The job of public health officials is to do what they think is best for the majority of the population. But lately they are coming under increased scrutiny over the H1N1 vaccine campaign. Ontario's former medical officer of health is even getting in on this action. He has some harsh words to say, but to be frank, they seem dead on.
However, it's tough being a politician or a public health official that has to make big decisions in a short amount of time. They were doing what they thought was best. It's a damn if you do, damn if you don't scenario. But buying enough H1N1 vaccines for EVERY Canadian seemed like over-kill to me even before the pandemic started. Sure enough, approximately 35 million of the 50.4 million vaccines bought will not be used. Either we let it go to waste or we donate it to less well off nations. Some still believe that a second wave could be coming which I don't know. All I can say is that this flu season hasn't been that bad.
On a related note, anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu which is made from a Chinese spice called 'Star Anise' are used to treat influenza, but a recently published article in the British Medical Journal found that these drugs have only modest benefits with "reduction of illness by about one day."
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
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