Mon Jan 11, 2010, 07:14 AM EST

Vaccines seen as responsible choice

By Laura Paine, Beacon-Villager

Maynard - Maynard residents who came to a Dec. 19 H1N1 clinic consider getting vaccinated against
the H1N1 and seasonal flu as a responsibility to themselves and their families.
Some also consider it their responsibility to society.
The Dec. 19 H1N1 clinic at the Fowler Middle School in Maynard was open to the public. Kevin
Sweet, health officer for the town, received notification from the Department of Public Health the
previous Thursday that the target group restrictions had been lifted, allowing anyone10 years of age
and up wanting to be vaccinated to do so.
At the time of the clinic, Sweet expected they would serve at least 500 people.
“I have been vaccinated and we are recommending that everybody get vaccinated now that the vaccine
is available,” Sweet said. “Things have sort of leveled off, we’re seeing, and the media hype has sort of
died down a little bit, but we’re certainly recommending that everybody still take precautions during flu
season, and do get vaccinated for H1N1 and the seasonal flu.”
For Maynard residents like Katie Pronko, getting vaccinated means she won’t get sick and she thinks
everyone should get vaccinated to “stay healthy.” For others, social responsibility plays a part.
“I can’t afford to be sick this winter,” Lisa Vernegaard of Maynard said. “I think [getting vaccinated] is
good for society. I think if people are sick and it can be prevented there is a cost to society, a cost to
employers, etcetera.”
Adam Crossland, also of Maynard, is getting vaccinated because he and his wife are expecting their
third child in February and he suffers from asthma, but he shares a similar school of thought with
Vernegaard.
“It’s really a public health issue. Even if you aren’t worried about getting it yourself, you can still infect
a lot of other people, so if you can get it, you should,” said Crossland.
“My father is going through chemotherapy so I think it is important that my family gets the shot. We
wanted to get it as soon as possible and this is the earliest that we’ve heard it’s available,” said Heinz
Windzio of Maynard.
According to Windzio, a staff member suggested that the he and his wife Julie, who are the parents of
two girls, ages two and three, receive the H1N1 shot instead of the nasal spray. The spray vaccine is
created with weakened, living flu cells and is not suggested for people with asthma, pregnant women,
children under the age of two and those with a compromised immune system.
“They made it easy and free to get it here and because I don’t want to get the H1N1,” Pamela Leskovac
of Maynard said about attending the town flu clinic. While many residents lined up for the vaccine
without fear, she still has her concerns and admits to being a little nervous about it.
“It’s unknown and it’s a new vaccine,” said Leskovac.
Sweet anticipates the next clinic to be held after the first of the year and says that residents will receive
another CTY reverse message alerting them to the clinic.