Swine flu-- It's a serious disease, so don't take it lightly

This editorial appears in the Oct. 25, 2009, Yakima Herald-Republic.

It's time to end the careless chatter doubting the seriousness of swine flu and the vaccine developed to prevent it. The illness has reached unprecedented virulence for so early in the fall.

Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane on Wednesday reported the state's first child to die when a 5-month-old boy from Pasco succumbed to the illness. That tragic death joins a list of another 11 children in the U.S. who died the previous week from the virus.

Most distressing is the reckless talk, from both the left and the right on the political spectrum with regards to the effectiveness of the vaccine to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Glenn Beck, Fox News' conservative talk show host, worried the vaccine could cause the spread of the neurological disease Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

"How much do you trust your government?" Beck asked. "I think that's the main question."

Then there's Bill Maher, a left-wing HBO commentator and comedian, who wrote recently on Twitter: "If u get a swine flu shot ur an idiot."

These are reckless comments that have no place in a serious discussion of swine flu, also referred to as H1N1. The virus has spread to 191 countries, infecting millions and claiming 4,500 lives so far. Children, young adults and pregnant women are the most vulnerable. Older adults with compromised health conditions are also at risk.

Still, misconceptions about the vaccine are complicating the nation's attempts to protect those most vulnerable to the flu. In a recent University of Michigan poll, 60 percent of those surveyed said they either wouldn't vaccinate their children against the swine flu or weren't sure if they would.

That's why it's encouraging to see health care professionals in the Yakima Valley taking an aggressive approach to blunt the spread of swine flu.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital earlier this month required all its personnel to take the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available. Those employees who decline to take the shot due to religious reasons will be required to wear a mask. The Washington State Hospital Association has also backed this requirement and has urged its members to make the vaccination of hospital workers mandatory. While not making it a requirement, Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center says it's "heavily encouraging" its medical staff to take the vaccine.

Memorial Hospital and Yakima Regional took another additional step recently by limiting access by visitors to the hospital. This is directed at children under age 14 who are most vulnerable to contracting the virus and spreading it to others, especially in crowded situations common to a hospital setting. Other area hospitals are also looking at restricting visitors.

Swine flu is serious business. That requires a serious response, and compelling health care workers to be vaccinated is necessary. Convincing others who are most vulnerable to the virus to get vaccinated is equally important. The same can be said for crowding out ill-informed beliefs.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.