H1N1 Vaccination

Since the time of Louis Pasteur there have been detractors of vaccines. Misinformation from seemingly reliable sources against vaccination has cost countless lives. Science is not often definitive and this ambiguity is used to raise doubt in some individuals predisposed to disbelieve.

Should you take the H1N1 vaccine? Many people who don’t get the annual flu shot are already saying they won’t. Otherwise normally intelligent parents who have failed to vaccinate their children will also avoid the H1N1 flu shot. We leave many such decisions to individuals, and for minors to their parents.

H1N1 Vaccine

I am not a medical professional and not qualified to make recommendations to anyone. I will follow my own conscience and listen to the counsel of who I believe to be trusted sources. Where each of us gets our information and how we use it is as unique as our own own decision making capabilities. What I know of H1N1 and the flu shot is limited, having seen people who have it or suspect the have it makes me concerned.

What has been reported is the older people born before 1950 are more likely to have antibodies that will help protect them from H1N1. The consensus of health professionals is that this virus is more likely to infect young adults. Women and more specifically pregnant women are most at risk of infection. The reported mortality rate of H1N1 varies from 1% to 4%; and while it is still young people who are at risk, children with preexisting conditions; diabetes and neurological conditions have higher mortality. Again consider that this high risk is both in the catching the virus and in mortality; once a person has the virus, as with any flu, how you deal with it and how your body reacts will determine the outcome.

My personal fear of H1N1 is how closely it seems to resemble the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. This flu killed millions over several years. This virus mutated and became less viral over the years; it is likely one of the reasons why people born before 1950 have antibodies that may help fend off the current mutation; H1N1 previously called swine flu.

This week Ontario begins Flu shots for citizens. The US has been vaccinating people for several weeks now and has already seen shortages. I expect governments will do all they can to get vaccines for everyone who wants one. Individuals will have to make up their own minds on if they will get this years flu shot. I will.

Would you wear a bullet-proof vest as a policemen entering potential dangerous situation? Would you wear a gas mask as a firemen entering a smoking building? Wear gloves, put a hard hat on when entering a construction site? The flu shot, in my opinion is the same. If you are offered protect why would your refuse it? Of course the choice is your own.

Praise to the volunteers

This week the eHealth scandal in Ontario hit the press, $ 1 Billion spent to deliver electronic health records with little results. The Auditor General’s report on the eHealth initiative highlighted the cost of consultants hired, and the wasted opportunity to modernize the healthcare system. This same week our neighbor passed away, who volunteered for 48 years at the Etobicoke General Hospital. Consider the value of this selfless act against the actions of eHealth.

In my extensive experience in the health community of Ontario I’ve met many dedicated individuals seeking to improve health care. Nurses, doctors and regular people who directly impact health care. Volunteerism is very important in our health care systems both for fund-raising and in the delivery of care. These unpaid support staff in our hospital system save millions of dollars to the overall health care system.

Dorothy volunteered for 48 years, beginning with the fund raising efforts to build the local hospital; helping to get patients to their appointments and working in the gift shop. Her children were born in that hospital and in the end she passed away there. Last Friday the hospital honoured her work by flying the flag at half-mast. Even though a volunteer received no pay for their work, it is the most valuable gift that can be made.

Compare this with the millions of dollars taken out of the health care system by consultants working at eHealth Ontario. We all pay for our health care through taxes, so this is our money being spent. Even the consultants working at eHealth are tax payers, they should have been watchdogs of our money.

We can make a difference in health care. We need more dedicated professionals and individuals committed to helping improve the system.

Farming in the city

Recently there was an article about industrial and residential properties in Detroit being used for farms. This is an excellent idea and one that will help us all. As manufacturing shrinks the factory land used for constructing cars can be used to feed people.

Southern Ontario and Michigan are renowned as car country. Detroit, aka Motown, home of GM and Ford, automotive capital of North America and its little brother, Windsor home to Oldsmobile and Chrysler are also found in some of the most productive soil in Canada. The temperate weather in this area makes it suitable for fruit trees, vegetables and grains.

Detroit Farming

Early spring, late summer and the warming affects of the Great Lakes makes this area excellent for farming.

As a child growing up in Windsor, Ontario I watched as the orchard at the end of our street was bought, ploughed over and turned into a Ford factory. Down the road the corn, wheat and a tomato farms became parking lots and industrial sites. The land was converted to manufacturing. Now its returning to is orginal purpose.

I remember being taught that this land could sustain four cash crops in one year. Winter wheat could be planted in the fall, in spring the seeds would germinate early allowing for a quick harvest in April or May. Beans and corn could be planted along side tomatoes and harvested by August, before the end of summer crops of cabbage and root vegetables could grow right into October. Factories had replaced all this, now we can regain this farm land for what it was created for.

Farming in Detroit