Canada? the fastest growing destination?
 

Who would have thought it? Canada has become a prime destination for seniors. The bus loads started with cheaper perscription drugs and now has grown to seniors desparate for flu shots. Something is really wrong in the United States when something like this should have to take place. Perhaps our Senators have become travel agents to promote Canada.

But they must promise the Senator/Travel Agents that they will not buy any Canadian beef, pork or softwood lumber. While they are at it they could show president Bush a map of Canada. He didn't know where Prince Edward Island was when he was first elected.

diddl, There's lots of ranchers in ND, SD, Wyoming and Montana that would agree with you about Canadian beef. Its a political campaign beef in those state.

This will get the message pulled: remember when the US federal government was trying to make Americans believe prescription drugs from Canada were dangerous? (well, dangerous to the profit of big political supporting pharm. companies) NOW the US gov't wants to buy flu vaccines from our buddies up north. ROTFLMAO over that.

I'm surprised there aren't gambling busses heading north to save on gambling winning taxes.

ncgrrl, They Still are doing that! Yet the flu vacs don't need and scrutiny by the US gov because our gov screwed up and won't fes up.

You know what is really interesting ncgrrl? Here in Canada, we have a longer slower process of approving new drugs. New drugs are ALWAYS out in the U.S. before they become available to us. In other words, the FDA has already done alot of the testing and has data on drugs well before we do.

It is unbelievable that the U.S. Gov't could claim Canadian drugs are unsafe when they have already allowed distribution of these drugs before Canadians get them. Like you said, only dangerous to the Pharmaceutical companies who contribute such huge bucks to political campaigns.

Back when the 'dangerous Canadian drugs' promo was first out, someone around here traced a few Glaxo drugs (sorry, I don't remember if it was the tv or newspaper). Found out drugs from the factory in NC went to both US and Canadian outlets. Somehow while crossing over the border the drgs became 'dangerous'

If I was Canadian I would be insulted that drugs already approved which come form the same factory somehow become unsave when they are in Canada. Is Canada some third world country with no health and safety standards? Pharm companies have bought far too many Senators.

The unsafe Canadian drug thing was goverment scare tactics, nothing more. Our government actually does not allow the distribution of many of the drugs that are on the market in the U.S. today, our regulations are more rigid.

I think the people who would be insulted would be the American public because of the fact that their leaders continually mislead them on such facts. Does the government not realize that the American public is smarter than that and will do their own research and figure out what the truth is? Now that's insulting.

Did you hear the news this morning - the flu shots which we don't have enough for elderly and babies, will be given to all senators, no questions asked. Are you still surprised the drugs are so expensive and Canadian drugs declared unsafe?

All senators who have gotten or will get a flu shot should be forced to identify themselves.

And here's a really great injustise. Prison inmates are getting flu shots on demand at no cost to them. They get the same privileges as Senators or vis-versa. ((n))

**== It was just announced by the official Congressional doctor (I wish I remembered his name) that members of Congress need flu shots because they "shake the hands of many people and kiss babies".

Perhaps the good doctor should tell them to quit kissing babies and wash their hands more often. I don't think that the average person who comes in contact with a baby or shakes a person's hand are included in this exclusive flu shot on demand group.

I called my two US senators and two local state reps today to ask if they got a flu shot. Mark Dayton said he has not and will not get a flu shot. One of Norm Coleman's aids said he got a flu shot on Sept 30th.

One of my state reps said he has not nor will not get the flu shot. The other did not return my phone call.

Your law makers' phone numbers are listed in most phone books. They love to take your calls before an election. Call them. **==

Just show them a "Monk" movie and get assistants to carry hand wipes :)

&gt;&gt;&gt;<i>Prison inmates are getting flu shots on demand at no cost to them. They get the same privileges as Senators or vis-versa.</i>

Prison inmates, senators. Not really all that much difference between the two populations.

NO MORE BUSH.......OUT, DONE ,

Faina, hilarious, I thought exactly the same thing...

What I wonder is, who is the person that actually believes that crap about drugs from Canada being &quot;unsafe&quot;??? Who on Earth is that gullible??? Oh, wait, we ARE in the US aren't we?? Scary.

Having worked in the pharma/biotech field in CANADA for several decades, I feel that I must dispel some myths being bandied about in this post:

1. Drugs &amp; medical devices from Canada ARE as SAFE as those from the US simply because most pharma and biotech companies in Canada adhere to both FDA as well as Health Canada regulations and guidelines - the US is a huge market compared to Canada and it doesn't make much business sense to market only in Canada.

2. Health Canada regulations seem to have been written by a demented lawyer while the FDA regulations are much much better written, clearer, and easier to understand. Take it from me, I've had to deal with both sets of guidelines. That being said, there isn't that much significant difference between them.

3. Note also that most pharma companies are multi-national, or have intent to market internationally, and they have to work with an additional oversight - the ICH - these guidelines harmonize regulations between the FDA, European regulatory guidleines (EMEA) and Japan. Canada and Australia also &quot;sat in&quot; on the harmonization.

4. Health Canada approval is not longer and more rigid (as someone stated above) - it is just very slow. They don't have enough inspectors with the appropriate background and knowledge (corollary of this is that it is easier to fool a Health Canada inspector than a FDA inspector).

5. The shortage of flu vaccines is a direct result of business decisions as well as government policy - vaccines simply do not make as much profit as other drugs.

8. This year's flu vaccine will not protect you from all the flu viruses out there - it will only protect you from the viruses that have been identified and for which the vaccine has been manufactured (there was choice involved - there were undoubtedly many other viruses that were identified but were not considered for use in the manufacture of the vaccine).

You best bet to avoid flu is to wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!!! (and avoid people who cough and sneeze without covering their mouths).

I am going to run to the sink right now and wash my hands!!!!

Since I had the flu most of this week, does this mean I am won't get it again?

There are some people I don't want to kiss, will this be a good excuse?

Maybe we should adapt the Japenese custom, lets all bow to each other rather than shaking hands, what do you think?

Oh, isn't life fun?

LoveItaly - LOL :-) !!
Actually, cold sores are an even better excuse for not kissing :-D.

A now for a serious answer to your question about getting the flu again: you will be immune to the identical virus that caused your current flu, and will be immune in varying degrees to other viruses depending on how similar they are to the virus that caused your current flu. However, you will not be immune to viruses that are significantly different.
The same applies to colds (which are also caused by viruses).
Hope this helps.

Borealis, being sincere here for a moment, thank you. I just had my HMO change my medical group which means again for the 4th time in 4 years I have a new Dr., who I &quot;will get acquainted with&quot; in November.

Felt to sick most of this week to even attempt to get in to see her. And thanks to Scarlett who nagged me &quot;go back to bed&quot; I did on Wednesday and actually felt more human that evening.

There definetly is a bug going around, my family had it too, grandson was really sick.

So, I will keep fingers crossed I will not get it again. Your good advice makes me feel more positive about that.
Usually I don't get sick often so this was sort of a surprise.

With good advice on Fodor's, who needs the doctor? :-P.
Thanks again for your advice.

LoveItaly - hope you get better very soon ((r))
Scarlett gives the most wonderful advice - she's a sweetheart!!

We've been battling colds up here in my part of Canada - I've had the worst cold in a decade; my hubby, son and grandson were sick too. It seemed to drag on and on, and I'm glad that it's now more or less finished - mostly anyway.
Like you I rarely get the viruses that are floating around, mainly because I'm paranoid about touching surfaces and wash my hands a lot when in public places (especially the &quot;ladies&quot; room =-o )

Fears about the quality of prescription medicines from legitimate pharmacies in Canada and Mexico are way overblown and irrational.
However, the ongoing deterioration of the quality and certainly the quantity of health care in Canada continues unabated.
Hang on to your indemnity health insurance as long as possible.
M

So is anyone angry that Senators are getting flu shots (Norm Coleman for one) when our government leaders are begging everyone who is not in a risk group not to get the shot? Is it OK that they get life saving privelages while the rest of us are expected to shut up and wait?

No Jor is is NOT OK. Think everyone is angry. Have a dear little neighbor who almost made herself sick with worry about not getting her flu shot. Finally had a long talk with her and could only suggest if she stayed so stressed out she would make her self sick. So now she is calmed down, thank goodness.

And did you read about the poor woman in her 70's in the SF Bay Area that passed out after standing hours in the hot sun hoping to get a shot. When she fell she hit her head and died.

As Borealis told me, guess only answer is wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. And I do that.

And did not go to my grandson's band concert and middle school last night because that is where he brought the bug home from (other kids have it) and of course he got it, passed it on to his parents and than me. He got so ill he actually passed out in the shower. Real scary incident. So I decided to stay home and not get a relapse.

Hope we are all stay healthy this winter. For sure we all need to take care of ourselves.

Borealis, thanks for your message. I am sorry that you and your family had this bug also. Can't believe how bad it was. Even though I am better I am taking it easy today (had errands yesterday). Over it, but know I am not up to snuff. And yes, washing of the hands! I always have, sure you do also.
I am hoping your advice about maybe being imune now. Since, like you, I don't typically get a bug that last for a week I am praying that is it for this season.

And Scarlett. Yes she is a sweetheart. And seriously, she is the one that caused me to crawl into bed and stay there most of Wednesday. And that did really help.

But hopefully Scarlett will not read the post (you read the other thread I am sure about her being in jail for the fashion mistakes ;;) haha so I don't think she has complete access to the internet). But than again you never know about our dear Scarlett, she is a clever one. But hopefully she will not read our post, we do not want her to get all full of herself do we?

On a serious note, I sure hope you and your family recover completely from whatever this bug is. Wishing you a beautiful weekend.

News this morning in Seattle that the Victoria Clipper high-speed passenger ferry to Victoria BC is offering one-day &quot;flu shot specials&quot; at $100 round trip or so.

Sold out.

In the last debate, President Bush said that he would not be getting the flu shot this year due to shortages. This struck me as very odd. Wouldn't we want our presidential leader to be healthy? Wouldn't a president be a better to manage a posible crisis if he were well and not with the flu?

{I know, I can hear the joke now, &quot;Maybe Bush would be a better leader WITH the flu.}

Paul, I have not doubt that George Bush as already had a flu shot. He probably said he will not be geting a flu shot because he already got one. He's tricky that way. I believe he got it prior to Sept. 30th. Besides, he has dozens of people who work directly for him who can run the presidency when a president is sick. so its not that big of a deal if he gets sick.

However, the average Jane Doe may not have anyone to pick up the slack with bringing home the bacon, picking up the kids, running the household, and taking care of her sick old mother who also has the flu.

This event which may mastitize this winter will be a true test of the haves and the have-nots. I gaurentee that you will hear of no politicians, the rich, and the powerful who will get the flu.