Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.02.2005, Blaðsíða 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 11 February 2005
Making the best of a bad flu
Steinþór Guðbjartsson
Managing Editor
Influenza is probably one of
the best known illnesses at
this time of year. Millions
of people all over the world
are battling the flu. In most
cases they survive the unex-
pected and unfair attack and
whether they (or others, for
that matter) like it or not they
can resume their daily activi-
ties within a few days.
Every fall we are warned
about different types of flu, and
then the debate starts whether
one should have a flu shot or
not. I have gone through flu
seasons without catching it,
whether I have had a shot or
not. I’ve also gone fltrough
winters and been forced to stay
in bed for some time because
of the flu, whether I have had
a shot or not. I tend to believe
my doctor, who advises peo-
ple« to have the shot, and if I
get sick despite the shot, I be-
lieve that I don’t get as sick as
I would have without it.
Yet, according to the US
Department of Health and Hu-
man Services, I don’t fall into
a priörity group for inactivated
influenza vaccination this win-
ter. Inactivated influenza vac-
cine is recommended for all
children aged 6-23 months;
for adults 65 years and -older;
for persons aged 2-64 years
with underlying chronic medi-
cal conditions; for all women
who will be pregnant during
the influenza season; for resi-
dents of nursing homes and
long-term care facilities; for
children aged 2 - 18 years on
chronic aspirin therapy; for
health-care workers involved
in direct patient care; and for
out-of-home caregivers and
household contacts of children
aged under 6 months.
However, where supply
is sufficient, inactivated influ-
enza vaccine is also recom-
mended for out-of home care-
givers and household contacts
of persons in high-risk groups
(e.g., persons 65 years old and
older; persons with chronic
conditions such as diabetes,
heart or lung disease, or weak-
ened immune systems because
of illness or medication; and
children younger than two
years old); and all adults aged
50-64 years.
Actually, it makes no dif-
ference whether I fall into one
group or another in the US be-
cause I live in Canada. When
Americans flocked north of
the border to get a flu shot
while shopping in one mall
or another, I decided to use
my trip to Iceland in the fall
and get the shot in Kringlan,
the biggest shopping mall in
Reykjavík. Not because of the
shopping, though, but because
that’s where the doctor has his
office.
I got the shot in Novem-
ber and caughl the flu in the
last week of January. I had a
high fever and sore throat. I
coughed a little and was ex-
tremely tired,' and did not
want to do anything but sleep
for days. For your information
only, I had no runny or stuffy
nose, hardly any body aches
and no diarrhea or vomiting.
It is said that journalists
at large media corporations
avoid getting sick, or taking
vacations, because then oth-
ers would find out that they
are not as important as they
think they are. I, however, ad-
vise every journalist — and
everybody else for that matter
— to take the flu symptoms
seriously and treat his or her
body accordingly. It is not a
sign of “weakness” to stay in
bed with the flu for a few days.
It is rather a sign of making
the right decision. You rnini-
mize the risk of spreading the
flu and get the opportunity
to build up a fresh body and
mind again.
And if you are on the Gim-
li diet and exercise program
(or any other fitness program),
you have yet another reason to
smile to the world, because I
guarantee that you’ll lose at
least a pound or two.
W - m.
PHOTO: STEINÞÓR GUÐBJARTSSON
Walking is one way to keep in good health.
Experience Ice
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