AN EDITORIAL BY  ANDREW KAEGI, MD
Our family emigrated from Switzerland to New Zealand, in 1951, and one of the unpleasant demands from New Zealand was the demand for multiple vaccinations (with blunt needles). Immigrants were regarded as potential sources for a variety of viral diseases.
What an exciting six-week journey by sea to the South Pacific: we were spoiled with ice cream, fresh fruit and candies that we had not seen in Europe for most of our young lives. During the first winter, I learned rural rugby – no-holds-barred if our teacher wasn’t looking.
One day we arrived at school with only half the kids there. “Two kinds of flu ...” our district nurse explained. “One causes a severe cough; the other, fever and weakness.” Our rugby team of 20 was hit hard: five boys became very weak and it turned out that the strongest players were most affected.
One boy ended up in an iron lung, and died; another developed severe weakness in both legs and has been a paraplegic since then. New Zealand health officials had not regarded their country as a high-risk country for the polio virus – the vaccines arrived a few months too late.
No immigrant kids who were vaccinated got polio, and New Zealanders had very high infection rates with tragic complications.
Twenty years later, I was studying hematology, in Ontario, and one morning was struck with fever and a rash, but the worst was a headache and confusion that lasted for weeks. German measles and meningitis, I was informed.
Weeks later, more bad news ... my blood count had dropped like a stone. My bone marrow stopped producing normal blood cells. For weeks, there was talk that I may have residual brain damage and that I might have developed leukemia.
I slowly recovered, but there was one BIG plus: I saw the whole ‘72 Canada-Russia series and learned about hockey. On reviewing my vaccination records, I had not had the German measles vaccine as a child.
Flu season is just around the corner; not just the usual Asian variant, but now also the new H1N1 swine flu variety. Fortunately, we have a very up-to-date Canadian health care system, and Canada is well prepared with vaccination supplies. I expect to be unknowingly exposed this winter when with patients or when I visit my “bug catchers” (the grandkids).
When I look back at the huge health risks I missed with polio vaccine (but not with German measles), I think of friends who died or were maimed for life. Most recently, a medical friend of mine who was too busy or forgot to get vaccinated, one November, died with pneumonia.
I just count my blessings – and annoy friends, family and each of our children and grandchildren, to be fully vaccinated every year. I also bug them about old vaccinations: Have they checked with their health-care worker this year? Are their vaccinations fully up-to-date?
Pandemics were part of our heritage two generations ago, but need no longer be, in Canada.