Should private clinics receive H1N1 vaccine?

Canadians are wondering when more H1N1 vaccine will be available, as the Canadian government says the company producing the vaccine overestimated their ability to produce it.

Canada AM: Dr. Neil Rau, disease expert

Production problems have slowed the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, and many people are starting to wonder how important the vaccine really is.

TALKback Toronto: Answering questions, part one

Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, takes viewers' questions about swine flu.

TALKback Toronto: Answering questions, part two

Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, takes viewers' questions about swine flu.

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| Comments (15)

Date: Tuesday Nov. 3, 2009 10:16 AM ET

Comments are now closed for this story

SW
said

Giving vaccines to private clinics
would cut down on the number of people lining up at the public
health clinics. More people would get the vaccine.

cecilia elnicki
said

My asmatic daughter waited in line on Saturday. There was a lady there who carried around her medication on her back in a back pack. She had a lung condition that required continuous medication. My daughters group got her in their line and found a place for her to wait inside until her time came (five hours). This woman has also a heart condition all this is due to sclerderma. Shouldn't this person be first in line. It is ridiculous that if you can pay $2300 dollars and have a medical condition you get to skip the line.

Ben C
said

Why doesn't McGuinty resign? Impeach him. The sheer gross neglect of our health system and e-health scandal has put Ontarians in the worst position in years. Who decided the dose amounts that allowed 500 dose boxes only when the vaccine goes bad after 24 hours? That prevents most of our GPs from qualifying for distribution and they'd have to shut down their entire practice to give the shots non-stop to their entire patient roster. It's a managed disaster by a government who has put the decisions of public health into the hands of unqualified people thus leading us to this mess. How could anyone not see this coming? Politicians have known for over 6 months but refused to act responsibly except with the generous salaries and bonuses. Is this is what they've done with our billion dollar increase

Kathleen Ferguson
said

We live in a province that allows private health care centres. If they follow the same application process as publicly funded health care providers, they are equally entitled to receive the vaccine for their patients.

Anne Gillis
said

I can understand that there are private clinics around,but they SHOULD NOT be entitled to have the vaccine first.I have asthma and I have already had my flu shot for this year(Oct.14).I had a problems breathing on Oct.29,went to see my family doctor.They did an ECG and my family doctor called the ambulance on me.I was at the hospital for 6.5 hours,was told to go home and rest.When I'm feeling better,then go and get my H1N1 shot.I have to wait just like everyone else,even though I have a chronic condition.The major people with chronic conditions,etc should be entitled to their shots first,then the rest of the public after that!

Sheri
said

If the NON-RISK people would stop going to get the vaccine then the line ups would not be as large. People that are considered healthy that are going with their high risk partners, kids should NOT be getting the shot. The high risk person received the shot so there is no reason that you cannot wait. The entire roll out of the clinics was so unorganized and this is also a major part of the problem.

JT
said

Unfortunately, yet another example of those without money being treated as cattle...lining up for hours in miserable weather for the H1N1 shot, while those with money utilize valet parking, and walk right in for their shot.
Are the wealthy more valuable members of society than a 6 month old baby?

Sophia Montoya
said

I don't think it is bad thing that Medcan can offer the H1N1 shot to people - even if it is at a cost. I have 5 chronic diseases and it was very difficult for me to stand in line for 6 hours for the H1N1 shot - I would have rather paid a fee to have made an appointment at Medcan and receive my shot. I shouldn't be penalized for not being able to access this shot! It isn't fair for my health that I would have to be prevented from getting the shot either because I can't stand in line for that period of time, or because the federal government made a mistake and did not order enough shots to cover Canadians, or because people who don't have any chronic diseases feel that offering a shot at a private clinic somehow denies them their rights as Canadians. I am Canadian in a priority group for contracting and dying from H1N1 shot and I should not have to die because people don't agree that this clinic provide this immunization. Medcan is not denying that the public is immunized for free. No one's rights is being denied here. If anything, more people are being serviced as I mentioned - many people with chronic diseases cannot stand in line for 3- 6 hours. If I was your sister, daughter, wife, mother, friend - if you were me - wouldn't you want me to get the shot so that I could minimize my chances of getting H1N1 shot and possibly dying?

K. Kennedy
said

If people choose to pay for and belong to a private clinic so be it. It is their money, they can spend it the way they want. I'm sure these same people regularly donate to charity and hospitals which benefit the very people raising all the fuss.

DON
said

NO for that simple reason. They charge for something that is suppose to be free.sure it's not run by the GOVERNMENT.

Elizabeth, Ontario
said

NO, private health care clinics should not receive the H1N1 shots. McGuinty should be hanging his head in shame as people who are at high risk for H1N1 line-up in the rain and cold for hours to get their immunization. Families with small children, disabled patients, elderly, pregnant women, etc having to stand out in the cold rainy weather is simply unacceptable. Provide family physicians the flu shots instead of putting all these "at risk" individuals in an environment where they risk their lives to get a flu shot. The McGuinty Liberals have done so much damage to health care in Ontario it's shameful! Where is Mike Harris??? He, and his Common Sense Revolution, sure look good compared to the incompetent bunch at Queens Park today!

Margaret
said

If this hairbrained government and the Health units got their plans in order there would be no need for private clinics. Speak about sleeping at the switch. The Premier and his cohorts should be fired for the negligence caused. Its like a third world country, people lined up outside for hours like a herd of animals,its absolutely disgusting. Good for the private clinics, if you can afford it then do it. If you leave it up to the Province you may die waiting. REMEMBER this folks come election time.

Jim Clark
said

If private clinics are giving the medicine to those who have been identified at high risk, why shouldn't they be allowed to support the program. However, they should not be getting the medicine if the public clinic are not being properly supplied with the medicine. The public must come first.

Bonnie
said

I completely agree with the noon-hour caller who pointed to the media's culpability in creating hysteria about getting the H1N1 vaccine. The Fed & Prov gov'ts did have a roll out plan, albeit not completely sound ... but when the media reported the Toronto hockey boy's death, so personally, last week, it completely derailed the vaccine's roll-out plan. I would be willing to bet that we have had no more flu deaths, so far this year, than any other - just more media hype. Check it out, if you really want to do a reporting service to the community.
In contrast, I was watching Boston news tonight ... and they have very calming, informative reporting on how the vaccination process is progressing (they have no hysterical line ups). They also calmly noted that there have been 3 deaths so far, but did not make it personal, or scary. And most importantly they did not politicize it in any way, by trying to report anything municipal, state or feds should be held accountable for - or how they were blaming the other parties for shortcomings. I encourage you to watch this reporting - you might learn how to calm rather than inflame. But I do understand that we've had slow news days lately.
Lastly, I would just like to let you know that I am a high priority person for the H1N1 vaccination. I will wisely stay out of those big line-ups, in inclement weather, surrounded by other germy people, and get my vaccine later. Odds are I will be healthier this way ... and others with common sense should come to the same conclusion.

Robert in Courtice
said

Could this be the public's first clear look at what two-tier medicine is really like? The lid has just been kicked off Pandora's box!!! Do we like what we see??