats on it, but I do have one with mustard stains. If you give me a bit I could probably shape them out like a cat.
I've got a Youtube video of me and my butt walking up 4th street to Donna Summers "Hot Stuff" song. If you wait a bit, Ill see if I can find you the link. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 10:03:07 AM | please go out golfing - Do you remember SARS? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the similarities between the situations and the media is treating the H1N1 pandemic as just another fluff story - with little news bites that are convincing people that they shouldn't immunize against it. At least we have the option to immunize against this and it's irresponsible for media to only focus on those little bits of information that will grab people's attention for a short time.
We can't rely on our government to disseminate helpful information on the flu or the immunization - they're too busy preparing for another possible election and posturing to appeal to the 'target electorate'. Provincially it doesn't exactly fit into their cost cutting measures to launch a reasonable public education campaign.
I'm not trying to scare people - it scares me that people are so complacent and easily swayed away from immunization; it's very rare that there are reactions to immunizations and the benefits far outweigh the risks. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 11:00:09 AM | please go out golfing - Do you remember SARS? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the similarities between the situations and the media is treating the H1N1 pandemic as just another fluff story
OK, I'm sorry AntiDate but you're SO wrong on this. I lived in the East when SARS hit..I was working in IT in the Manulife Tower in downtown Toronto. At that time, both my mother and sister were RN's and working in a Toronto area hospital slammed by SARS.
The media in Toronto HARDLY considered SARS "fluff". The city was in an outright panic over SARS. A ride on the subway or a walk into the Eatons Center..and you'd see hundreds of people wearing masks. Men in suits with surgical masks on. Women at the bank with masks on. Street car drives on the 501 with masks on. The city was in a state of panic and fear over SARS and it decimated the economy. A close friend of mine is a Senior Exec at a major Toronto hotel chain and his business was literally wiped off the map. I remember his occupancy rate being like 8%.
The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, the Sun, CITY TV Toronto, CBC Radio 1, CFRB 1010 and 680 News spent HUGE number of hours dedicating time and resources to reporting SARS. I'm talking 24 hour a day coverage on Toronto talk radio. There is NO comparison.
AND..as a person that was there..I can tell you this emphatically. I don't worry to much about getting H1N1 and if I do.. I'll get sick. But the chances are recovery are good. It was much different with SARS. There was a real legitimate concern that "sh*t, I might get this". I was concerned enough that I paid 30 bucks a day to park my car at work because I didn't want to use the subway.
No comparison at all. Maybe things were different in Cowtown, I don't know. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/25/2009 12:40:20 PM | Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS; pronounced /sɑrz/, sarz) is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV).[1] There has been one near pandemic to date, between the months of November 2002 and July 2003, with 8,096 known infected cases and 774 deaths (a case-fatality rate of 9.6%) worldwide being listed in the World Health Organization's (WHO) 21 April 2004 concluding report.[2] Within a matter of weeks in early 2003, SARS spread from the Guangdong province of China to rapidly infect individuals in some 37 countries around the world.[3]
Mortality by age group as of 8 May 2003 is below 1% for people aged 24 or younger, 6% for those 25 to 44, 15% in those 45 to 64 and more than 50% for those over 65.[4] For comparison, the case fatality rate for influenza is usually around 0.6% (primarily among the elderly) but can rise as high as 33% in locally severe epidemics of new strains. The mortality rate of the primary viral pneumonia form is about 70%.
As of May 2006[update], the spread of SARS has been fully contained thanks to the efforts of the WHO, with the last infected human case seen in June 2003 (disregarding a laboratory induced infection case in 2004). However, SARS is not claimed to have been eradicated (unlike smallpox), as it may still be present in its natural host reservoirs (animal populations) and may potentially return into the human population in the future. | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/26/2009 6:57:55 AM | | For an interesting pertinent read try "CDC states h1n1 vaccine may maim and kill" | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/26/2009 9:29:14 AM | @ Littletykes - I was immunized for whooping cough as a child, and ended up catching it anyway in 1974. I was one sick kid...had it for four months, coughing fits 'til I vomited...yuck. Ended up looking like one of those poor kids in Bangladesh. At least I'm REALLY immune, now, for whooping cough, measles, mumps, and chicken pox. Had 'em all.
I don't understand why the powers that be immunize for minor illnesses like chicken pox now. In order to build up a good immune system, don't kids need to be catching cold, and being exposed to germs? That way they'll be able to fight back against things like this swine flu...right? | |
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| are you getting the shot?
Posted: 9/26/2009 10:17:37 AM | Thank you tall-n-curvygirl....alot of people are totally against what I believe in with not immunizing my children. Luckily I haven't had to much opposition within the school system with not immunizing. I think as a society we are becoming to diligent with getting rid of germs. To many people loading up on hand sanitizers, over usage of anti biotics and the like...my children are very healthy and rarely get sick. My 8 yr old is supposed to get very sickwith colds as per the doctors remarks due to his prematurity and lung damage from a ventilator but he is totally healthy. My home is not immaculate, the kids play outside and get dirty, they have even been known to pick up something they dropped off the floor and eat it ( 5 second rule ) I did watch the doctors on TV and they said certain things are ok to pick up but of course Id never let them do it in a hospital or off a dog poo ) My children haven't had the chicken pox or anything like that.
I feel the media is hyping this H1N1 way to much and in turn turning us into a scared population. Maybe we should all live in a bubble and never venture outside of our homes. | |
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