Dr.s Who Delivered H1N1 Shots to Hockey Teams Getting Reminders

Thursday, November 05, 2009 01:42 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall says a further 250 thousand doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be shipped to B.C. on Monday, which means that given time for shipping, repackaging and redistribution, that lot will be ready for clinics throughout the province on the 19^th of November.

In the meantime, there are 83 thousand doses remaining for next week and Dr. Kendall says the focus will be to vaccinate pregnant women.

Dr. Kendall says the next round of vaccinations focus will continue to be on health care workers, those under 65 with chronic underlying health conditions, children 6 months to 5 years, and those who live in remote areas.

This week, three hockey teams have been accused of jumping the queue with the Calgary Flames, the Abbotsford Heat, and the Chilliwack Bruins all receiving the vaccine.

In the case of the Abbotsford Heat, Dr. Kendall says the College of Physicians and Surgeons has contacted the doctor involved, the clinic where the doses were administered has also been contacted. The message is that the physicians should be looking after those who are at highest risk first.

Dr. Kendall says there will be a message delivered to all sporting groups that they should not be seeking the vaccine unless there is an underlying health issue for the individual players.

In Prince George, the plans for the vaccination clinics are:

Today and tomorrow, clinic open until 8:00 in the evening. Northern Health advises patients may have to wait 1.5 hours in line for the vaccine, so it is likely they will not be allowed into the clinic after 6:30 p.m.

At this point, the long term schedule for the immunization clinic in the former Synovate building on Brunswick Street is as follows:

Monday, November 9 - Tuesday, November 10, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
(*Note: No clinic on Wednesday, November 11 for Remembrance Day)
Thursday, November 12 - Friday, November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23 - Friday, November 27, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, November 30 - Friday, December 4, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, December 7 - Friday, December 11, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, December 14 - Friday, December 18, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Opinion250 will post any changes or updates to this schedule.

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Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 01:42 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: faxman on November 5 2009 2:17 PM

Interesting. My calendar shows Monday to be the 10th. It's going to take them nine days to ship, repackage and redistribute? With all the hype surrounding the virus you'd think they'd pick up the pace a bit. I wonder if the people handling the shipping, repackaging and redistribution have already had their shots?

As well, does the virus also stop on Remembrance Day to honour our fallen heroes? That's a pretty considerate virus. With all the hype surrounding the virus you'd think they keep the clinics open for the day.

I'm starting to wonder about this entire H1N1 pandemic. Is it all hype and media driven hysteria?

Posted by: MrPG on November 5 2009 2:26 PM

I think the hysteria is around people who expect the largest vaccination effort in Canadian history to be organized and implemented in a week or two.

Posted by: StreetWise2 on November 5 2009 2:36 PM

I walked by the downtown flu clinic once this morning and once this afternoon - no lineup.

Posted by: faxman on November 5 2009 2:44 PM

That's probably because they've finally decided to enforce the rules and are turning those people away who do not qualify for the shot at this time.

Posted by: caranmacil on November 5 2009 3:45 PM

I think the largest vaccination effort in history has been in the works for MONTHS now. The fact is that the vaccines were not made ready before the flu season. Regardless of whether this flu is deadly or not, our effort to prevent flu thru vaccines has not been a glowing success.
Given all the stories anout the vaccine, why has no one pointed out the fact that the vaccine will hit PG 2 weeks AFTER the flu. If you want evidence, there are the 5 cases of fever and coughs (severe) in my family and the fact that between 25 and 30 percent of my kids classes are home sick this week. So much for all that hype about how good our program is compared to the rest of the world.
Oh, and by the way, i am soooo happy to hear that the doctors who allowed sports teams to jump the cue will be 'contacted'. I am sure they will be so mortified that it will never happen again.

Posted by: interceptor on November 5 2009 4:02 PM

Dont worry streetwise, its got a big sitting area. No lineup at the door yesterday and it was a two hour wait inside... The strangest part was they dont seem to be screening for those on the high risk scale. I was there for my daughter and after her shot the nurse asked if I wanted mine? I said no thanks, keep it for the kids...

Posted by: Harbinger on November 5 2009 4:11 PM

Any reason to get upset too when hockey players don't have to wait months to get an MRI? Jest wunderin'.

Posted by: caranmacil on November 5 2009 4:17 PM

yes, there is, unless the fact that a hockey player cant play is more important than a regular person not being able to work. I am assuming that the MRI is needed to treat a disabling malady in each case of course.

Posted by: lunarguy on November 5 2009 4:34 PM

I like how the inmates in the jail get the vaccine ahead of the clinic at the University that has been canceled twice now, due to lack of supply.

Posted by: MrPG on November 5 2009 6:13 PM

caranmacil, you should probably lower your expectations... a lot. This is the government we're talking about. Delays will happen and mistakes will be made, and I'm not just talking about this vaccination program.

Posted by: caranmacil on November 5 2009 6:58 PM

I dont know, I realize that we expect govt to suck, but given the high profile of this whole thing, am i the only one disappointed in the performance here. I have said it before and i say it again, if we happen to have a deadly virus arise in the next few years, we are dead. That disappoints me. I remember the first time ii read The Andromeda Strain. I thought science would always come through for us. It was a big part of my motivation to become a scientist. I guess as we get older we all have to learn that even when science does come through, there is still incompetent bureaucrats to deal with.

Posted by: Becca on November 5 2009 7:39 PM

Shame on the player and doctors who put these over paid "play"ers ahead of children and vulnerable people when there is a shortage!! Who do they think they are? How is a hockey player more important that a ER nurse or a two year old child with asthma? I know money is the reason many of you will say but where are these people's morals?

Gosh, I hate to be in a burning building with a Calgary Flames player because my son and I (woman)would be in flames while the players get out first!

Posted by: MrPG on November 6 2009 1:02 PM

"i the only one disappointed in the performance here."

No, you're not the only one disappointed in the government's performance. About 80% of the posts on this site confirms it.

As I said, this is a massive program. Anyone who expected it to be executed flawlessly and efficiently isn't being realistic to say the least.