HEALTH ~ HEPATITIS 'B' Vaccination Series Completed

The telephone rang.  When I answered, it was the local Public Health Nurse on the other end of the line.  Could Alisdair come over to the clinic for the last of his series of immunizations Saskatchewan students receive in Grade 6?  Reluctantly I made the appointment, as I knew he would be upset.


This was the third time we'd had to meet with her for a Hepatitis 'B' immunization as it is given in three doses.  On one of the first occasions, Alisdair tried to tell the Nurse that he wasn't going to be a drug user and he wasn't going to "sleep with a lot of partners" so therefore he didn't need the shot.

Alisdair was also very concerned about the possibility the vaccines contained "high levels of mercury."  Although she appreciated his knowledge about the reasons for having the shots, the Public Health Nurse didn't "buy" his excuses and neither of us let him off the hook!  She tried to reassure him that she wouldn't have immunized her own daughters, if it wasn't safe to do so.  Regardless, it was a relief to get the procedure over with!

Notice of Immunization

The Public Health Nurse said the next set of booster shots are not until Grade 8 ~ so it's good to know we don't have to go through this again for a while!

In his search to find evidence against getting children vaccinated, Alisdair found this amusing video by Sid the Science Kid called, "It's Gonna Help A Whole Lot," which was made by PBS.  Enjoy!

HEALTH ~ Annual Vision Testing Conducted



When I was a kid and had to go to a medical appointment, where there would be some kind of testing done, my Father used to joke and ask us if we'd "studied" for our test.

In that regard, Alisdair must have done his homework, because he passed his recent eye examination with flying colours!  He saw Dr. James Lawrence at River Valley Eyecare on Friday, March 11 in North Battleford.  This was his annual check-up and not something scheduled because he was having a problem. 

According to Dr. Lawrence, one eye could use a very slight correction but it is so minimal he doesn't believe it is worth doing, at this time.  We will continue to get Alisdair to have regular check-ups and perhaps, in a few years, he may need to resort to wearing glasses.

Alisdair was a bit disappointed, that he passed the testing with no serious problems, as he'd convinced himself that wearing glasses would be "cool."  The new "Sponge Bob" frames he found online ARE kind of cool ... but not THAT cool ...  better to have good vision and to be able to see unaided!