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Swine Flu Fears Prompt Hospitals to Ban Kids
Hospitals are stepping up their efforts to keep swine flu in check, and for hundreds across the nation, that means banning kids from visiting.
It’s true – your kids are as germy as all those non-breeders think they are.
And they’re carriers! (Don’t blame me – that’s an official word from the director of one North Carolina hospital that’s hung out the “no kids allowed sign”).
Kids are likewise more likely to contract the disease – that’s why they’re first in line for the upcoming swine flu vaccine – so putting them inside the walls of a hospital is not only risky to the patients but the children themselves.
So no meeting the new baby or checking on granny for anyone under eighteen in places like New Hampshire and South Carolina, but other hospitals are skipping the ban and simply asking parents to “be prudent.”And of course this doesn’t apply to kids who are sick – they’re welcome at the hospital any day, any time.
If being prudent means keeping my (as yet un-vaccinated against anything because my pediatrician doesn’t even have the seasonal flu shot!) kid away from sick people, I’m in.
Are you?
Image: Calphys
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[...] seasonal flu is generally worst for the elderly, H1N1 has been found to be showing up more in the younger population as its run through America. By contrast, fewer young people seem to be [...]
Swine Flu Shot For Their Children – 65% of Parents Say No Thanks commented on Oct 05 09 at 5:13 pm[...] seasonal flu is generally worst for the elderly, H1N1 has been found to be showing up more in the younger population as its run through America. By contrast, fewer young people seem to be [...]
65% of Parents Say No Swine Flu Vaccine for Kids | Strollerderby commented on Oct 05 09 at 5:30 pmPlumbLucky commented on Oct 01 09 at 11:03 amShoot, the hospital our son was born in didn’t allow visitors under 12 (siblings excluded from rule) on the LDRP floor, and that was pre-H1N1!
Translation: I’m in. Keep him from sick people. Keep him who might be carrying something nasty away from already sick people who might be made even sicker as a result. Seems like a “duh” to me.
Smartfather commented on Oct 01 09 at 11:08 amThis doesn’t make much sense to me. I agree that kids can be rather “icky” if you will, mine can be. However, these kids live with the same adults who are going into the hospitals anyway. Whatever the kids have the adults will have. What’s the point? This whole H1N1 thing is getting to be a little more than I can handle.
jeannesager commented on Oct 02 09 at 9:24 amSmartfather – the difference is that kids put everything in their mouths, they don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze, and they are more likely to be very up-close-and-personal with people. That’s why they’re more likely to spread germs and/or catch germs than your average adult. You and I are smart enough not to pick up something off the floor and put it in our mouths. Our kids . . . not so much.
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