"Free" Swine Flu Clinics?

The Obama administration is pushing for a socialized Health Care system, yet, when the opportunity is here for them to prove a real concern for the health of the American people no one is grabbing the reins. With the hype surrounding H1N1 (swine flu) as a flu of "pandemic proportions" as it swarms across the country shutting down schools and causing deaths - one would think our government would have responded by setting up free clinics for those who are sick.

"Free Clinics "have been established for those who want to get the government approved vaccination for swine flu, but none for those who may be sick. It would seem treating the sick would be a primary concern in stopping the spread of H1N1 as the flu is spread from person to person. All focus is on pushing people to take this vaccination that many have distrust of, instead of on treating those who actually spread the germ. This would make one think our government is in essence "picking and choosing" those who may survive and those who will not. The good little sheep will be rewarded with a free shot, while the not so good little sheep will possibly die if they become sick because they may not have the all important "health insurance" or government benefits.

Are people who are already sick of less importance than those who may become sick? Treating those who carry an illness would be an important step in diminishing the numbers of those who become ill. The money spent to produce, advertise, and set up clinics for vaccinations could have been spent to enable those who are sick to go to a Doctor when they have a lack of funds. There are many steps that could be taken to prevent illness before a mass inoculation of a population that only feeds more money into major drug companies, and forces people to put something into their body they are not comfortable with.

Encouraging schools to get rid of ridiculous "Attendance Policies" that reward those who send their sick children to school and threaten those who keep their sick children home - would be a major step in preventing the spread of flu each and every year. Schools lose funding depending on their attendance and because every public school wants to keep every dollar of their federal and state funding, children are rewarded for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance normally comes down to one fact -at some point that child may have been in school while sick and spread the germ to other children. The germ is then taken home to the rest of the child's family who then in turn spread the germ further through work and shopping. It is basic common sense. Treat those who are ill, keep those who are ill home away from the public....and you will slow down the process of any illness.

Basic common sense is definitely something the governments (at every level) of this country seem to always be lacking. The reality is, common sense takes a back seat to money and power. A "free clinic" set up to give a "free" shot many have been frightened into taking by the media hype, yet not providing a "free clinic" to treat those who are ill - points in only one direction. Government money, our money....into the hands of huge drug corporations...instead being utilized to help out the people of this country. Any "health care" initiative would have the same purpose.

These shots while being offered to us for "free" actually cost us when our government pays for them. New York alone expects the vaccinations will cost approximately $30 million for 1.4 million students at public and private schools. We need to think why our government would provide "free" clinics with "free" vaccines...yet will not provide "free" clinics for those who are sick to be tested and treated. Lab tests have confirmed 209,000 infections but the majority of those infected are most likely not being tested. They are not being tested because it costs a large portion of their weekly earnings every time they walk into a clinic or hospital to be evaluated. During a true "pandemic" this cost should be waived if the health of a nation is of true concern.

No matter how many times we come up with a "vaccination" for a disease, germs will mutate and create new strains, adapting to survive like every other living organism on this planet. Being exposed to a germ is the first step in building a natural immunity to fight it off the next time it makes its rounds. Treating those who are ill and keeping them home from school and work without the fear of reprisal...makes sense to stop the spread of air born illness. Allowing the person to get tested for free to know if they have H1N1 and providing anti-viral medication when needed, would be beneficial as then they could keep themselves and possibly infected family members home. But if a person does not have the funds to get tested then they do not know if they are dealing with the new virus or a common one. Spending millions and millions of dollars on a vaccine which may be safe or may not be...is another example of "stupid government spending". Prevention comes in many forms, and by treating what is you can actually prevent what might be. Treating what might be without treating what is seems a bit redundant when natural organism mutation is taken into consideration.

Parents, no matter what the school tells you...use your common sense and keep your sick child home!

Sources:
Bloomberg
Mayo Clinic