CDC: Flu Season Less Severe Than Last Year

Story dated 04 March 2005

"After all the panic last fall over the vaccine shortage, the flu season is turning out to be milder than last year's severe bout, but it may not have peaked yet, the government said Thursday. . . Last year, flu cases started early and rapidly hit a high point in December, clogging emergency rooms with flu sufferers. By the end of that season, 153 children had died from the flu. So far this season, nine children have died from the flu."

Yes. I remember the flu outbreak of last year (2003-2004). I remember that they were pushing the flu vaccine earlier than ever. I first heard government officials urging people to get the flu vaccine in late summer. That's weird, I thought, I've never heard anything about the flu this early in the year. Do, as dutifully panicked followers, a lot of people went to get their flu shot early. Then we had some of the worst cases of flu I'd ever heard of break out earlier than in recent memory. More people died from flu than I remember hearing about lately. Now fast-forward to this year. Flu vaccine shortage, big presidential campaign issue, lots of unfounded rhetoric-induced panic and unreasonable fear of contracting the flu. This year the outbreak is much milder in spite of the wild speculations by democrats concerning flu-related death, doom, and destruction.

I don't take the flu vaccine. I never have. I don't get sick very often. Now, I'm not a doctor, I'm just an observant guy who asks questions. I'm not going to tell you what I think of the flu vaccine, but does anyone think that there could be a connection between the distribution of the flu vaccine and the occurrence of flu outbreaks? We are told that the flu vaccine helps stave off outbreaks. Is that what you have observed?

posted by The Sovereign Editor | 3:24 PM

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