Pandemic influenza is here but should not cause panic. It is similar to seasonal influenza and personal hygiene can prevent much disease.  High risk individuals must be given first access to the vaccine. Then others should be vaccinated to reduce spread.

As line-ups continue across the province today, I am hearing from many concerned Albertans about the negligence, lack of planning and shortage of resources around this important vaccination campaign.

I’ve heard from parents, who are worried for their young children and frustrated by the hours of waiting imposed on their families.

I’ve heard from seniors with chronic disease, many with disabilities, who are not able to line up for hours due to their conditions. These are the very people most at risk and most likely to benefit from the vaccine!

I’ve heard from pharmacists who are inundated with phone calls after the Minister’s announcement that 400 pharmacist’s will be available to administer the vaccine shortly.  These pharmacists have not been given any prior information and are frustrated that they cannot answer the questions being asked.

Many people have suggestions about how to make positive changes to the vaccination campaign, and I would like to acknowledge their efforts to make a bad situation better for everyone.

Bed closures in hospitals and the cutting of essential front line health care staff will certainly add to the pressures in hospitals, especially intensive care units, where official predictions are for 600 during this pandemic.  

We’ve had months to plan, and communicate yet the delivery is a mess.

In my opinion we must do the following:

1.      Open vaccine clinics immediately and give whatever vaccine exists to the highest risk people.

2.      Ensure that all vaccine available now is used ONLY for high -risk individuals – young children, pregnant women, aboriginal people and people with a chronic disease. This should have been the decision from the outset.

3.      Get the resources and staffing to get on with the job.

4.      Invite all available health professionals, including students and retired, to assist.

5.      Expand the staffing to hospitals to ensure that patients are properly treated and moved quickly to the service appropriate for their condition.