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http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Anger+builds+over+Alberta+H1N1+response/2161642/story.html
Anger builds over Alberta's H1N1 response
Health boss apologizes for lineups
By Jamie Komarnicki And Jason Fekete, with files from Renata D'Aliesio, Colette Derworiz, and Richard Cuthbertson,, Calgary Herald; Calgary HeraldOctober 30, 2009 7:14 am
CALGARY - As the boss of the medical superboard apologized to Albertans on Thursday for the lengthy H1N1 vaccination lineups, anger was starting to boil among critics, with one calling the government's response to the second wave of the pandemic influenza an "embarrassment."
Thousands of people have lined up this week to get the shot, leading to massive waits at Calgary's clinics for the fourth day in a row Thursday.
Public health officials are urging those most at risk for the new influenza strain to be the first to get the needle, but aren't turning away anyone who wants the shot. The approach has prompted questions over why just five clinics have been opened in a city of more than a million people.
In Red Deer for the Alberta Health Services board meeting Thursday, CEO Dr. Stephen Duckett apologized for the vaccination lineups, but praised health workers'efforts to meet the overwhelming demand.
"We recognize that it came at a cost in terms of people's time and patience. We don't take that for granted," said Duckett. "But I cannot apologize" for the efforts of front-line staff in responding to extraordinary circumstances.
"Emergency departments are now facing increased demand . . . I'm not even the least reluctant to say we're proud of what we've accomplished so far."
But Dr. Tom Noseworthy, director of the Centre for Health and Policy Studies at the University of Calgary, said the government's approach has undermined the public's confidence in their health-care system.
Noseworthy said he is "disappointed and disgusted" that only four vaccination clinics were initially set up in Calgary.
"It has been an embarrassment the way that immunization program commenced," he said Thursday. "It treated (Albertans) with disrespect and showed a horrific lack of planning."
While health-care professionals should be lauded for their hard work in inoculating Albertans, the province's planning woes raise serious concerns, he said. But Alberta did the right thing by apologizing for the lineups and opening more vaccination clinics, Noseworthy added.
The province opened a fifth clinic in Calgary on Wednesday to serve people who have trouble standing in lines.
Patience, mixed with frustration, was apparent at Brentwood Village Mall on Thursday evening where the wait time to get vaccinated was estimated at two-and-a-half hours.
"I think this is the most inefficient way to do it," said John Henderson, who had been standing outside waiting for half an hour.
Judy Walker said the line had a "good feel to it," with people waiting patiently and holding the spots of others as they went to the washroom.
But she also said the planning behind the vaccine rollout hasn't suited the needs of people. She suggested, for instance, that children could be vaccinated in schools.
Earlier Thursday, NDP Leader Brian Mason also questioned whether the province's medical system has enough staff and beds to handle the second wave of H1N1.
"The surge has begun, and the sick are beginning to learn just how dearly the health minister's plan to cut nurses is costing the province," Mason said in the legislature.
"Lineups and wait times are rapidly growing at already-crowded waiting rooms."
But Premier Ed Stelmach pointed out that H1N1 flu shot lineups have been longer in Alberta because the province made the vaccine available to all residents off the bat, not just to high-risk groups.
"This is a serious matter. We're doing the best we can, right across Canada," Stelmach said. "Overall people are pleased that we do have the vaccine and we're offering it to all Albertans."
Stelmach noted vaccine supply is an issue, limiting the number of clinics.
Some Calgarians say the wait times are not only frustrating, but potentially dangerous.
Mezaun Evin, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, said the lineups are tough on people who have special needs, like her daughter Shari.
"Personally, my daughter is very severe, so waiting in line is not an option," she said. "I've had to keep her at home."
Evin said it's having a major impact on her daughter, who has cerebral palsy.
"I have kept her basically in a bubble. I've protected her."
The head of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, meanwhile, said family doctors should have been better informed on the nationwide rollout of the pandemic flu vaccine.
Family doctors are "scrambling" to inform their patients about where they should go to get immunized, said Dr. Calvin Gutkin, executive director with the group.
? Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Anger builds over Alberta's H1N1 response
Health boss apologizes for lineups
By Jamie Komarnicki And Jason Fekete, with files from Renata D'Aliesio, Colette Derworiz, and Richard Cuthbertson,, Calgary Herald; Calgary HeraldOctober 30, 2009 7:14 am
CALGARY - As the boss of the medical superboard apologized to Albertans on Thursday for the lengthy H1N1 vaccination lineups, anger was starting to boil among critics, with one calling the government's response to the second wave of the pandemic influenza an "embarrassment."
Thousands of people have lined up this week to get the shot, leading to massive waits at Calgary's clinics for the fourth day in a row Thursday.
Public health officials are urging those most at risk for the new influenza strain to be the first to get the needle, but aren't turning away anyone who wants the shot. The approach has prompted questions over why just five clinics have been opened in a city of more than a million people.
In Red Deer for the Alberta Health Services board meeting Thursday, CEO Dr. Stephen Duckett apologized for the vaccination lineups, but praised health workers'efforts to meet the overwhelming demand.
"We recognize that it came at a cost in terms of people's time and patience. We don't take that for granted," said Duckett. "But I cannot apologize" for the efforts of front-line staff in responding to extraordinary circumstances.
"Emergency departments are now facing increased demand . . . I'm not even the least reluctant to say we're proud of what we've accomplished so far."
But Dr. Tom Noseworthy, director of the Centre for Health and Policy Studies at the University of Calgary, said the government's approach has undermined the public's confidence in their health-care system.
Noseworthy said he is "disappointed and disgusted" that only four vaccination clinics were initially set up in Calgary.
"It has been an embarrassment the way that immunization program commenced," he said Thursday. "It treated (Albertans) with disrespect and showed a horrific lack of planning."
While health-care professionals should be lauded for their hard work in inoculating Albertans, the province's planning woes raise serious concerns, he said. But Alberta did the right thing by apologizing for the lineups and opening more vaccination clinics, Noseworthy added.
The province opened a fifth clinic in Calgary on Wednesday to serve people who have trouble standing in lines.
Patience, mixed with frustration, was apparent at Brentwood Village Mall on Thursday evening where the wait time to get vaccinated was estimated at two-and-a-half hours.
"I think this is the most inefficient way to do it," said John Henderson, who had been standing outside waiting for half an hour.
Judy Walker said the line had a "good feel to it," with people waiting patiently and holding the spots of others as they went to the washroom.
But she also said the planning behind the vaccine rollout hasn't suited the needs of people. She suggested, for instance, that children could be vaccinated in schools.
Earlier Thursday, NDP Leader Brian Mason also questioned whether the province's medical system has enough staff and beds to handle the second wave of H1N1.
"The surge has begun, and the sick are beginning to learn just how dearly the health minister's plan to cut nurses is costing the province," Mason said in the legislature.
"Lineups and wait times are rapidly growing at already-crowded waiting rooms."
But Premier Ed Stelmach pointed out that H1N1 flu shot lineups have been longer in Alberta because the province made the vaccine available to all residents off the bat, not just to high-risk groups.
"This is a serious matter. We're doing the best we can, right across Canada," Stelmach said. "Overall people are pleased that we do have the vaccine and we're offering it to all Albertans."
Stelmach noted vaccine supply is an issue, limiting the number of clinics.
Some Calgarians say the wait times are not only frustrating, but potentially dangerous.
Mezaun Evin, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, said the lineups are tough on people who have special needs, like her daughter Shari.
"Personally, my daughter is very severe, so waiting in line is not an option," she said. "I've had to keep her at home."
Evin said it's having a major impact on her daughter, who has cerebral palsy.
"I have kept her basically in a bubble. I've protected her."
The head of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, meanwhile, said family doctors should have been better informed on the nationwide rollout of the pandemic flu vaccine.
Family doctors are "scrambling" to inform their patients about where they should go to get immunized, said Dr. Calvin Gutkin, executive director with the group.
? Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald