Strong reactions
November 30, 2009
Judy Gerstel
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Someone could write a book about the psychology of the H1N1 flu. It's fascinating to observe people's attitudes to the pandemic and their reasons for not getting the vaccine.
Personality, prejudices and politics all play a role. Even bravado.
Type A: the blame game
The biggest cohort of naysayers are those who say the H1N1 threat has been exaggerated and blame one or more of the following:
The media, for "overhyping" the flu
Government and public health, for using it as an opportunity to justify themselves
The medical establishment, for inflating the risk
Big Pharma, for exploiting an opportunity to boost its bottom line
The idea is that the danger has been blown out of proportion for the benefit of bureaucracy and commerce. But those who espouse that line are confusing cause and effect.
Sure, there's profit to be made from this flu. But that doesn't change the facts about its prevalence, its virulence and the balance of risks and benefits of vaccination.
How people respond tends to be a reflection of their overall attitudes towards authority, government and the media.
Type B: dare to compare
Doubters typically weigh in on the debate about the dangers of H1N1 by citing other dangers. Auto accidents, lightning strikes and drowning are most common, although some have also mentioned choking on a piece of steak or getting hit by a golf ball.
What these amateur statisticians don't take into account is the difference between an accident that can't be prevented and a disease that can. Besides, don't sensible people do everything they can to prevent accidents, from wearing seatbelts to seeking safe shelter in a thunderstorm?
Type C: tough guys
It's cool to be cynical. And macho to tough it out. This was the attitude in one Brampton office where the only man who confessed to getting vaccinated was teased by his colleagues. Indeed, Dr. Kathleen Dooling, associate medical officer of health at Peel Public Health, says that until very recently, there was "a definite bias toward more women getting vaccinated."
But she says that since the vaccine has been made available to everyone over the age of six months, that trend is diminishing. And anyone who thinks that tough guys don't get vaccinated should remember that pro hockey players jumped the queue to get their shots.
Toronto Star
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