Nurse testifies she vaccinated people after H1N1 clinics closed
CBC News
Posted: Jan 17, 2013 1:33 PM MT
Last Updated: Jan 17, 2013 8:03 PM MT
Related
Related Stories
The inquiry into queue-jumping in Alberta's health-care system wrapped up Thursday after hearing from several nurses who immunized people after public clinics closed due to a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine.
Christine Westerlund, an AHS regional manager, was in charge of one of the mass vaccination clinics in Edmonton.
She told the inquiry she knew nurses were vaccinating family members during their breaks at the clinics.
She says at the time, there was no policy against the process.
Within days, the province shut down the clinics because of shortages.
Earlier Thursday, Susan Smith testified.
She was in charge of one of eight public H1N1 flu clinics in Edmonton and was responsible for making sure the supply was used appropriately at her clinic.
The clinical development nurse said she was concerned about wasting the vaccine, which she called a precious resource with a short, 24-hour shelf life.
Clinical development nurse Susan Smith testified today that she vaccinated more than a dozen people after the public H1N1 vaccination clinics were closed due to a shortage of the vaccine. (Bryan Labby/CBC)The day after a shortage of the vaccine forced the closure of the mass vaccine clinics across the province in October 2009, Smith went to a closed clinic in Edmonton, letting in and vaccinating about 15 people.
Smith said she felt she had the authorization to do it.
When asked who approved it, she said she couldn’t recall. Asked if the people who received the vaccine were acquaintances or family, again she said she couldn’t recall.
Smith said she would do it again, that immunizing people was more important than having the vaccine go to waste.
The inquiry was expected to wrap up this week but more allegations of queue-jumping have been sent to the inquiry’s staff who will investigate the allegations and potentially call more witnesses.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Violent serial attacker sent to prison indefinitely
- A dangerous offender found guilty of violent assaults in Alberta and Saskatchewan over the last two decades will go to prison indefinitely. more »
- Sled Island music and arts festival kicks off
- The Sled Island festival of rock music, film, comedy and art kicks off Tuesday. Highlights include an appearance by '80s cult band The Jesus and Mary Chain. more »
- Dustin Paxton's outstanding assault charges stayed
- Two charges pending against Dustin Paxton have been stayed. more »
- Parents in dark about teens tanning, study suggests
- New research into the use of indoor tanning salons by Alberta teenagers suggests their parents are clueless about it. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- G8 leaders agree to 7-point plan on Syria as summit wraps
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the other G8 leaders reach a seven-point plan aimed at stopping the conflict in Syria, wrapping up a two-day summit in Northern Ireland following talks on trade, tax evasion, poverty and terrorism. more »
- Are e-cigarettes safe to puff?
- As electronic or e-cigarettes grow in popularity, some health advocates want them to be regulated. more »
- In Bangladesh's garment trade, empowerment comes at $20 a week
- The pay is laughable by Western standards, and the shantytowns of Dhaka offer a difficult life. But the surge of mostly young women into the country's increasingly important clothing industry is having a profound change on this largely Islamic society, Margaret Evans writes. more »
- Tory MP bows to Elections Canada in fight over expenses
- Conservative MP Shelly Glover has bowed to Elections Canada in a battle over her 2011 campaign expenses, days after filing a court challenge against the agency. more »
- Motorcyclist takes photos of wolf chasing him on highway
- Violent serial attacker sent to prison indefinitely
- Bank robbing ex-MRU student president awaits sentence
- Tornado warning ends east of Calgary
- Amber Alert ends after infant girl located by Edmonton police
- Man accused of murder now facing sex-related charges
- Alberta police chiefs call for stricter speeding laws
- Wolf seen running along mountain highway again
- Bernard Callebaut's Papa Chocolat ordered to cease trading

