We hope you’ve had your flu shot.

Not so long ago, this was headline material. Surely you remember the years when there was a shortage of vaccine and there was even a list of those who should get their shots first. The elderly were right up there as one of the main groups who needed to see their doctor. This year, it seems that flu shot clinics are everywhere and so we have no excuse. Don’t wait until the last minute. Do this for yourself. The cost is minimal.

Meanwhile, the reappearance of whooping cough is a scary situation.

Many older people can remember when this disease was a common part of childhood. While I don’t have memories of what it was like for me, I can remember my mother telling me how afraid she was. I caught whooping cough when I was about 4 years old. I was a fat little girl nicknamed Chubby who got so sick it resulted in loss of weight and weeks being kept away from my younger sisters to prevent them from getting it. I recall my mom saying she could hear me coughing even when she went out of the house to hang up the laundry.

In those days, children were vaccinated at school by the town’s doctor or public health officer. We received vaccinations for smallpox and diphtheria as part of the routine of going to school. Smallpox was eradicated in the United States as a result of these vaccinations.

I don’t recall anyone not wanting to have a child vaccinated. Most children in my generation had bouts with chicken pox, measles, mumps and some had polio. How fortunate we all are that there are ways to prevent these diseases today.

Of course, today’s youngsters are likely to be dealing with a whole new set of ailments when they get older. Some might have pains in their shoulders and back from spending an inordinate amount of time texting in the now-familiar hunched-over position. I’m always amazed at the dexterity of their little hands. In my mind, I expect arthritis to kick in early for those unnaturally positioned little fingers. I appreciate and use technology, but as I explained to a young person just the other day, it’s a tool – not entertainment.

Our generation, here in the rural part of Maine, was so fortunate to grow up at a time when “play” meant going outside in the fresh air. It was common to walk a mile or two to friends’ houses for an afternoon of making tree houses in the woods, exploring what we now know are vernal pools, collecting samples of insects, different tree leaves and picking wildflowers. We took it all for granted. We never dreamed of a time when most childhood diseases we knew would be history – or that they would be replaced by hyperactivity, obesity and ailments to do with breathing.

Winter is here again. If I were 10 years old, I’d be thinking of building a snow fort – certainly not a trip to a mall to get the latest electronic device.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.