The CDC dilemma: How to spread just the right amount of H1N1 fear?

This is going to be a nerve-wracking flu season for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To start, they’re going to try to convince us we all need to get a seasonal flu shot AND an H1N1 flu shot.

Tough sell.

But here’s the really sticky problem: CDC officials have to convince the public that H1N1 is dangerous. After all, if it’s not dangerous, why bother getting a vaccine?

But when you start ratcheting up widespread fear, there’s the danger of overdoing it. So they’ve got to modulate the message and aim for that sweet spot between nagging fear and outright panic.

For instance, we recently saw CDC reps back away from a presidential advisory panel report that predicted half the U.S. population may eventually be infected with H1N1, and deaths might climb as high as 90,000.

A CDC flu specialist Anne Schuchat told the AP: “We don’t think that’s the most likely scenario.” What IS likely? Ms. Schuchat predicts a “busy” flu season.

Yeah, I think she’s got that right!

The H1N1 vaccine is about to become the hottest medication of 2009. Even though efficacy and side effects are still unknown, plans are being laid for mass immunizations in several large population areas. Boston city officials recently announced that city employees can have two hours paid leave to receive vaccines, while Los Angeles and New York administrators are planning huge campaigns to distribute free shots.

The shots will be free. Potential side effects: priceless.

Source:
“Calm Urged After Flu Death Estimates” Associated Press, 8/27/09, ap.org