OT: H1N1 flu shots.

I must say, I thought for once, they handled it sensibly so no matter whether you live in Yellowknife or Halifax, it will be available at the same time.

I already had my seasonal flu shot but have zero intention of having the H1N1 shot. I have participated in a study to arrive at a vaccine for Avian Flu for nearly two years - I ask myself if coming up with a vaccine for that is a slow process, how come they can whip one up for H1N1 over a couple of months ? The big beneficiaries of all the flu hysteria is.........Ta Dum.........the drug companies. Watch them make obscene profits again this year.

There is also the issue that for most of us - anyone in reasonable health and over the age of 50 or so, we will most likely have some residual immunity left from the pandemic of 1957 (and iirc 1975).

In our family, my sister had the '57 bug, and since I was in the house I may have had a mild case with little or no symptoms. I usually get the seasonal shot since I'm an asthmatic, but am not sure if I will bother with the H1N1.

Now, if you are a young person or have a compromised immune system, you are probably wise to get the shot. MargW

That's my thinking and I know about Swine Flu in the latter 70s, I had it. Sick in bed for three weeks, so ill my doctor even made housecalls to check on me lol

It's the interesting aspect of this flu, that it is after people born since 1950. It's partly why I entered the Avian Flu study, because I figured it would come for me but more importantly for my grandchildren and g-grandchildren because it will follow the more normal patterns.

I see there is H1N1 in some turkeys in Ontario, I dread to think what the news will be like tonight, a cross between flu and Michael Jackson no doubt.

Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him

Allah ( God ) sent all the Prophets and Messengers to call for the worship of Allah alone, and to bring people from darkness to light. The first of these Messengers was Nooh and the last of them was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as Allah said (interpretation of the meaning): "We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. Of some apostles We have already told thee the story; of others We have not;- and to Moses Allah spoke direct;"-

The last of the Prophets and Messengers is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so there is no Prophet after him, as Allah said: =93Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets=94 [al-Ahzaab 33:40]

Every Prophet was sent exclusively to his own people, but Allah sent His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to all of mankind as Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning): =93Allah revealed to His messenger the Qur=92aan by which to guide people And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a Warner to all mankind, but most of men know not=94 [Saba=92 34:28]

Allah sent the Qur=92an to His Messenger, to guide people and bring them forth from darkness to light by the will of their Lord. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): =93(This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Isl=E2mic Monotheism) by their Lord=92s Leave to the path of the All Mighty, the Owner of all praise=94 [Ibraaheem 14:1]

Allah made Muhammad grow in a good manner, and Allah took care of him, so he was the the best of his people in physical wellbeing and in attitude, he was the most generous, the most patient, the most truthful, the most sincere and the most honest, so his people called him al-Ameen (the trustworthy) .

Then he was given an inclination towards solitude, so he used to spend many days and nights alone in the cave of Hiraa=92, worshiping and praying to his Lord. He hated idols, alcohol and promiscuous conduct, so he never paid any attention to them all his life

The people of the Jaahiliyyah used to have some good characteristics such as generosity, loyalty and courage, and they used to follow some teachings of the religion of Ibraaheem, such as venerating the Ka=92bah and making Tawaaf around it, performing Hajj and =91Umrah, and offering sacrifices. But besides that they used to have some bad habits and traditions, such as fornication, drinking alcohol, consuming ribaa (usury or interest), killing their daughters, oppression and worshiping idols.

When shirk and corruption became so widespread, Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), when he was forty years old, to call the people to worship Allah Alone and to give up idol- worship. Quraysh denounced him for that and said: =93Has he made the aalihah (gods) (all) into One Ilaah (God =97 Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!=94 [Saad 38:5 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

The Prophet stayed in Makkah for thirteen years, calling for the worship of Allah alone, in secret then openly, when Allah commanded him to proclaim the truth. So he called them in a gentle and kind manner, without fighting. He called his clan and closest relatives, then he warned his people and those around them, then he warned all the Arabs, then he warned all of mankind. Then Allaah said: =93Therefore proclaim openly (Allah's Message Islamic Monotheism) that which you are commanded, and turn away from Al Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers)=94 [al-Hijr 15:94]

A few people, rich people, nobles, the weak and poor, men and women, believed in the Messenger. All of them were persecuted for their faith. Some were tortured and some were killed. Some of them migrated to Abyssinia, fleeing from the persecution of Quraysh, and some of them were persecuted with the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), until Allah caused His religion to prevail.

When the Messenger reached the age of fifty and ten years of his mission had passed, his uncle Abu Taalib, who had protected him from the persecution of Quraysh, died. Then his wife Khadeejah, who had been his consolation, also died, and the persecution of his people intensified. They harrassed him and persecuted him with all kinds of torments, and he bore it with patience, seeking the reward of Allah. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.

Then the Messenger commanded his companions to migrate to Madeenah,

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained in Madeenah and Allah supported him with His help. The Muhaajiroon and Ansaar consolidated their ranks around him, and their hearts were devoted to him. The mushrikoon, Jews and hypocrites came together to oppose him; they slandered him and fabricated lies against him, and they declared war on him, but Allah commanded him to be patient, forbearing and tolerant. When their evildoing became too intense, Allah gave the Muslims permission to fight, and the aayah was revealed (interpretation of the meaning): =93Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory [al-Hajj 22:39]

Then Allah enjoined the Muslims to fight those who fought against them: =93And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors=94 [al-Baqarah 2:190 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

When Allah perfected this religion and its basic principles had been established, Allah revealed to him in =91Arafaah: =93This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion [al-Maa'idah 5:3 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

Allah honoured His Messenger with noble characteristics which were not combined in any other person, to the extent that his Lord praised him for these characteristics: =93And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character=94 [al-Qalam 68:4 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

With these noble and praiseworthy characteristics, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was able to bring people together and soften their hearts, by Allah's leave: =93And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)=94 [Aal =91Imraan 3:159 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

Allah sent His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to all of mankind. He revealed to him the Qur=92aan and commanded him to call people to Allah, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): =93O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, And as one who invites to Allah [Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allah (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions from the Qur=92aan and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet=94 [al-Ahzaab 33:46]

All of mankind must believe in him and follow his sharee=92ah in order to enter the Paradise of their Lord: =93and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success=94 [al-Nisaa=92 4:13 =96 interpretation of the meaning]

Allah praises those among the People of the Book who believe in the Messenger, and He gives them the glad tidings of a two-fold reward, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): =93Those to whom We gave the ******ure [i.e. the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before it, they believe in it (the Qur=92aan). And when it is recited to them, they say: =91We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those who submit themselves to Allaah in Islam as Muslims (like =91Abdull=E2h bin Sal=E2m and Salm=E2n Al Faris=EE). These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them=94 [al-Qasas 28:52-54] The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: =93There are three who will be given a two-fold reward: a man from among the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet then lived until the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and believed in him and followed him =96 he will have two rewards=85=94

Whoever does not believe in the Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is a kaafir, and the punishment of the kaafir is Hell, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): =93And whosoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), then verily, We have prepared for the disbelievers a blazing Fire [al-Fath 48:13] The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: =93By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no one among this ummah, Jew or Christian, hears of me then dies not believing in that with which I have been sent, but he will be one of the people of Hell.=94 (Narrated by Muslim, 154) The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a human being who did not know anything except that which Allah taught him. He did not know the unseen and he had no power to benefit or harm himself or anyone else, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): =93Say (O Muhammad): =91I possess no power over benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghayb (Unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe=92=94 [al-A=92raaf 7:188]

The mission of the Messenger was to convey the message with which he was sent; guidance is in the hand of Allah: =93But if they turn away (O Muhammad, from the Islamic Monotheism, which you have brought to them). We have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a Haafiz (watcher, protector) over them (i.e. to take care of their deeds and to recompense them). Your duty is to convey (the Message)=94 [al-Shoora 42:48 =96 interpretation of the meaning] . Islam is the religion of the fitrah (natural state of man) and justice, the religion which Allah has chosen for all of mankind. It includes basic principles and minor issues, etiquette, acts of worship and rulings on interaction with others. The ummah can never succeed unless it follows Islam and Allah will not accept any other religion from people, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): =93And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers=94 [Aal =91Imraan 3:85]

I remember having the flu and being sick as a dog for Christmas of either 1975 or 1976. I think '75...our first Christmas married.

DD had the swine flu a couple of weeks ago, and fortunately recovered fully in about 4 days. She has severe asthma, and so would have been in the "compromised" group the vaccine is aimed at, but she really didn't have an awfully bad time of it, thank heavens. Now that she's had it, and no ill effects, I'm glad to be spared the decision of whether she should get the vaccine or not. (Not that it's MY decision, since she's

All the media talks about is the severe cases, and the number of deaths, but no perspective on how many people contract H1N1 and recover in a few days. And how that compares with the regular, seasonal flu, which also kills people every year. It's been so sensationalized.

We all had our seasonal flu shots last week, though!

Sue

PLONK!

Ours are starting next week - already had our annual flu shots, and may as well have the Swine flu ones since we`re both regarded as being at risk. Mind you, an awful lot of us are quite sure that it`s all been overhyped by the media - like the bird flu panic! It`s a very mild virus - you`re as likely to be killed by a cold!!!

Pat

All I can say is that I've never, ever had a flu shot and I bet it's been over 30 years (before my kids were born) since I've had the flu!

Joan

All I can say is that I've never, ever had a flu shot and I bet it's been over 30 years (before my kids were born) since I've had the flu!

Joan

I said that too, until I did get the flu. I take the shot every year without a thought.

I'm terrified of it because my father's mother and her sister both died of the flu in 1918, two days apart. For some reason or other, that stays with me and scares me to this day.

Lucille

H1N1 might not be as widespread or as big of deal in the UK as it is here in the US, but I assure you, it's no mild virus, especially to people with certain health conditions (mostly children). We have entire schools shutting down simply because nearly all the kids are out sick with it here it's that widespread. Sure, healthy kids and senior citizens with prior exposure will recover just fine.

And while the total number of avian flu cases in the whole world was less than 500, there have been more than 400,000 cases of H1N1 and nearly 5000 deaths. In some places it's so widespread they are no longer counting those cases that are considered mild. Although certainly the media has talked it to death, I don't think that it's "overhyped" to be worse than it is, especially not so to parents of small children. It's all a matter of perspective, I suppose.

Jinx

And from as someone whose slowly recovering from it - it's no joke, it takes a good five days for the fever to break, then a couple more days to start feeling better. And this is the "mild" version. It seems like 1/4 of the office has it, and it's rampant in the schools right now.

Oh it`s pretty widespread here - died down a bit but is on the way up again. The news gleefully reports ""so many have died!" but it`s nowhere near the numbers that usually die from "normal" flu. We were talking about it to John`s cardiologist about it when we were up at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge and I remarked that I thought it was media-hyped - he totally agreed. His wife is a GP and is run off her feet with people with the slightest sniffle panicking. Well, it is in a University Town, so is bound to spread amongst students there, probably more than in many places.

My sister-in-law has just got over it. She was down with it for a few days, thought it had gone and it came right back. No-one LIKES flu, in any shape or form and we always have our flu jabs as we`re both regarded as high risk (both diabetic, John now has a pacemaker and we`re both in our seventies).

But don`t the media just LOVE it?

Of course whenever there`s flu about, nearly everyone with a slight sniffle/sore throat will claim to have it - but when it actually IS flu, there`s certainly no mistaking it, is there? You can`t do anything but stay in bed for a few days. Having said all that I`m BOUND to get it now!

Did you get the Tamiflu? We hear that that is worse then the flu it`s supposed to cure!

The clocks go back this weekend and it`s colder and wet - no doubt it will really get going in the next few weeks.

Let`s hope we all steer clear of it, anyway. We can all do without it, can`t we?

Pat P

That WAS an evil outbreak, wasn`t it? Brought back with the troops returning from the Great War I understand. A LOT of people died in thatoutbreak.

Pat P

Amen to that. My singing teacher today had a paper quoting a doctor with some common-sense suggestions: Wash hands a lot. (Of course.) But he pointed out it's a *respiratory* virus, and enters through nose and mouth, where the germs are harbored. So common sense things: try not to touch your face, gargle twice a day with warm salt water, rinse nostrils with salt water (dab inside nose with salt-water drenched q-tip after a good blow to clear things out), and drink hot liquids. All of these sound reasonable to me, and inexpensive and easily do-able.

Sue

Many of the war memorials in Scotland show WW1 as 1914-1919 because so many died after 1918.