H1N1 strategy botched, say Liberals
'No shortage' of vaccine, says Aglukkaq
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 1:03 PM ET
CBC News
The Conservative government came under attack over its preparation and handling of the swine flu vaccination process during an emergency debate in the House of Commons Monday evening.
Speaker Peter Milliken agreed to a debate request from Ontario Liberal MP and health critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett, who led off by accusing the government of arguing over jurisdiction instead of working with the provinces to get the job done.
"It is time for statesmanship," Bennett told the House.
Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff speaks during an emergency debate concerning the H1N1 flu and the supply of vaccine in the House of Commons on Monday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the government was guilty of "an egregious lack of preparedness," pointing out that 36 countries ordered their H1N1 vaccine before Canada did and that many had begun administering the vaccine up to three weeks sooner.
He also blamed the Conservatives for confusion over when the vaccine will be available to all Canadians and for long lineups at overcrowded clinics.
"This failure to properly inform the public has become a source of enormous anxiety to Canadian families," Ignatieff said. "They don't know what public information to believe and this is producing anguish. That is the direct responsibility of this government."
Ignatieff said the Conservatives are blaming the drug company for the interruption in vaccine supply, while the provinces and territories, which deliver health care, are being blamed for the confusion involved in actually getting the flu shots.
"Epidemics don't care for jurisdiction," he said, adding that it's the federal government's role to develop a national plan to ensure that authorities at all levels are working together.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq defends the government's handling of the vaccination process, saying every Canadian who wants an H1N1 flu shot will have one by Christmas. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq defended the government's actions, saying it had moved very quickly since swine flu was first reported in Mexico in April.
She pointed to heightened surveillance and a public information campaign that has included radio and television advertising, more than 40 media briefings by her, as well as hundreds of media interviews involving her and Canada's chief public health officer.
She said a government hotline has received calls requesting more than 300,000 copies of its H1N1 preparedness guide and nearly 50,000 copies have been downloaded from the public health agency website.
No vaccine shortage, Aglukkaq says
Aglukkaq said six million doses of the vaccine have been delivered so far to the provinces and territories — more per capita than any other country.
"There is not a shortage of vaccine," she said. "Our goal is to have vaccinated every Canadian who needs and wants it by Christmas. This will be an incredible help to us in the fight against the spread of H1N1."
A number of provinces are getting fewer doses of vaccine than they expected in the next week because of production problems at Quebec-based manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.
The drugmaker expects to ship about 436,000 doses of vaccine with an adjuvant — or booster compound — as well as about 225,000 doses of vaccine without the adjuvant, which are meant for pregnant women.
Health ministers are asking Canadians to stay away from immunization clinics this week unless they are in a priority group, but many people lined up anyway, only to be turned away because they didn't qualify to get the shot early.
With files from The Canadian Press
