different folks - different strokes?

H1N1 flu jabs --- The "free" immunisation offer started yesterday here in Germany. And there was said to be a rather low uptake on the free jabs.

Kinda no surprise - a huge debate kicked off last week as it was made public that there are two different jabs that had been ordered by the government - one, which will be distributed amongst politicians and the army and the other one, which will be available to the public. The first one is free of additives, the second one not. So the fear flares up amongst the public with regards to possible side-effects. AND a major discussion started about a two-class-medicine.

Germans normally really stick to rules/regulations and follow advise. They don't have that much of a problem with "big" government - well, at least this is how I see it (being Austrian - and we are kinda the same ;)..).

But when it comes to personal freedom and the possibility of being forced into something that feels not right, Germans just don't like it. Is it a cultural thing? Based on historical facts? Not sure, but somehow to me it also feels that the public here does still think for themselves and not blindly follow. At least in some areas.

So, browsing the news today you have various "issues" a) jabs are only slowly being made use of, b) huge discussions on side-effects and c) scare-mongering i.e. the EU stating that every third European will become infected. Hmm...

I spoke to my Dad yesterday. And normally my parents are very "Austrian" ;) - meaning they like to insure themselve against all possible risks - which also goes for prevention regarding health issues. So, I would have thought that they would go with the jab - just to be "safe" - but they will not. I have never heard my Dad being so sure that it is not the right thing to do. I asked him whether he is concerned with regards to all the issues being brought up in the news and he said that this was not the reason - it just does not feel right to him.

I agree, it does not feel right to me either. A feeling which is supported by headlines about the "million-dollar loss" that they are already concerned here in Germany - i.e. money is of concern not lives...it has never really felt right, has it?

And then one hears about the declaration of a state of emergency by President Obama with regards to H1N1.

It definitely does not feel right...