Re: Influenza Immunizations

[Guest guest]

I keep saying that humans are much more alike than they are

different. It seems the anti-vaccination people are everywhere. I

don't think you find this attitude in what is now the older

generation, i.e. the 70+ folks who often suffered some of these

childhood diseases. My father was born in Moscow in 1910 and said

that many children in those days died from all sorts of maladies.

Needless to say I was fully vaccinated with what was available when

I was a kid in the early 1940's. My brother was a " polio pioneer " ,

vaccinated at school as part of the first bunch of US kids courtesy

of the government (amazing!); the rest of us had to pay our doctors.

In the US, before you are given a shot, you have to fill out a form

asking about whether or not you are a diabetic, have high blood

pressure, are allergic to horse serum and some other stuff. Then

you sign a waiver. The regular docs here don't want to be bothered

giving flu shots and, in fact, don't even have the vaccine available

in their offices. It can often be difficult finding a location,

especially in LA where you have so many people who want the shots.

I stood in line one year for 2 hours at Costco.

ly I find it absolutely amazing that someone would not have

their children and themselves vaccinated. This is preventive

medicine at it's best and of which we seem to have precious little

these days. I know there have been some controversial vaccines, and

on occasion that is understandable. But not for the proven stuff

like diptheria, measles, etc. I'm sure if someone comes up with a

vaccination against SARS, the place that gives it will be the most

popular in town.

Rosemary Vernon, Editor

Dolfzine On-Line Fitness, Inc.®

A Not-For-Profit Foundation

www.dolfzine.com

Marina del Rey, CA

IronRoses@...

http://www.chuckietechie.com

[Guest guest]

To answer the question as to why I want to know about how flu shots

are done in other countries outside the U.S., it has to do with an

upcoming article in Dolfzine about training when sick. Flu shots

are a good idea because a case of the flu can really derail your

progress. You are sick and angry all at the same time.

Because Dolfzine is read in many different countries, I thought it

might be nice to include what is done in some of them vs. the U.S.

I have heard from a few people already and it seems that it runs the

gamut from pay for it yourself to fully subsidized.

What I found interesting about the tax rate in Belgium is that when

considered as a whole, i.e. Social Security, Federal and State tax

(in most states) plus excise or sales taxes, (and there are more,

like City taxes in some places, especially in hotels) the rate

doesn't seem to be a whole lot different. On top of that, many

people also pay high insurance premiums or co-pays in the U.S. Many

don't even have insurance which means you pay out of pocket for

medical and dental costs.

Rosemary Vernon, Editor

Dolfzine On-Line Fitness, Inc.®

A Not-For-Profit Foundation

www.dolfzine.com

Marina del Rey, CA

IronRoses@...

http://www.chuckietechie.com

[Guest guest]

To answer the question as to why I want to know about how flu shots

are done in other countries outside the U.S., it has to do with an

upcoming article in Dolfzine about training when sick. Flu shots

are a good idea because a case of the flu can really derail your

progress. You are sick and angry all at the same time.

Because Dolfzine is read in many different countries, I thought it

might be nice to include what is done in some of them vs. the U.S.

I have heard from a few people already and it seems that it runs the

gamut from pay for it yourself to fully subsidized.

What I found interesting about the tax rate in Belgium is that when

considered as a whole, i.e. Social Security, Federal and State tax

(in most states) plus excise or sales taxes, (and there are more,

like City taxes in some places, especially in hotels) the rate

doesn't seem to be a whole lot different. On top of that, many

people also pay high insurance premiums or co-pays in the U.S. Many

don't even have insurance which means you pay out of pocket for

medical and dental costs.

Rosemary Vernon, Editor

Dolfzine On-Line Fitness, Inc.®

A Not-For-Profit Foundation

www.dolfzine.com

Marina del Rey, CA

IronRoses@...

http://www.chuckietechie.com