by Mark Silva
Happy New Year (Decade)!
The fireworks over the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Va., last night (actually this morning) were spectacular, one long grand finale. We stood beneath the shower of ash and sonic celebration in awe of not only the pyrotechnic prowess of our city, but also the passing of time.
2010 -- argue all you want, this is a new decade.
The first order of business this weekend is football -- and flu prevention.
Cover your mouth when you cough, please.
Particularly you younger ones.
The H1N1 flu (it'll never shake the name, swine flue) has hit younger people the hardest -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that among those under 18, the flu was responsible for more than 1,000 deaths and, 71,000 hospitalizations, with a total of 16 million cases recorded, between mid-April and mid-November.
Which explains why anyone watching several college football bowl games over this first weekend of 2010 will be seeing a swine flu commercial.
The spot run by the Department of Health and Human Services is airing during the Outback Bowl, Gator Bowl, Valero Alamo Bowl, and GMAC Bowl.
"Young Americans have been especially hard hit by the 2009 H1N1 flu," HHHS Secretary Sebeliu says. "Sports events are important opportunities to encourage fans, athletes, young adults, and all Americans to protect themselves by getting the H1N1 vaccine. We hope that college athletic teams across the country will continue to join us in the fight against the H1N1 flu by getting vaccinated and encouraging others to get vaccinated too."
Now cover your mouth. Watch that tackle.
And have a happy and healthy new decade.
Comments
From the vedio Sec Sebeliu
doesn't look too good, probably too much of Obama's "Approval
Tonic".
Posted by: Inky | January 1, 2010 11:33 AM
That cold that's making the rounds now is no joking matter.....Very debilitating.
Especially if you then come into contact with a flu virus.....
Posted by: ornery | January 1, 2010 2:46 PM
I figure that H1N1 isn't that big of a deal since private corporation CEO and employee clinics were given the immunizations months before it was available to other Americans......I mean, the federal gov't wouldn't triage corporations above the average American citizen, would they?.....Most of the people I speak with believe this and say the CDC can shove the shots. The gov't was not our friend, and will end up with millions of unused H1N1 immunizations. Perhaps the CDC can pawn the vials off onto another poorer nation. There should be at least a few weeks left on the expiration dates.
Posted by: Vivian | January 4, 2010 11:43 PM