Dear Readers: I’ve stepped away from the Ask Amy column for two weeks to work on a new writing project. I hope you enjoy these edited “best of” columns in my absence.
Dear Amy: As a nurse and mother of four, I spend a lot of time talking about staying healthy. With seasonal flu, H1N1 and germs such as MRSA in the community, I am amazed that people bring their newborns to the mall or grocery store and pass them around. For the mother who wrote you, if she kept her young one home, strangers touching her baby would not be an issue.
Children younger than six months do not have a fully working immune system. They should not be out in crowds, such as the mall or at parties. People with infants in the home (or caregivers of infants) should get their flu shots. By having everyone who comes into contact with the baby immunized, it protects the baby who cannot get the shot. This is called “herd immunity.” If you love them, immunize. If they are too young to be immunized, protect them by keeping them away from public places.
— Nurse in California
Dear Nurse: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 36,000 Americans die each year from flu-related causes. Some parents have no choice but to bring their babies out into the world. Because of this, the larger community should do everything possible to help protect them. Thank you for your advocacy. (Oct., 2009)
