The story started a couple of months ago in Mexico, during the summer. The number of victims started to grow: ten, twenty, a hundred, a thousand. It is an epidemic called “swine” flu. The world starts fearing this virus that from Mexico moves to Canada, the United States and finally reaches Europe, starting with Great Britain, where hundreds of Italian students are studying in the English colleges. They contracted the virus and infected many Italian families.

 

Most

of them recovered but the fear is still there. In the meantime the name of the flu changes, it is called AH1N1, but fortunately the virus does not change. Pharmaceutical industries organize research, they start a brain trust, they prepare vaccines and governments book doses. Italy like all other countries finds the money for prevention and the password is prevention.

 

Someone also proposes to postpone the beginning of the school year, immediately dismissed. But media continue talking with experts, doctors and scientists. However the sensational development comes from the doctors who refuse to get vaccinated. An incredible refusal since it proves that those who should persuade people to be vaccinated do not believe in the new vaccine. So is it just a big business? No, it’s just the usual flu which has assumed too many responsibilities. If you’re thinking about how much money will the multinational pharmaceutical companies earn, just don’t do it. You’re very close to the truth, but you will never be able to reach it.

 

 

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute