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Top doc: Flu threat not over
By CHRISTINA SPENCER, NATIONAL BUREAU
Last Updated: 10th December 2009, 5:13am
OTTAWA -- Critics are off-base to suggest the worst of the H1N1 pandemic is over or that vaccination is no longer needed, Canada's chief public health officer says.
Between 30% and 40% of Canadians have been immunized for H1N1, Dr. David Butler-Jones told reporters yesterday, but he still wants millions more to get the shot.
"Unfortunately, there are Canadians who are denying themselves the benefits of immunization because they believe that we've reached a critical mass of our population with immunity," he said.
"I question that logic. The whole point of medical and public health efforts is to improve health and reduce illness and suffering."
TV CAMPAIGN
The Public Health Agency of Canada plans a TV campaign to convince Canadians they should still get the shot. Despite statistics showing a continued slowdown in flu activity in Canada, Butler-Jones said it would be "imprudent to declare a peak."
Butler-Jones said he isn't worried that some provinces are shutting public flu clinics, since the vaccine is now available at doctors' offices and workplace clinics.
Meanwhile, some H1N1 vaccine clinics have received a slap on the wrist from the provincial privacy commissioner over their treatment of citizens' private information.
Responding to concerns raised by the Sun, Ann Cavoukian's office investigated why some clinics -- notably in Ottawa and Toronto -- swiped information not just from OHIP cards but from drivers' licences when processing people for the H1N1 shot.
Cavoukian said she's satisfied the only information being collected is the name and address of the licence-holder, which clinics gather in case they need to quickly contact a person after vaccination.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/10/12104106-sun.html
By CHRISTINA SPENCER, NATIONAL BUREAU
Last Updated: 10th December 2009, 5:13am
OTTAWA -- Critics are off-base to suggest the worst of the H1N1 pandemic is over or that vaccination is no longer needed, Canada's chief public health officer says.
Between 30% and 40% of Canadians have been immunized for H1N1, Dr. David Butler-Jones told reporters yesterday, but he still wants millions more to get the shot.
"Unfortunately, there are Canadians who are denying themselves the benefits of immunization because they believe that we've reached a critical mass of our population with immunity," he said.
"I question that logic. The whole point of medical and public health efforts is to improve health and reduce illness and suffering."
TV CAMPAIGN
The Public Health Agency of Canada plans a TV campaign to convince Canadians they should still get the shot. Despite statistics showing a continued slowdown in flu activity in Canada, Butler-Jones said it would be "imprudent to declare a peak."
Butler-Jones said he isn't worried that some provinces are shutting public flu clinics, since the vaccine is now available at doctors' offices and workplace clinics.
Meanwhile, some H1N1 vaccine clinics have received a slap on the wrist from the provincial privacy commissioner over their treatment of citizens' private information.
Responding to concerns raised by the Sun, Ann Cavoukian's office investigated why some clinics -- notably in Ottawa and Toronto -- swiped information not just from OHIP cards but from drivers' licences when processing people for the H1N1 shot.
Cavoukian said she's satisfied the only information being collected is the name and address of the licence-holder, which clinics gather in case they need to quickly contact a person after vaccination.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/10/12104106-sun.html