Thursday, November 19, 2009

Risk Factors and the Edge of the Universe

You've heard about this swine flu thing going around, right? Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus?

Seems the Jolly Ol' Elf himself, Santa Claus, wants to be in the priority group of individuals who are at risk for severe illness and who should be among the first in line to receive the H1N1 vaccine. From the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy's Daily News Headlines:

Santa groups air pandemic flu concerns
Santa workers and volunteers are seeking ways to prevent novel H1N1 infection during the holiday season, the Associated Press (AP) reported. One trade group urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins and the public to keep sick children home. The president of another group asked state lawmakers to consider prioritizing Santa for H1N1 vaccine, given that many are exposed to sick children and are obese, which has been identified as a high-risk condition. [Nov 17 AP story] (Emphasis and double emphasis added.)


In other news, it has also been brought to my attention that the edge of the universe is graph paper.

That is all. You may now go back to business as usual.

Photo source: The Hollywood Roaster.

3 comments:

lacochran said...

"That is all. You may now go back to business as usual."

*whining* Do I have to?

Cele said...

I thought (not too long) about swine flu santa aspect and for the sake of public health, I'm all for them going up to the front of the line. Merry Christmas!

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

LA: Hey, no whining! There's no whining in baseball. Oh, wait. Never mind. It's now Friday. You can do whatever you want. :-)


Cele: I'm fine with that, too. What I don't get are the people who drag their sniffly, sneezy, snotty, coughy, fevery kids out for this annual ritual and expose all of us and Santa to their little germ-mobiles. There oughta be a law!