As nine H1N1  vaccination clinics opened their doors Monday morning in Calgary and Edmonton, they greeted thousands of people, many small children and seniors.  Line ups were long, and many “high risk” candidates were forced to spend hours standing outside as clinics were under order to “not turn anyone away.”

On Monday in the opening question period for this fall’s legislative session, I addressed this issue with the Premier and the Minister of Health.  Both the Premier and the Minister were adamant about defending their vaccination program as it stood.

This is followed by yesterday’s announcement that 11 additional H1N1 vaccination clinics will be open to Albertans in the coming weeks. It is still unclear exactly where and when they will be open. The lack of openness and real planning around this vaccination program is evidence of a government that doesn’t understand this vital service. Twelve Albertans have died from this illness already and we’ve had months to plan for vaccine delivery. This leaves many, including myself, disappointed and angry.  Seasonal vaccination programs are a regular event across the province.

At this rate of vaccination it will be Valentine’s Day before our population is fully immunized!

If I were Premier I’d make this the priority.

Please read the complete transcript from the Hansard below.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pandemic influenza is here.

The vaccine will save lives, and I applaud the tireless efforts of

health officials and front-line workers delivering this important

preventative measure. I myself will be getting the vaccine when I

have hours to spare. Unfortunately, there are only nine flu clinics

available between Edmonton and Calgary to cover over 2 million

people. My questions are to the Premier. With years of planning for

pandemics already completed, how is it that there are only nine

clinics providing immunization to over 2 million people in Alberta

today?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, as the minister communicated earlier,

there are specific populations that we’re asking to receive their

H1N1 flu vaccine. Over the course of time the vaccine will be

available for all Albertans, but we’re asking those that are more

susceptible to the flu to receive their vaccine today. We’ll ensure

that all other Albertans, including those that may not be at risk as

much as others, receive their vaccine in the province.

Dr. Swann: Well, Mr. Speaker, that was a real dodge.

Will the Premier actually admit that his leadership is responsible

for the lack of staff and the lack of funding for these essential clinics

in Alberta?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we said many months ago that even

though the budget is under pressure, this is a priority, that we want

to ensure that all Albertans have an opportunity to receive the

vaccine. There are some that still are undecided whether they should

or not. We certainly encourage everyone to receive the vaccine. We

will do everything in our power to make sure that everybody

receives the vaccination.

Dr. Swann: Will the Premier, then, commit to opening new clinics

within days to address the backlog of individuals who need this

vaccination?

Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear. We’ve had a number of

discussions in this House in the past about whether or not government

listens to our chief medical officer of health and our public

health officials. This plan that was rolled out was clearly the plan of

the chief medical officer of health and public officials around the

province. For us as political members of this Assembly to interfere

in that rollout would be inappropriate.

Now, let’s make it clear that every Albertan who wants the

vaccine will receive it. They may not be able to receive it in the first

hour of the first day. We need to ensure that with limited supplies

we get it to the most vulnerable the quickest we can, and that’s the

reason for the clinics as they’re set up today.