Swine 'flu - What economic impact?

themanbearpig

Generali wrote: »

Economic impact of swine 'flu?

Average time off = a week perhaps. If everyone gets it (which they won't) then perhaps 2% off GDP due to absenteeism.

You'd need deaths of 100,000+ for them to have any noticeable impact on GDP. No sign of anything like that happening yet.

Even if only 25% of people get it, you can bet 50%+ will take the 2 weeks off.


This will cause major problems if either the virus actually spreads around a lot, or the media makes too much of a big deal about it.

amcluesent

Drug addicts 'may be given priority access to swine flu vaccine'

Drug addicts may be given priority access to the swine flu vaccine under plans being drawn up by the health authorities, it has emerged. Professor Lindsey Davies, director of the Department of Health's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness unit, said that those suffering from long-term maintenance conditions such as heroin addicts who are receiving methadone treatment could be included in the "vulnerable" groups that will be targeted first.

:rotfl:What's that you say? You've paid you taxes, and kept out of trouble and expected the State would be there for you and your loved ones in time of need. Sorry, this is a Socialist utupia! :rotfl:

mr.broderick

amcluesent wrote: »

Drug addicts 'may be given priority access to swine flu vaccine'

Drug addicts may be given priority access to the swine flu vaccine under plans being drawn up by the health authorities, it has emerged. Professor Lindsey Davies, director of the Department of Health's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness unit, said that those suffering from long-term maintenance conditions such as heroin addicts who are receiving methadone treatment could be included in the "vulnerable" groups that will be targeted first.

:rotfl:What's that you say? You've paid you taxes, and kept out of trouble and expected the State would be there for you and your loved ones in time of need. Sorry, this is a Socialist utupia! :rotfl:

For once i agree but let's not forget this addiction is a disease.
I once knew someone who was addicted to sex, i married her and it seemed to cure her.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

Average time off = a week perhaps. If everyone gets it (which they won't) then perhaps 2% off GDP due to absenteeism..

well, DH left the office early today. He feels just fine but has been coughing and it was worrying someone in the office who ''reported'' him to HR who suggested he go home and see how he is tomorrow. He says he's fine and he was fine this morning seems a little nuts to me, still he's thrilled and had an early night.:D He did say hwever that when he got a call to go home he thought hey might insist he sew his yellow star of david on before returning :rotfl:I think the thing that surprised him is these are in the main, highly educated, intelligent and rational people used to fairly high stress situations, so the over reaction seems a bit.....weird, unexpected ..bizarre.

amcluesent

Doctors face 'playing God' over who lives or dies if swine flu overwhelms NHS

Thousands of patients could be denied NHS treatment and left to die under 'worst-case' emergency plans for a swine-flu epidemic. The blueprint would force doctors to 'play God' and prioritise intensive-care treatment for those most likely to benefit.

To allocate ventilators, beds and intensive-care equipment doctors would have to 'score' patients on their health and prognosis as well as seriousness of their conditions(*).

Those who failed to respond to treatment would be subject to 'reverse triage' - in which they were taken off ventilators and left in NHS 'dying rooms' with only painkillers to ease their suffering.

"If any member the family should die whilst in the shelter from [STRIKE]contamination[/STRIKE]swine flu, put them outside, but remember to tag them first for identification purposes":D

(*) And whether they were merely 'pale males' over 50 of course...;)

lostinrates

amcluesent wrote: »

left to die under 'worst-case' emergency plans

Thank goodness thats the worst case scenario. I thought they then might do something dreadful to our dead bodies or something that'd be worse. Honestly, some of these stories really do seem a little extreme now don't you think?

mardatha

Well isn't that how it works now anyway ? they cant have a spare ICU bed for every person in the country ! Of course these beds are limited and of course doctors have to decide who needs them most.

Really2

Generali wrote: »

Economic impact of swine 'flu?

Average time off = a week perhaps. If everyone gets it (which they won't) then perhaps 2% off GDP due to absenteeism.

You'd need deaths of 100,000+ for them to have any noticeable impact on GDP. No sign of anything like that happening yet.

I think the other thing the media forgets is the "I survived the global pandemic lets treat our selves we could have been dead" syndrome.

I think the "threat" of swine flu as been over blown, this will make people who caught it feel "lucky" and cause people to spend.

"oh, it could have been us. lets treat ourselves" there will be plenty of them.

chewmylegoff

lostinrates wrote: »

well, DH left the office early today. He feels just fine but has been coughing and it was worrying someone in the office who ''reported'' him to HR who suggested he go home and see how he is tomorrow. He says he's fine and he was fine this morning seems a little nuts to me, still he's thrilled and had an early night.:D He did say hwever that when he got a call to go home he thought hey might insist he sew his yellow star of david on before returning :rotfl:I think the thing that surprised him is these are in the main, highly educated, intelligent and rational people used to fairly high stress situations, so the over reaction seems a bit.....weird, unexpected ..bizarre.

you think that's bad, try sneezing on the tube and see what happens!!

System

My friends partner got sent home for a week because she sat next to someone who had swine flu at work. Don't think she could believe her luck.