Plague Rats.

The flu season is coming up. Every year, the old poops get all bent out of shape about getting their flu shots. "WHERE are the shots? WHY aren't there more to go around? WHY do I have to pay for them?" Same old whine every year.

I have a simple answer. Don't give the flu shots to the elderly. They don't need to be innoculated. The REAL target for flu shots should be children. WHY? you ask...

Because kids are plague carriers and if THEY were given the shots, the flu outbreak would be minimal--most of the adult population wouldn't get infected. (And hey, be realistic. If you're feeble enough as an adult to get wiped out by the flu, it's time to scoop your genes out of the pool, anyway.)

Case in point-- I'm sick with a cold right now. WHY? Because my kids gave it to me. We wash, we disinfect, we keep our snot contained to its own tissues, but we still get sick anyway because MY KIDS PLAY WITH OTHER KIDS. Kids spread germs like nobody's business. They hug each other, pound on each other, share food with each other. Most of this goes on at school or daycare or preschool. Then they bring the germs home. And so they get passed on... SO... If the kids (babies and teens included) got the flu shot, nobody else would need it.

The other population who contracts the flu--the elderly--are less likely to congregate with other sick adults, swap spit, or share snotty tissues. Most elderly people understand the concept of handwashing (except the ones who use public libraries--foul beasts). They're just less likely, in general, to spread the germs. Kids, on the other hand, share ALL germs and then spread them to their families, neighbors, and friends.

Unfortunately, every year, the old, infirm, and decrepit stagger down to the pharmacies and demand their shots. Then, after depleting the nation's supply, they wander back to their retirement homes. They're more likely to get the flu just going down to the clinic and queuing up to wait than if they'd just stayed home and practiced safe hygiene.

Just my thoughts as I snuffle through yet another box of lotion-soaked Kleenex. *sniff*