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Province starts targeted H1N1 vaccination campaign
Susan Thompson
for Express
Planned H1N1 flu shot clinics were shut down on Halloween when the province realized demand was outstripping supply, due in part to a national shortage of the vaccine.
Clinics were shut down on Oct. 31 and were not re-opened until Nov. 5. Across the province, people who didn’t get news of the clinic closures between those dates and showed up for clinics were turned away, in many cases by posted notices.
Starting on Nov. 5, Alberta Health Services (AHS) began a targeted vaccination campaign. The first high-risk group given the vaccination was children aged six months to five years as of Nov. 1. Proof of age such as an Alberta Health Care card or birth certificate is required to vaccinate children.
On Nov. 6, the program was expanded to include pregnant women.
Extra clinics were added in Edmonton and Calgary to deal with demand.
Locally, clinics were held in McLennan on Nov. 5 and 6, and Falher on Nov. 10.
More clinics are also being scheduled and information will be posted as those clinics become available.
For the latest up-to-the-minute information on the clinics, including dates, clinic locations and the groups being vaccinated, visit: www.albertahealthservices.ca .
AHS has posted a notice on its website that clinic information is correct at time of publication, but clinic dates and hours are subject to change. Albertans will be advised of any unexpected changes when they arrive at a clinic.
At press time last week, AHS was not making the vaccine available to other Albertans, and no exceptions were being allowed. However, AHS said there are plans to expand the program to include people under 65 with chronic health conditions, and promised details would be announced soon.
The province has been waiting for an increased supply of vaccine to come from manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, after production slowed due to the switch between making ajuvanted version of the vaccine and a special unadjuvanted batch for pregnant women.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Nov. 1 she was disappointed by production problems with the vaccine.
“GSK overstated what they would be able to produce,” she told reporters.
On Nov. 4 Prime Minister Stephen Harper said another 1.8 million doses would be shipped out to provinces this week.
In Alberta, the provincial government has faced repeated attacks for its handling of vaccinations from frustrated Albertans and leaders of the opposition parties.
Health Minister Ron Liepert has insisted the clinics have been a success, with over 400,000 Albertans vaccinated in the first six days alone. However, he said the province has no way of knowing how many of those people were in high-risk categories.
David Swann, Leader of the Official Opposition, called for Health Minister Ron Liepert to resign.
“The Premier’s incoherent response to a serious public health problem is putting our entire province at risk. Mr. Liepert has shown he’s not up to the challenge, and if he can’t handle a province-wide flu clinic, how can he manage a complex province-wide health system? He should be replaced immediately.”
Wildrose Alliance MLA Paul Hinman has also called for Liepert’s resignation.
Meanwhile, NDP leader Brian Mason has called for the Auditor General to investigate evidence of queue jumping for H1N1 vaccinations. Questions were raised about queue jumping when it was revealed members of the Calgary Flames hockey team has received vaccinations. The Auditor General agreed and informed the Public Accounts Committee his office plans to conduct an investigation of the delivery of vaccine in the province.
Meanwhile, an unnamed mid-level manager and health official was fired over the hockey team’s vaccinations.
At press time a total of 18 people have died of H1N1 flu in Alberta.
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