A declaration, signed on Friday by President Obama, has officially named H1N1, or Swine Flu, a national emergency. This doesn't come lightly; so far, it's estimated that nearly 1,000 people in the United States alone have died as a result of this virus. Approximately 100 of these 1,000 victims have been children.Maybe the panic would be a little less widespread if the number of ready vaccines met with announced expectations. A few months ago, it was announced that by mid-October, 120 million doses would be available to the public. Its October 25th, and currently there are only 11 million doses available to health departments within the country.So, because of the lack of vaccines and the spread of the virus, this declaration allows hopsitals to make the decision to have off site emergency rooms, to protect the non-infected.Already this has gone into action; some hospitals are putting up "screening tents" away from the general population, or moving the treatment areas into empty schools or assembly halls; anything they can do to prevent the further spread of the virius.However, it is stressed that this declaration is not a monitor of how things are going now, current infection rates, but is instead a proactive move against way may come later. Yes, the cases have been popping up with greater strength, but this declaration is not meant to act against what is happening now. Its meant to prevent the worsening of it.Yet, even as this is declared, some people are still skeptical. Some parents are refusing to allow their children to get the vaccination that so many people are hoping for. My mother, for example, is refusing to allow my sister and I to get it. She falls into the category of those who believe this flu is over-hyped. Personally, I have to respectfully disagree with her and any parent who doesn't want to vaccinate their children.People have died from this flu, healthy, young people who waited to long to get treated, or who's parents never sought it. I think that this flu will get worse before it gets better, and I'm sure that even more people will die. Not getting the vaccine is just a case of negligence; A case of negligence that may seem harmless, but can change or even end an innocent life.
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