The H1N1 flu vaccine will soon be available to the public. This is news, certainly, but not shocking news. Swine flu poses a health threat, and we pay the government to protect us from threats.

Now our money is coming back to us in the form of a vaccine. I think most people agree that this makes sense. I think it makes so much sense that we should expand it.

But the fact of the matter is that the swine flu vaccine will not save nearly as many lives as could be saved by a universal health care system.

H1N1 making national headlines

Swine flu is new and mysterious and scary, making it a hot topic for the media and grabbing national headlines.

Common illnesses, on the other hand, have become part of our daily life, so we don’t make sacrifices to prevent them. We take it for granted that people contract colds. That does not mean that we should take the common cold any less seriously. If we want to spend our tax dollars on something to prevent illnesses, we should also make doctor check-ups free.

The Census Bureau reported in 2008 that 46.3 million Americans did not have any form of health insurance. That means they won’t see a doctor if they get a cold. They might not be able to buy medicine. They can’t stay home from work and rest and get better.

For the uninsured, the common cold could turn into pneumonia, an untreated wound could turn into an infection and an unchecked mole could be a melanoma, all far more deadly than swine flu.

The government needs to protect its people

Aren’t the prevention and treatment of these illnesses worth our tax dollars?

People who are against all forms of government-sponsored health care may be able to afford private insurance. They might feel differently about public health care if common illnesses were as scary as swine flu. For the uninsured, every season is scary.

There is always the argument that the government does not have the right to involve itself in the health care system, especially if it means raising taxes.

But what is the government for if not for the protection of its people? Is there a better use of tax dollars than keeping our nation healthy?

'The real dangers facing the uninsured'

In the face of the swine flu threat, it’s all too easy to panic and look for a quick fix. But as we stand in line for our government-sponsored vaccinations, we have a moment to reassess our priorities.

If we could all give up a little for universal health care, our country as a whole would gain so much. The potential dangers of swine flu are few compared to the real dangers facing the uninsured.