People shouldn’t make pigs of themselves and jump their turn to line up for the vaunted H1N1 vaccination. Although health officials have set a schedule for shots so the more vulnerable will get them first, a procedure which began in the West Island Tuesday at noon, there are concerns healthy people obsessed with the swine flu pandemic will panic and try to butt in and not wait until their turn to line up. Adults and children aged five and up who are in good health are asked to come for their shots starting Dec. 7.

While people should take precautions to prevent the spread of HINI, from frequent hand washing to getting vaccinated, let’s put it in perspective. Many people will get sick, some may need to be hospitalized and there will be more related deaths.

However, there are about 2,000 to 8,000 deaths annually attributed to different types of influenza in Canada even when there isn’t a pandemic with a nasty strain making the rounds. It is not expected that more people will die from H1N1 than other flu strains, although more people might get sick and miss work or school.

Anyone remember SARS (which provided another reason for Montrealers to avoid Toronto), the West Nile (mosquito) virus or the Avian flu (when people were sickened by chickens)? There was a lot of media exposure regarding those cases. Though serious matters, they turned out to not be end-of-the-world scenarios as the frenzied coverage would have suggested.

Meanwhile, even health officials are reminding Canadians to continue with their daily lives during the swine flu pandemic. They don't recommend people avoid going to work or social events if they are healthy (but be responsible and stay home if you are exhibiting symptoms).

So take appropriate precautions, educate yourself on the subject and stay informed on the swine flu.