Pricks for protection
When it comes to vaccines, have you ever whined about a bruised arm, long lines at a clinic, a tiny blood speck on your shirt sleeve, or inconvenient opening hours at your doctor's office? I know I'm guilty, but I encourage you to stop for a minute to ponder how fortunate we are to live during a time when vaccines exist. Or for that matter, in a country where vaccines are available to us, in many cases, even covered under health care plans. As adults, we tend to think about vaccines when we face potential harm. Step on a rusty nail and you wonder, "When was my last tetanus shot?" You're taking a trip and realize you should get to a travel clinic early for a Hepatitis A/B needle. Or, fall arrives, bringing seasonal influenza along for the ride. And what a ride! The flu pulled a hit-and-run on my hubby this week. It's sobering to see what the flu can do to someone who eats well, is fit and has more get-up-and-go than the En...