So my natural instinct is to mock and crack jokes about things I don`t necessarily agree with, I can be a bit of a dick that way... Today I feel that it`s important to mention first and foremost that  while I may have different opinions that some, possibly you included,  I do recognize the fact that when it comes to our children we all do the best we can, and make the very best choices we can make for the health and safety of our children.

The issue of vaccination is a difficult  one for my wife and I, as parents of four young children there are so many different ways of looking at it, different ways of weighing the risk factors and different paradigms by which to view the issue altogether. For us the answer is not to vaccinate for H1N1.

Being someone who blogs about Saskatoon and Saskatoon events etc. I thought I would run out and snap a couple of pictures of the lineups at PrairieLand Park  - the Saskatoon H1N1 Vaccination clinic. 

A couple of questions come to my mind, how many people in this mass gathering of high risk persons will actually get the H1N1 virus while waiting in line. Seriously you have hundreds standing in the cold waiting for entry into the vaccine clinic, noses running, children crying, which will result in coughing and nose blowing inside the clinic, children touching everything, rubbing their noses, rubbing their eyes, picking their noses, while waiting for a needle that will hopefully start protecting them  10 days from now, granted they don`t contract the flu prior to the vaccine kicking in - which by the way would allow a healthy body to create it`s own anti-bodies naturally protecting itself naturally.

Honestly it makes no sense to me that one would rush down into such an environment with children, it is actually counter to flu prevention common sense, if your decision is to vaccinate then do so but don`t show up with lines hours long with your children, at least think about it.

 Another aspect that gets considered is the public perception, with the mass levels of fear mongering propaganda campaigns and the general sheep like nature of our society, those who opt to make educated decisions (right or wrong) that go against the general group think risk harsh judgment from their peers. Now I`m not actually saying peer pressure is a considering factor, where it plays into the equation is that it can result in second guessing your instincts, which can result in doubt.

Another aspect I`m finding absolutely ridiculous is the influence of the mass media coverage of the young boy in Ontario who with no apparent underlying conditions lost his life to H1N1 - First and foremost my heart goes out to his family and friends, I couldn`t imagine the loss of a child and pray I never experience this loss, second I find it disgusting that this family would be stuck in a situation in which they were having to deal with the press hoisting them up as the poster family for why to vaccinate when they should be allowed to grieve in private. I also hope very much so that no complications arise from this vaccine that claim and lives of children, as this family will feel used and may never forgive themselves for  their role in the propagation of fear.

My opinions are mine, feel free to comment with yours if you wish, I don`t have any answers, nor do I claim to but I do believe open discussion is important and the one thing life has taught me is that what I know today as truth change, I believe strongly in listening and healthy questioning and challenging.

I`m going to close this out with the Dr. Oz suggestions for limiting the spread of the H1N1 flu.

 The following advice, given by Dr. Oz, makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know:

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
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 And with that my very best to all the parents out having to make this tough decision.