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.