Are you satisfied with the way swine flu has been handled?

Sunday, November 1, 2009 | Categories: Episodes

Interviewed by Rex Murphy on the November 1, 2009 program

"Are you satisfied with the way swine flu has been handled? Do you still have questions?"

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Dr. David Butler-Jones
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer

Rex Murphy's introduction to the November 1,2009 program:

"Are you satisfied with the way swine flu has been handled? Do you still have questions?"

This is the week the HINI vaccination programs got started, and it's been a very mixed affair. From all across the country there are reports of huge lineups lasting for hours - most it seems outdoors - confusion over who should be in those lineups - and then on Friday the announcement that the supplies of the vaccine were very much less than most people expected. That, in turn, led to announcements that the proposed start of "general vaccination - that is, vaccination for people who were not in any priority grouping - would not be going ahead as planned.

People in some of these lineups have had a very frustrating time. One story can stand for many: a father with a 5 year old daughter waiting for four hours only to be told by a security guard when he finally got near the head of the line that she, his daughter, was too old for that particular line.

Other stories mention whole families getting vaccinated even though parents are not priority .... then again, if a very young child is being taken for a vaccination, obviously a parent will be with the child .... It's easy to see how the frustration occurs. There were many criticisms that only a limited number of centres are available, especially in large cities - meaning the lines were extremely long - people were standing in some cases in the rain. A lot of comment suggested either more centres - maybe giving out numbered tickets so people wouldn't simply have to wait 4, 5 or 6 hours outdoors and on their feet.

At week's end, I think it's fair to say - as earlier - that the rollout was a very mixed effort; some people are still confused who is most "at risk", the news that supplies were much smaller -whether that was known by authorities or not earlier --- came to many as a real surprise. And now, if after the campaign to get people immunized and all the publicity it received, if vaccination is delayed for a couple of weeks ---- people are obviously going to be - at the very least puzzled.

Today we'd like to get your observations about how the vaccination program has been working in your area of the country. Have you lined up, for yourself or a child, or elderly parent? What's it been like. How long did you have to wait. Was your experience a good one or not so go. What's your reaction to the news that the general vaccination program will be delayed?

How are health authorities, provincial and federal ministries handling this program.

What things do you think could be done to (a) make things clearer (b) reduce the lines and waiting ... any other suggestion you have.

Just weeks ago many Canadians said they would not be getting the flu shot. In a short time it seems many have changed their minds. Perhaps it was the deaths of two children in Ontario which came so suddenly and so unexpectedly that their example drove home the fact that swine flu may be mild for many but for some it is deadly.

Did you change your mind about the vaccination recently ...and why?

Do you still have questions about swine flu itself ..and the vaccination? If you do, you might want to put them to our guest in the first part of the program, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr David Butler-Jones.

I'm Rex Murphy ...on CBC Radio One ...and on Sirius satellite radio channel 137 ...this is Cross Country Checkup.