Article November 15, 2004 Issue

IMMUNIZATION FOR ALL

Richard Bergenheim

The Christian Science Monitor

The Unavailability of flu vaccine has been in the news for much of the fall, and the other day it was the lead story on the radio. Many places scheduled to provide the vaccine have canceled their programs in recent weeks because of the shortage.

I'll have to say, though, that at the supermarket, people were much calmer than the reporters I heard on the radio. Shoppers at the store agreed that the shots are helpful for some people, but that after getting them last year some still came down with the flu. They appeared concerned, but not afraid.

I wish the radio reporter had been at the supermarket. Of course the media need to cover a story that affects the welfare of so many people and raises questions about the reasons for the shortage. But it's unfortunate that much coverage conveys hysteria.

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