Elementary school children have been told they'll have to wait to be vaccinated for the potentially deadly swine flu but the P.E.I. government has set aside enough vaccine to ensure inmates at correctional centres across the province are protected.
The province has used almost all of its current supply of the H1N1 vaccine. It had hoped to get another 18,000 to 20,000 doses next week but that is not going to happen.
The province may only get 2,000-3,000 doses of the vaccine, and much of that will be needed to complete the vaccination process for high risk groups not completed this week.
It could be mid- to late- next week before the elementary school vaccination process gets underway.
But the 280 inmates and staff at the Provincial Correctional Centre in Charlottetown and the Prince County Jail in Summerside have already been vaccinated.
Officials with the Office of the Attorney General say 90 doses of the vaccine have also been set-aside for inmates and staff at the P.E.I. Youth Centre in Summerside.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says inmates are considered a priority group because it is a closed facility and they have underlying health conditions.
"They're at high risk of transmitting the virus to each other," Morrison said.
"They are a high risk group for a couple of reasons. The setting as well as the underlying health conditions for a large number of them."
There are no reports of a swine flu outbreak in P.E.I. jails but that's not the case in Island schools.
The swine flu continues to rapidly spread at Island schools.
Thirteen Island schools have an outbreak, which means 10 per cent of the school population has what is believed to be swine flu. Eight of those schools are in the Eastern School District, four is in the Western School Board and one is with the French Language School Board.
The province won't consider closing schools until absenteeism rates hit 30 per cent.
Prince Edward Island isn't the only province being short changed on vaccine.
It is a national problem.
Just over 400,000 doses of the vaccine will flow from the Quebec manufacturer by the end of next week.
That's because GlaxoSmithKline has a single production line. The company had to stop producing adjuvanted vaccines to make the non-adjuvant type for pregnant women.
Adjuvants are used to boost immune response.
After next week, federal health officials expect delivery of vaccines to increase, to roughly one million, and then to nearly 3.5 million weekly.
Health Minister Doug Currie said he realizes further delays will only cause further anxiety for parents.
About 20,000 Islanders or one in seven Islanders have been vaccinated.
"Certainly as a parent of two young children in Grade 3 and 5, I mean this news will create some anxiety, I'm sure," said Currie.
Vaccine clinics are scheduled for Monday in rural areas of the province where they were forced to close on Thursday because they ran out of vaccine.
Clinics in Bloomfield, Summerside, Montague and Souris will be held to complete vaccinating high risk Islanders, using the small about of vaccine that was left over from this week. (See A3 for more on Monday's clinics)
Morrison said a lot of what is happening with the delays in getting the vaccine is beyond the province's control.
"We can only distribute to Islanders what we are given nationally."
wthibodeau@theguardian.pe.ca
Inmates get H1N1 vaccine, children told to wait
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Comments
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- Facts As I Know Them
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:43:26
All Canada is apparently short on Vaccine. But, that does not detract from the Priority Set in Place here not being adhered to and those not Priority getting the Vaccine deemed for those who were and with the present shortage now may never receive!
The total of 370 doses of Vaccine that went to Inmates and the Youth Centre in S'Side would not have Vaccinated all Students but would have Vaccinated many who are at Greater Risk who didn't get Vaccinated because someone else got their vaccine dose due to Clinics not ensuring only those on the Priority List were Vaccinated !
In my opinion, all schools, infants and toddlers should have been done first! It is a known Fact confirmed by Seasonal Flus that viruses spread rapidly within Schools and Kindergartens. Too late now, won't happen!
Even if we do get more than the 2 to 3 thousand doses middle or end of this week it will most likely only cover those, or a portion of the Islanders at Greater Risk!
If we receive another shipment later it may be too late to protect anyone. It will depend on how rapidly the Virus spreads before another shipment MAY arrive! The Vaccine to my knowledge, can not be given to those who are ill with the virus and those who contracted the virus already and recovered should be then immune to the same so won't need it.
If the Company producing the Vaccine is behind schedule then the Goverment can't be blamed for the shortage of the Vaccine experienced.
However, in my opinion, I believe, our Government and Health Dept. could have done a much better job in administering and ensuring the Vaccine we had was used to protect those most at risk.
If we don't get another shipment of Vaccine it is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!
And if ALL Islanders stringently comply with all prevention practices given we can remain Virus Free.
Parents should keep their children home from school if they are concerned about the virus and it is possible to keep them home. You are their parents and our Government should not have any jurisdiction over parents decisions regarding their safety.
Wash your hands frequently, keep your hands away from your mouth and nose, sneeze and cough into your arm.
Don't purchase unwrapped food unless you can sanitize (wash it) before eating. Only frequent Fast Foods establishments, Do Nut and Coffee Shops you know practice safety measures.
Stay out of crowds when ever possible. Don't shake hands. Carry hand sanitizers when your out and about. Take the anti-bacteria wipes with you when shopping to wipe off shopping cart handles and your hands when you leave.
Use sanitized wipes at work to wipe down your keyboards, desks, phones and all hard surfaces. Bacteria lingers on hard surfaces for up to 12 hrs.
Buy a box of masks at your local Pharmacy. Wear one if your going to be in a crowd, hospital or clinic. Losing your pride is much easier to deal with than contracting H1N1. And I doubt anyone will criticize you and they might be wearing one themselves.
Stay home from Church if your not confident all members will respect your safety. You can pray at home.
Stay out of Hospitals and Clinics unless absolutely necessary!
If your friends have the Virus and want to visit, tell them your sorry but you can't take the chance of contracting the virus but you'd be more than happy to see them when they are virus free. And don't worry about hurting their feelings. If they are truly a friend they wouldn't visit you while ill.
We all need TO DO what we Have To Do to keep healthy. Don't worry about what others think.
If we all stringently practice these prevention measures IT WILL LIMIT THE SPREAD of the H1N1. The Vaccine isn't 100% Fool Proof! Even if we get the Vaccine we all need to practice the Prevention Measures. And we should Start Now! -
- Jarrod
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:44
By reading these comments, you'd swear all these people don't have a friend or relative who was ever convicted of a crime. Squeaky clean, Guardian forum posters are.
It sickens me. Let me point out that inmates are someone's child too. Also, some of these children will inevitably wind up in jail too. Let's put away our Human-life measuring sticks for a while.
It sickens me how the media preys on the fears of a vulnerable, post-9/11 world. I would say a kid has a greater chance of being hit by a motorist waiting at the bus stop than contracting a deadly swine flu. I don't see many parents who care about that though. But I'd be willing to bet if Wayner here wrote a story about how deadly it was, parents would be driving their kids to school.
Obviously the culture of fear the swine flu breeds exerts a much greater impact on Islanders than its symptoms will.
Enough with the hysterics! Some people are overly melodramatic. -
- conserned
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:14
This is the sickest thing I've ever heard. Inmates would be the last people I'd want to get the vaccine. Schools and daycare's should have been the number one priority from the get go, and inmates the absolute last priority. I don't think I've ever been so disgusted and sickened by the gov.
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- Wendy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:30
The H1N1 flu seems to have brought out the worst in us as a society. The media is busy fear mongering, with the headline for this story being just one example. People are busy judging each other and fighting to be the first to get a vaccine. Some seem willing to trample others in their greed to do so. Everyone seems to have a moral claim as to why they should be ahead of everyone else.
I am saddened by this statement on our humanity. I am tired of the media frenzy. I have read my last story on H1N1, my last 'news' report on the status of vaccines. From now on, I am tuning out of the created miasma in which we are all festering and looking only at the good that is all around us. -
- mad from Rustico
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:16
The fact that the jail has received the vaccine before school is an outrage...BUT..the fact that many Island adults went to receive their vaccine last week before the school children is shameful. The health officials that were administering the vaccine should have turned away those that were NOT high risk. I feel that there are many to blame for this mistake including Heather Morrison. I think that the high risk and school systems should have received the vaccine first. By the sounds of things, the schools are the highest risk right now!!!! I just pray that my child (as well as all other children) stay safe and healthy!
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- pmguerrero
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:15
What a crock! This government has its priorities all wrong. Make sure the losers that are in jail for doing something wrong(whatever it is) get their flu shot ahead of the young and innocent people that will grow up and run this country someday.
Ghiz and his cronies need to give their head a shake. I hope his new baby didn't get a shot ahead of all the other small fries that are currently waiting. -
- flo
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:14
this is abpout the worst i ever heard. front page news. inmates get vaccine bfore children,
not that they shouldn,t get one like the rest of us .but not before children, the worst of this whole sad thing is someone is stupid enough to print this . (only on pei) -
- Stanley
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:03
I can not believe that they believe the inmates are mor prone to the swine flu than the children. I heard that one school in the Western school district had 25% of the students missing on Friday from flu like symptons. The children should be more important. And I hope all the adults who went to the clinics this week when they weren't suppose feels guilty. Shame on them for using up the vaccine before the children can get the vaccine.
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- Jarrod
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:40:19
Obvious guy says:
Shouldn't inmates be at minimal risk from contracting this illness? Wouldn't they have to come in contact with someone who has it to get it themselves? A simple solution would be to ban visitors until this all simmers down. Hey, banned people under the age of 18 at the hospitals, so what's to stop them from banning all visitors to our jails? Vaccinate the jail staff, and you've essentially killed all risk.
Then you'd have a couple hundred vaccinations left over, to administer to a couple hundred students....which of course, would still leave thousands of children unprotected. And then the same people who like to complain for the sake of complaining would still pointing fingers. Why did that school get vaccines and my kids' school didn't? Why did the French school get it, blah blah blah.
In short, this was a really stupid way to handle this problem. -
- someone
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:40:14
i guess it is all up to god there is kids out the that has things like vsd that didn't get it because the people who got it shouldn't have . HELLO PEOPLE OUR KIDS COULD DIE FROM THIS
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- chumlee
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:54
the little children in the closed environment of elementary school classrooms, never had a chance at life, what a complete and utter, shameful and disgusting choice made by our lamebrains in charge.
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- Bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:52
This doesn't surprise me in the least, the Liberals are just looking out for themselves and their buddies before the rest of the province.
If they excluded the inmates, they might be excluding some of their best supporters. Look at the laws that the Liberals have been breaking since they took power; Fraud, Conflict of interest, missing leadership votes, are just to name a few.
These inmates are the only people that believe in living by the same morals.
What else can islanders expect from these rediculous hoodlums, Our children, and their health, is the last thing on their minds -
- Peter
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:50
I certainly understand and agree that prison employees deserve primary access to vaccine however prisoners themselves should be last on the priority list behind the general population.
Please do hold the decision makers accountable! -
- Guilty or Not
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:18
I am one of those people who got my vaccine on week 1 instead of week 4 when I thought I should have. We are a family of five and according to the original schedule that was laid out at least one member of our family was to be vaccinated every week from week 1 to 6, with me being one of the last. I was ok with that. When I left work early on Thursday to ensure my youngest received his immunization, I was surprised that I was able to receive it as well....so I did. If however my not getting it would have meant that my other two children would have received it as scheduled, I would have gladly refused. Now I have it and they are going to have to wait...that causes me great guilt. My spouse however tells me not to feel guilty because if any of the family does get sick at least I will be able to take care of them. Problem is that it takes two weeks to build up immunity and my middle child has started to show flu like systems within the last 24 hours. Prayer is all I'm depending on now.
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- Pondering...
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:38:58
So... If I want a roof over my head, three square meals a day and vaccinations for the bug-of-the-month... I should commit a crime.
Morally flawed, but effective, don't you think? Kinda makes my whole working for a living thing less appealing...
Sheesh... -
- Devils Advocate
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:36:59
is the thought process not outlined in the story, Garth?
Inmates were thought to be a high risk group, according to Heather Morrison, therefore were on the priority list and began getting shots.
Then a slower than anticipated supply of the vaccine became apparent. So other inoculations had to be delayed.
Unfortunate, yes, but hardly the 'convicted felon is more important then a schoolkid' scenario that everyone is ranting about.
Spare us any partisan political rant. The vaccine rollout across the country is not exactly being heralded as a whopping success. All levels of government, from all stripes, are being questioned on their preparedness. -
- bob
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:36:21
The fact is.....no matter the rationale...government (health department officials) obviously do not have the smarts to grasp and understand the optics of such a decision. Simply outrageous.
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- Al
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:36:11
I'm not in favor of giving criminal's medication over kids... however if there is an out brake in the jail, the criminals may have to be taken to the hospital putting us at further risk of them re-offending. Jails are close quarters and the flu would spread like wild fire and we would require our medical staff to treat them and not us.
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- me
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:36:10
I've seen someone post about Giz getting his shot a few times under several articles. To those saying that HE HAS A CHILD UNDER 6 MONTHS. He is suppose to be gettng the vaccine as a responsible parent.
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- Oh boy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:35:58
Haha, potentially deadly. The media is awesome. Run, hide, get vaccinated. Swine flu is here!
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- Sue
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:59
Shame on you Guardian. That headline was just fear mongering and pandering to the prejudices of the worried. Of course a jail is an enviromnent of risk, so is a care home of any kind. The real issue is the supply of vaccine and the delivery mechanism. Why werent doctors involved in the planning process to mallow as many as possible a supply of vaccine for their patients so that disabled and immune compromised patients could get the vaccine in relative safety and privacy. Why arent there more public clinics? If you expect to vaccinate everyone - one clinic is probably fine for Souris, but Charlottetown - come on!
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- Ed G
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:25
I normally post as Ed from Charlottetown but see someone is using it.
What kind of sensationalist trash has Wayne Thibodeau reduced himself to. Even more surprising is that the Guardian has lowered itself to rag status by printing it.
The 280 doses used for the Hollow and PC jail were given before there was any indication there was a shortage. At the time, many people not in the priority list were given vaccines even in the clinics. As to the jail, the staff certainly qualified as priority personnel and the few additional doses, at a time when there was no shortage expected, would have been done for efficiency, rather than bringing inoculation kits in twice.
Also allocated before the shortage was known, was the 90 doses allocated to the Young Offenders facility. Are these kids any less kids because they got into trouble? Would the paltry 90 doses make any difference if they were taken back from the Young offenders and used for school vaccination? 90 doses wouldn't go very far in any school.
Trash reporting. Shame.
If you wish to point fingers, try asking how Health Canada could have been completely unaware that the production of standard adjuvant vaccines would be interrupted to switch the single production line to production of the 1.8 million units of non-adjuvant vaccines required for pregnant women and others? How could they not know that a delay would result. Had the provinces been aware of an interruption in supply, they would have certainly modified the vaccination priority list accordingly, and would have been less likely to vaccinate persons not on the priority list in targeted clinics.
Very disappointing Wayne! -
- Islander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:33
I encourage everyone to re-read Enough Already's comments. This headline is purposely inflammatory - good job Guardian! The inmate population on PEI is tiny, and they are a priority group just like the others listed. The judgment from these comments is sickening. I assure you that the people in jail are also the children or sibling or friend of someone who loves them.
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- big
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:33
I bet all the polticans and senior public servants and jailbirds in Canada got the shot.
Good on them because in my oponion the vacicine will prove to suck and cause more problems anyway.It is going to have a backlash with the haste and waste being thrown at its development.
I am in the middle of fighting the swine flu and it is really rough.
Thank God for my good GP.
May the linejumpers pay the price big time -
- TO pe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:28
What Dept. of the Government do you work for?
(I feel the Department of Health are doing their best in making decisions, especially as conditions change on a daily basis.)
Do you? Well I have to respectfully disagree! When Inmates at Sleepy Hollow are given more Priority than our Children something is very wrong!
And when Priority Lists are designed but not followed and those not at risk and getting the Vaccine before they Leave for Florida take the Vaccine from those at Risk who really need it - I fail to understand how you could state the Department of Health are doing their best!
I Guess you must have received your Vacination and all in your World is Bright and Cheery eh?
However, their need for decision making will be becoming much less frequent. The only question is as to whether this will happen before the next election or during the next election? -
- Sad
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:40
Looking Bad Boys and Girls!
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- concerned parent
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:30:00
This si for the parents with kids in kindergarten get there kids shots next week they are not included in the elementry population in the schools and will not receive the vaccine there,, we were not notified of this.
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- TO TIRED OF
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:21
It is worse than the regular flu
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- Thankgodimovedoffpei
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:19
Okay people, it all boils down to common sense. 1. Think about what you are saying before you post, because right now your comments are all basically saying the same thing, that people in jail are not humans and that they do not deserve protection from H1N1. What you are saying is that a minority sub-group of people should come last from being protected. You are saying that because there is less of them then children, that they should be put on the back burner. Next thing you know you will be saying that because there are less blacks on pei that they should wait because a black person has a smaller chance of catching it because there are more whites on pei (I understand that is an exaggeration of people's thinking but it is the same as out-casting a group because of its numbers)
2. When the article said it was a CLOSED facility, it doesn't mean that there are not people going in and out of the building. If a child has the swine flu then that child has the freedom to stay home and reduce contact with anyone. The jail doesn't have the luxury of quarantine someone if they come in with swine flu. If someone that is sentenced to jail comes down with the swine flu right before they are sentenced then that person has no other option, they are going in there, and the people that are already in there, they have no way of protecting themselves from that other person, intern one inmate with swine flu = a whole jail population with swine flu and if the jail becomes a breeding ground for swine flu then people have the right to challenge the court to postpone their sentencing(due to the fact that it would violate their charter rights in section 7 which states, life, liberty and security of the person) which intern means that some convicted criminals will be on the streets because you people did not want to give the vaccine to inmates.
3. Those people in jail yes, made a mistake and now they are paying for it, if you refuse them a vaccine for something that they cannot protect themselves against, then you are double punishing them and are committing in my mind corruption of justice. If you would like a much harsher example of the same form of punishment you are putting these people through by denying health care to them research the Tuskegee syphilis study. -
- Laura
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:13
PEOPLE LISTEN UP!!!! Ask yourself why inmates were given this vaccine as a priority over many other people!!!! Here's a scenerio...there is an outbreak of H1N1 in the prison system...many of those inmates may end up in a hospital...keeping in mind that it is not a secured facility...this is a safety issue for the general public. Thank you to our government for considering this. Come on people look at the big picture before you start growling!!!
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- Tire of
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:28:56
Plus...it's just the flu people...no better or worse than the seasonal flu...just more people will get it. Stop fueling the panick with all of this.
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- Garth
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:28:26
Typical liberal approach, convoluted logic. Can't even triage
people in the line ups who were jumping the Q. Probably friends of friends. -
- momof2
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:28:06
I'm disgusted by this... inmates getting there vaccines before kids. Come on guys, kids are more important here. Absolutely disgusting. But thats PEI for you.
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- Quit judging
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:26
I wonder how many people who didn't fall under the high risk category got their shot before the poor children.
Think about that, before judging other decisions. I'm willing to bet that more than 280 people were not high risk at all that waited for hours to get a shot. These people are just as much part of the reason that there are not enough vaccines for kids. -
- Gran
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:19
I was at the coffee shop yester morning chatting to some paramedics & they said that they have not been offered the vaccine either. PEI's front line health care workers and not offered the vaccine!!! but inmates are, what a communist state we live in.
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- Kelly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:37
I am not surprised by this. People on this Island SICKIN me! Nothing but a bunch of selfish ****s!
I am astounded with how idiotic health officials here are! They wait until the peak of H1N1 flu & then decide to sworn in the vaccinations?! Meanwhile they never follow their own rules.
I can guarantee 20-30% of the vaccinations thus far were giving to people who were not in the 'HIGH RISK' category. They are so unorganized with everything, and are just making a mass panic over all of this with their uncertainty!
I think everyone should be staying home AS MUCH AS they possibly can for the next couple of weeks period. We do not need the news or guardian to inform us of this.. it is COMMON SCENCE PEOPLE!
This H1N1 flu is extremely easy to pass along. School should be shut-down for a good 1-2 weeks, until people can be vaccinated & immune to this H1N1 flu. It is not doing anyone in the school system ANY good by #1 catching & spreading the flu. & #2 falling very far behind while they have to stay home! (mind you I'm speaking from the fact that there is large % of the population in some schools absent) -
- Curious Georgia
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:28
I can understand parents concerns re inmates receiving the vaccination prior to children. It is a legitimate concern.
However, given the fact there is not enough vaccine to immunize ALL the school children, whose children should have received the vaccine, other than the percentage who have existing health conditions? And, out of that percentage, would my child have been vaccinated?
Just how much vaccine is available to for those deemed as being high risk?
Yes, schools are experiencing absenteeism. How many actually have H1N1?
There has been a considerable amount of hysteria regarding H1N1. The media, which in my view has a responsibility to the communities, is stirring the pot by sensationalizing the pandemic.
It's time to focus on calming the public versus selling sensationalism. -
- In Other News...
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:20
selling the papers and feeding the hysteria
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- sharon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:23:14
this is outragious..to be honest i am totally stunned to think people in jail came before children..i am sure people of this province are going to be outraged as well ..i feel that the children should have come long before inmates...and as you can see the schools are full of it and maybe these vaccines could have helped some to not have caught H1N1
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- Simone is outraged
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:23:12
In the article it states that the inmates( well, a large nunber of them) have underlying health conditions. I didn't realize stupidity or lack of morality qualified as an underlying health condition Maybe if these inmates(let's call them criminals, shallwe?) had not broken the law,they would be free on the outside to line up like everyone else! I guess the message to the public is....Commit a crime, end up in jail, get your needle! Oh! Can I take my kids with me?
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- Head Shaker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:54
Not to be confused with the person with same name claiming to be from Alberta.
Reading these comments, one would believe not getting a shot today (or in the next few days) was condemning people to certain death.
Typical of modern society. Everyone will be able to get a shot, but people seem to think not being at the head of the line on everything is a human rights violation. Get a grip.
I suppose the folks who took the shots that were meant for the kids, simply because they didn't feel they were unimportant enough to wait, are Ok. Probably a high proportion of these sanctomonious folks posting here stole their place in line from an actual at risk person. -
- priorities mixed message
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:25
Everything bass ackwards as usual here. What happened to the priority groups, those most likley to get a serious dose of this flu ? Didn't I read numerous times that young teens are especially succeptible ? And wouldn't it have made sense that parents get their needle so they don't catch this flu and pass it on to the children. If the parents catch it who will look after the children ? I was surprised last night when chatting with my son. He has a thirteen year old. His son was turned away from clinics twice this past week. And yet he must continue to attend school. And who brings home the bacon if the kid's father gets sick from this flu ? Number one should have been between those teens and those in daily contact with them - parents, teachers, medical staff, etc.
The jails are not a priorty because they can monitor those visiting and the new inmates quite closely if need be. Then should come the infants, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions that would make them especially at risk. After that they could get to single adults and those without children. I don't have anyone in my family nor my extended family who would have already qualified for their shot and that encompasses over twenty people of varying age groups from low teens to late sixties. Everybody counts but priority should have went to those at most risk and those that care for them. Even the inmates count but theirs is a living arrangement that can be monitored for signs of this flu.
I can only imagine that Premier Ghiz and the wife were there because they have an infant. However, I certainly don't know that for fact.
This article leads me to believe that the thirteen year old grandson still won't be getting his shot in the upcoming week. -
- D
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:03
Why does this shock anyone? They get DVD players, TVs, lots of exercise, time to chit-chat with buddies, heat in the winter, a/c in the summer..... good times all around. Jail in this country is a joke.
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- Jennifer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:22:00
This sickens me. I think the last ones to be vaccinated should be convicts. These are people who have committed assaults, thefts and god knows what other horrible crimes...probably against children. To think that they can just put out their arm and get a vaccine that some Island children can't get yet is shameful. These children are at greater risk of coming into contact with H1N1 because they are more exposed to the general population than some creep in a prision cell. I wonder how long they had to wait in line!
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- JD
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:21:38
So what if the inmates get sick.
They are already locked up maybe if they are sick and in bed it will make the jail more calm.
I can't believe any politician who ever wants to get re-elected would give the drugs to the inmates before the children.
The MLA's had better pray that no school kid gets sick or worse dies.
If the whole thing was so serious it would be funny...just imagine anybody saying a jail inmate should get priority over kids.
Goes to show just who this Government thinks are the important ones in our society.
Truly DISGUSTING!!!! -
- Head Shaker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:21:21
This is absolutely disgraceful.
There are cases in the schools, but no vaccines available, and no cases as of yet in jails, but CRIMINALS are being give vaccine priority over children?
That's ridiculous, outrageous and disgraceful.
Shame on you, PEI health officials.
Children should be priority over criminals. -
- Islander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:52
Blame the lefties, blame this and that but the real blame is with Harper's government.
They told us there was enough for every Canadian. The problem is that they don't have enough now, when the virus is spreading.
Mr. Harper, where is my flu shot? -
- vocal observer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:19:31
OK, lets be rational here.. How far do you really think those shots would have gone in schools. It might have been enough for what, one tiny rural school? As for people showing up looking for a vacine when they shouldn't have been there, I went on wednesday, was turned away, and returned the following day. I had my toddler and preschooler done. There were all kinds of people there trying to get a vacine, and the nurses kicked them out. They did not have a baby under six months, and they were not little kids. Maybe earlier in the week there was a problem, but when i was there, unless you were a biological parent of a baby under 6 months, you didnt get a shot.
I think the media is turning this into a frenzy. I could hear sara fraser tellign the camera guy while i was at the clinic what shot to get (and it was a shot that made the line look longer then it was)
I think schools should have been done before any other group. kids are always dirty germ infested kids. do you really think they are capable of hand washing hand santizing when all they can think about is their video games and friends.
But it is not my decision, and i am not educated to make those decisions. I heard it was time to take my young children in, so i did. -
- old voice
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:19:21
so maybe they were anticipating a break out! rrrrrrrrrr Lighten up,. folks.
-
- Molly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:16
The problem with all this is all the people that weren't in the high risk category going the past week to get their shots. It's because of those people as well as the government, that our children are not getting their injections. Rules should have been set, if you didn't fit the category, you should not have received the shot, and been sent home until it was your turn. Everyone that didn't fall in that group should be ashamed that they took the vaccines over the people that medically needed it first. And inmates should not have received it at this time either... just my opinion...
-
- James
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:11
Why the rush to protect jailed criminals? Liberals and friends haven't been convicted...yet.
Most of these crooks are still on the street with cushy appointments.
And have sore arms from getting to the front of the needle line, ahead of babies and children. Right there at the front of the line with the convicted crooks in Sleepy Hollow, the ones they put ahead of the rest of us. -
- Cathy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:17:38
I don't think a few flu shots given to a few inmates and staff is wrong. These people are in close quarters in those places. The media is just like that school kid on the play ground that is trying to start a fight so there can sit back and watch. lets relax and let the health professionals make the decisions.
-
- Jon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:53
This was a hard decision on the part of the health authorities, but was likely the right one. Certain places are going to act as incubators for the flu - places where a lot of people are in close contact 24/7, like prisons, university dorms, military baracks, summer capms, etc. In places like this, the flu will spread quickly once introduced. These places also have regular contact with the outside world: prison guards & staff go home at night to their families, prisoners are released into society, visitors come and go. The optics are horrible, it looks like a terrible decision, but it is necessary to avoid a disease 'hotspot' that can affect the surrounding community. Decisions like this must be explained more fully to the public.
-
- To Enough already
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:04
I really don't panic very much over things. I will definately wait my turn to get my shot. However..... My boys were supposed to get theirs on Monday. I am completely baffled that the inmates took priority. I'm glad this story was written. We should be kept informed on these types of decisions. I truly believe this will go down as one of the dumbest decisions of 2010.
-
- Patrick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:15
This makes absolutely no sense. A closed facility is just that!! Closed! Hence there will be less likely the opportunity for this virus to spread. However, it seems fine that children have to stay home from school because they are sick. But i guess the H1N1 virus will spread quicker in jails then in schools. Thumbs up to another half *** decision by the Ghiz gov't.
-
- Garth
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:07
One would assume the decision re inmates of jails would have to be made by Minister's
Currie and Greenan. Was there a thought process here? If so out with it so people can understand why inmates were given
priority over school children. -
- westcoaster
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:13:45
I have been reading your newspaper for years and have enjoyed it up until today. After seeing that disgusting article about the inmates recieving the vaccine instead of the children it makes me sick. hope someone gets their priorities straight
-
- lynn
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:10
this is a joke right. inmates before children what is the world coming too!!!
-
- don't know
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:10:45
Bottom line is it's done. They can't undo it. I want to get this shot myself but more importantly, I want my kids to get this shot and I want your kids to get it too. The government of PEI has to get more vaccines here ASAP and get them into the schools. And yes, all you people who lined up last week when it wasn't your turn, should have been a bit more logical and a little less self centered. You should have been told to leave, and come back the week of November 16th. Maybe then, this wouldn't have taken place.
-
- Albert
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:09:01
I absolutely concur with the majority of these comments. As for convicted criminals I too feel that it is a national disgrace to put them before good citizens especialy children. The Druggie Drunks and dregs of society are in jail for many reasons. Yes it is a closed enviroment but certainy innoculate the staff. But the criminals no. I suppose this includes the weekenders the PEI court system is so fond of. As one person wrote WHAT A CROCK !! indeed
-
- In Shock
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:09:00
This is totally a disgrace. Have Hon. Currie and Dr. Morrison lost their minds? YES, ELECTION TIME WILL BE UPON US AND ISLANDERS WILL NOT FORGET THIS ABOMINATION.
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- confused
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:07:27
i put a remark on here earlier and it was not published so i will try again.
who are more important our children or our criminals? A few hundred kids in a school is not considered a closed environment. We know who comes first on this silly island -
- To Judgement
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:06:43
And likely the 60 year olds WHO TOLD their Friends at the Clinic they wanted to get the Vaccine before leaving for Florida and the Nurses gave it to them!! Were Diabetics also!!!!
IN SHORT, Our Government should have had Separate Clinics for All Children and Mothers and Fathers! And a Separate Clinic for Mothers and Babies.
Instead about 45% of the first 20 thousand doses went to those who were not High Risk! Great Management NOT -
- demand your priorities
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:06:22
I am in the category that should have the vacinitation, however I am not getting the shot and demand that my shot goes to a deserving child or another
individual who needs it and not to some deadbeat in jail being coddled with taxpayers dollars. -
- kids can't vote
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:05:53
Kids can't vote, That is why inmates get priority. When they get out they can vote.
that makes them more valuable to the politicians than kids. -
- turnip truck
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:05:50
How did you let this slip by Minister Currie! Maybe the next group will be the workers and customers of Tim Horton`s.
Chow! -
- Judgemental Know It
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:05:34
Mention has been made of people saying there were many people in the line ups that shouldn't have been there. How do you know another person's health? I was in the lineup and heard several people say the same thing. I said to one woman who was complaining about this, and I said, you look healthy to me.
What's your reason to be getting the needle? Oh, I am diabetic! I told here maybe they were asthmatic or diabetic and probably needed the needle as much as she did. I still don't think it sunk in! Utter stupidity! -
- Get a Grip
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:54
Reporting this has the potential of causing mass hysteria! SHAME!!
The blogs on this story/site are disgraceful.... -
- adam
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:50
ARE YOU JOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
- Chris
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:49
I can't believe you immunizing the criminals on PEI first....unbelievable....they should be the last to get shots...if at all.
Wake up health officials.....what are you thinking????? -
- darlene
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:05
I think this is very stupid.. all these kids, pregnant woman and babies who are all dieing from this virus every day and the inmates get 1st choice.. how stupid is that.. they broke the law didnt care about others them selves. so why do they get 1st choice on Vaccine....this Virus is killing more young then the older people so why do inmates go before kids... this world is so backward and so screwed up it's unreal... it goes to show you the USA cares more for prisoners then they do for the ones who dont break the law or arent old enough to break it...COME ON PEOPLE WAKE UP. HELP OUR CHILDREN FIRST SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES DIEING MOST...
-
- YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:51
You have to be kidding me. What the hell is going on? Does one of our children have to die from H1N1, before we realize how important this is? I have 3 kids under the of 8, and NONE of them have yet to be vaccinated. That is not right. We get turned away, because they ran out. They run out of vaccines for the precious children of PEI, but they have made a point to set aside enough for the pedophiles, child molestors, and god knows who else, sitting behind bars. I just want to scream. If one of my kids contracts this H1N1, I am going to go directly to Roberts door, and let him know. What the hell is this govt thinking? Who is responsible? I hope they lose sleep at night knowing that this system is screwed up. I am so tired and disappointed. I bet all the govt workers didn't have to wait in line 4 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- Sick of it
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:45
If I had a child I would keep them home from school. This is disgraceful. They need to get there priorities in check. Can someone please explain why inmates are getting vaccinated before grade 1 and 2 children who are susceptible to the flu in general.
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- bannie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:03:08
Ghiz and wife have to get needles as they have young baby 4mths.
Is she back to work as yet??
How many got innoculations that weren't
in the risk area??
There are still parents with children 6mths and under who couldn't get their
children and them selves innoculated
because the greedy people were getting theirs and were allowed to go through
by health officials.Are they going to pay
heaven for bid funeral for young children
because of GREED and Very bad decisions by our HEALTH officials and
govt,on top of that ,calling in the police
to turn those that needed to be there away,also to give innocs to criminals
before young children that is so not
right.Mr premier you and your people
have lost numerous votes in this house
hold ,and our siblings votes,probably
other house holds as wall.SHAME SHAME
WEe are so angry with your health system and you we are spitting nails
That is my feelings and many others -
- karri
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:53
this angers me deeply i mean the children should come first i have two and one is just starting school this year and i really dont want her thinking if she goes shes going to get sick cause the government isnt thinking about the youth i also dont think children should be put in a catagory all children are at high risk they get sick so easy my daughter has asthma and is on puffers and pills and next vacinatio time im taking her and her brother cause this is crazy its not fair that the children have to suffer cause the government wants to keep the criminals from getting sick in my eyes my children are more important then them .....
-
- moe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:35
What i crock .I think if the criminals really had to pay for there actions they would have them shovel snow or cut grass or other jobs instead of paying 100 thousand plus for equipment to do so .maybe they should all be put in cells alone & not be allowed to mingle or to see anyone much like most patients at most hospitals have to do now.I think we should be more concerned about our youth instead of inmates ( criminals)who have really done nothing for society , but have been a burden on the people who are raising or have raised law abiding youth
-
- I'm Tired of the Bull
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:09
TO TIRED OF ALL:
Your realistic? How?
First, this is NOT just another FLU it a NEW, Different, Very Contagious Strain of Flu!
Do you know anyone who has had it? Ask them what it was like!
I know someone two who have it at 27 yrs. & 32yrs. of age one with a toddler. They've had it for ten days now. High Fever. Projectile Vomiting for 7 days! Not being able to eat due to Intestinal pain and discomfort! Body aches all over, severe weakness, headache, dizziness. The vomiting has finally left all other symptoms persist! There is nothing they can give them for it!
Just another FLU NOT BY A LONGSHOT!
As far as your, Don't Blame the Province for a problem the General Public Created! Who allowed them to create it?? Why didn't those of authority at the Clinic tell them to go home untill it was there turn! A few questions would have told those giving the Vaccinations if they should have been there! I was told that 65 yrs. olds were there to get there shot before they left for Florida! 65 Yr. olds weren't even supposed to get the H1N1 Shot just the Reg. Flu Shot! They should have had someone in charge at these Clinics that screen people to ensure they belong there!
They were quick enough to tell mothers of young children they'd have to come back the next day instead of just giving them the shot! And the next day the mothers found out there were no shots as there was no Vaccine left!!
The Clinics were not organized properly! It resulted in those most at Risk and Mothers not getting Vaccinated and their dose going to those who were NOT AT RISK! In my mind, this could have been prevented with more strategic planning and management! -
- worried sick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:01
i cannot help but feel angry about this because i am worried sick that my child will fall ill with h1n1 as it runs rampit through the schools (and possibly die in light of the recent deaths of children in ontario) and we are not yet eligible to received the vaccine (and lord knows when we will get it), yet the inmates/criminals have already been issued the vaccine???? where is the justice here? who made this decision? i seriously cannot believe this - makes me sick to my stomach.
-
- Christina
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:55
I am truly shocked by the venom and lack of compassion and understanding demonstrated by this article and many of the comments that follow.
The is a vaccine supply problem - across the whole country. It is clearly impossible to vaccinate all of PEIs children, with the vaccine available at this time.
The government and Health Department are making difficult decisions, and their decision to vaccinate inmates has nothing to do with 'chosing inmates over children'. It was a few hundred doses (not nearly enough to vaccinate all the kids) and it was not EITHER the prisoners OR the children.
Shame on the media for distorting this story and making people angry. -
- gkb
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:30
It would not surprise me that The Guardian chose to publish this story just to get the reactions like they have.
And you all fell for it.
I will NEVER pay to read The Guardian. This is a perfect example of why. -
- Concerned Mom
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:28
It's happening here in Nova Scotia too. The inmates have been vaccinated before the kids.
MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!!!! -
- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:52
complain all you want...what is anyone going to do about it? Nothing thats what!
-
- Tired of
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:48
If everyone had waited their turn this wouldn't be an issue. Don't blame the province for a problem the general public created. And before I get blasted for being from the government...I'm not...I'm just realistic.
-
- Won't take it anymore
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:45
GET A GRIP, you must be writing this from Sleepy Hollow. The Ghiz government really pooched this one. Can't even put this on Harper. Health is a provincial responsibility...
-
- confused
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:19
Are our inmates more important than our children? I think when you get a few hundred kids in a school it is also a closed environment. a lot of contact among the students
-
- all over
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:58:50
Apparently this is Health Canada's policy that the province is following.
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- Caustic
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:58:41
This whole businesss is a complete mess. Healthy, inconsiderate people, pushing in, lining up when they weren't scheduled, given the jab. Prisoners also. Kids and many honest people with underlying medical conditions having to wait. What planet is this?
-
- Shaking my head
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:43
this is unbelievable. Sure, give the vaccine to the jail employees, but the inmates are not out and about in public to be exposed to the flu, THE KIDS ARE. This is criminal.
-
- JD
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:41
Yes..The headline maybe inflammatory.
But really who cares..the problem here isn't the headline it is that the headline is true.
If the headline wasn't true than there would be argument about inflaming the public unjustly. But this is not the case there is nothing in the headline or the story that is obviously false.
Which should lead everyone to ask just who the heck made this decision and why didn't Doug Currie, Minister of health or Better yet Gerard Greenan Minster of Justice AND Education decide the inmates are more important than the school children.
This kind of behavior from our Government could and should elad to protests in the streets.
We saw thousands marching in the streets when the Government cut people's wages by 7.5% so are we saying that the money is more important than our kids.?
People should be demanding answers and marching to the Premier's Office to get them.
Notice last week on the very first day on the vaccine program starting who was there but our Premier right at the front of the line using his young daughter as an excuse. This behavios goes to show just what kind of man he is and how he could decide to make sure the inmates were given the shot ahead of our school children.
Ghiz doesn't need to worry he got his already and the heck with everyone else.
Would be an interesting question for Ms. Crane to ask just how many of the MLA's or their families all got the shot ahead of OUR kids?
They all took the free PNP Money and didn't tell any of us now it may appear they are taking the medicine and not telling any of us.
Could someone PLEASE TELL ME why we voted for these people.
Was Binns really this bad?
This bunch of MLA's just sicken me and it is time we damm well done something. -
- spud
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:57:16
I can't accept that inmates are more important than kids. I a school bus situation, how do kids get away from each other . In the jail, I'm certain they can keep the inmates isolated.
the guards, for sure should be vaccinated but abusers of the system should not be a priority. don't like it, stay out of jail. -
- HeyJo
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:02
to Stanley from PEI - - - anytime you start a sentence with I heard you are giving credit to a rumour. Please folks with everything going on - be angry, express your opinions, take precautions - but could you AT LEAST not spread rumors???
The actual figures for absenteeism from Island schools is available on line right there for anyone to see: http://www.gov.pe.ca/flu/index.php3?number=1029809&lang=E -
- Mike
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:43
Ghiz,Greenan, & Currie damm well better have an explanation for why the inmates were given the shot ahead of many other high risk people and our kids.
There damm well better be a press conference on Monday and some explanations given.
If not than it is damm well time the public started to show our outrage and take matters into our own hands because it is obvious the GHIZ GOVERNMENT can't hndle this emergency.
I have to wonder just what were these people thinking and how they can possibly justify what they have done?
islanders are normally calm people and I think Ghiz is taking advantage of our good nature. It very well maybe time that even islanders have abreaking point and this pup of a Premier are pushing us towards it VERY FAST.
7.5% as someone above said caused mass public demonstartions..well I can't imagaine than a Government that takes away medicine for our kids and gives it to jail inmates is any better than and many miles worse than a Government that cuts wages by 7.5%.
This Government has to go and go nw because now it is public safety and public health they are messing with.
These guys simply can NOT be TRUSTED. -
- Stead
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:01
ONE in Seven Human Beings living on PEI have recived the H1N1 Vaccination. Like Wow. The H1N1 FLU, now classified as being, a Pandemic. Not bad, keep up the good work, Lord nows PEI & NS have had MORE than ample time to prepare for this. OH, and while PEI & NS gov. health are so dilligent, why not keep the lined up crowds of people waiting to be Vaccinated in close, tight proxcimitey to each other. AND Don't Forget to pile The School Kids, Tweens & Teens on top of each other In Line waiting for their Vaccines.
Tiss folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss. (NS & PEI :)
I and many more people, DO NOT TRUST any Vaccine being distributed by our Government(s) that are invested-partnered with Big Pharma-the Big Pharmacutical Co's providing Vaccine and the Bioscientific Industry provincial and federal governments between them as of 2005 had $One BILLION +plus Dollars invested in Bioscientific Research Industry- (Feds., NovaScotia & Prince Edward Island)
WHO GETS the actual Vaccine AND Who IS getting the Research Vaccine(s)? -
- observer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:53:44
Let me ask all you outraged folks on here what you would think about your tax dollars going to pay for the guards required to stand by in intensive care if inmates get sick with flu? Or the beds being taken up by people you have deemed to be second or third class citizens instead of those you deem worthy of concern! Think of the howling that would trigger. I agree that the real shame here belongs with those able bodied citizens who jumped the queue and put their interests ahead of those who are in most need of being vaccinated.
-
- OUTRAGED
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:53:26
Ok, so I have heard it all!!! I am so unbelievably disgusted with this news. Screw the criminlas, they should be the LAST ones getting the shots, all they do is sit around the bleeping jail and mooch off our tax dollars until next time the commit again and live the life of Riley while in jail. Why should they get ANY special treatment at all!!! and further more, if they get it SO WHAT, let them suffer it out,,,oh but wait, I guess it is more important to see the children get sick and suffer,,,HMMMMMM GOOD CHOICE PEOPLE!
There is a school in Cornwall that had 34% of their students out on Thursday and the Health Care System is saying the criminals are more likely to spred the flu, BULL%^$@......Come on people use your heads,,oh wait, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO!!!!!
Folks we thought last week was bad, this week is going to be a GONG SHOW,,,It should get interesting! -
- P
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:53:00
The tone of the article reminds me of a right wing agenda. Prisoners get the flu vaccine, but not children. Apparently, prisoners do not deserve to get the vaccine. H1N1 is a deadly killer. Our innocent children will die because the prisoners are going to get the vaccine first. Well, how many shots does that mean? Is this bad planning by the government? Who is to blame for this? There is no big jail in PEI that I know. Get the facts and then present the story. This is just creating panic and confusion. Get the facts. I will decide for my self what I think of the situation.
-
- Big Time tory
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:56
Thank god Steven Harper is looking after the cons!!!!!
-
- Common Sense
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:50
We wouldnt be this bad off if people didnt panic and become selfish themselves. As a healthcare worker I got the shot at work but my kids I had to take to a clinic in which I waited 2 hrs while people that were not supposed to be there until the following week were. Can people not read or hear? It stated many times that children, healthcare workers, people at high risk were to receive the vaccine this past week but that didnt happen. They should have been telling people that were not in these categories to come back when it was the clinic for them so instead they are now not going to be able to vaccine all the kids. They are the high risk category....Lets see our kids die and thanks to all that didnt need to get a vaccine.
-
- Devils Advocate
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:11
John B: It was CLEARLY indicated in the story that Ghiz was vaccinated because he is the father of an infant. No different than anyone else.
-
- Tom
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:41
Given that this appears to truly be a national emergency, cannot another one or two H1N1 manufacturers and packagers be found, instead of allowing GlaxoSmithKline to be the only source?
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- nitpicker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:39
a lot of knee jerk reactions here. Its less about protecting an individual inmate, more about preventing the spread of the virus. The spread of the virus transcends the person.
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- little democrat
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:37
Government officials and MLA's are quick to point out that if you don't like what they are doing exercise your democratic right and vote them out at the next election. So, when the next election rolls around remember the H1N1 crisis and show them how democratic you really are. In the meantime are at risk by attending classes, remove them from the school system until they are immunized and request your MLA to have the schools closed until every child has been immunized. The question at hand is not whether or not the Department of Health is doing the best it can; the question is when may we and out children expect to receive the protection we have been promised.
-
- TO PE
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:28
PE I bet you are a kind and caring person but a bit naive.
H1N1 has been on the scene a long time so there was plenty of time for a better plan to be initiated. Esp for those with compromised health . Have a nice day anyway. And if the H1N1 is airborne even with precautions it will be a hard one to avoid. -
- pe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:13
1 in 7 Islanders have been vaccinated....surely that will help the overall picture.
This is a new situation for PEI and it does not help anyone to blame, criticize, and point fingers. I feel the Department of Health are doing their best in making decisions, especially as conditions change on a daily basis.
The things to concentrate on are good hygiene practices and staying home when you are sick and not pushing yourself to go back to work until you are well.
We all need to work together, stay calm, and help each other navigate through difficulties. -
- Enough already
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:09
I am so sick of peoples attitudes concerning H1N1 and it's vaccines . It has turned the public into monsters. All of a suddedn we are measuring who is more worthy or being vaccinated .You the media are causing an uproar publishing these stories. You are sowing the seeds of fear and hate. Be patient all will be vaccinated when the vaccines become available. Until then put your trust in God .
-
- shar
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:48:46
Kari, If you child has asthma then she is high risk and you should of taken her first thing last Monday morning not waited for the schools. My child is done and my child is as important as anyone else especially over the inmates. there were 2 deaths in ON last weekend and it was SCHOOL age children that died. Not preschooler that are at home but SCHOOL age children. the first vaccine should of been for kids in daycare and school children then NOT so many people would of jumped the line. If you child is not in school or daycares then keep them home until you get them vacinated and it has had time to work. Dont be running around the stores with them or playing at macdonalds KEEP THEM HOME and protect them.
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- Patrick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:48:46
They're laughing their asses off at the Hollow I'm sure, just one more instance of getting one up on Islanders.
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- Actually
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:46
Actually according to the Department of Health it is the policy of Health Canada that inmates be vaccinated as a priority group. So its not just PEI. So people Paul Bernardo likely got his flu shot before our children. Go Canada Go!
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- former islander
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:24
I also can't believe that they would give the inmates a shot of the vacinne before giving it to young children, who always come first. It is because the jail is a closed enviornment and that is what justifies their thinking. Come on guys, I'll use the Island expression Give your heads a shake - so what if the guys in jail get it - they put themselves there, and now they come FIRST. If children die from this, we have lost a generation of young people. These guys have lived their lives and made BAD CHOICES. If some of them die, then so be it.
-
- Roy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:21
Why not ? Many M.Ps are criminals or one would think so if they allow this to
happen -
- The Cat
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:01
Maybe if some people who were not in the risk category and did not need the vaccine at this time had not shown up at the clinics there would be more vaccine for the intended risk category. In other words many people should have waited for the clinics for the general public instead of panicking and flooding the wrong clinics at the wrong time.
-
- Dr
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:51
Except for Enough Already, the only sensible poster, the rest of you walk into the garbage the media sets out for you, just as sure as skunk on the road. It says the inmates were already immunized, does not say exactly, but obviously, well not obvious to you dingalongs, it was before they realized they had a shortage. Given the choice, do you really think they would? Yeah you do. Well I am in Health care, I had mine, but I am not front line by any means, so you want to take me on? Come one Come all.
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- Read the article
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:47
The article says that there were 280 vaccines set aside for inmates (AND STAFF) and 90 more for youth. The Guardian is just looking to get people fired up by placing in the front page of todays paper-shame on the Guardian. I totally agree that these criminals should be the last to get the shot too but, how far are 370 vaccines going to go thoughout the school board. There would be people fighting then, why did this school get it over ours and so on. The real problem here is that people who weren't suppose to be there this week went anyway even after being told over and over again who these clinics were for. Don't blame the health care, they're doing all they can and more!!
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- bannie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:30
Oh sure innoculate the criminal inmates
while young babies and young childres
are in such risk,we the law abiding public
can't get our needles,great health people
great democracy, great govt.We the
public may die,the criminals live to steal
ETC ETC again -
- ed
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:17
Only on PEI....the criminals are being looked after before our children...there is something seriously wrong with this....while our children are getting sick these criminals are well and getting all the benifits of the vaccine. these people should be the last to get the vaccine.
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- That Guy From PEI
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:51
Blame the Lawyers People.........blame the lawyers.
Have you heard the one about the inmate released in Europe? He tried to break back in to Jail because he said the living conditions were better in jail than where he would be living....hhhmmmmmm. -
- Chester Field
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:41
What concerns me is that just a couple of weeks ago we were assured that there was enough vaccine for the whole Island population, but now within a week we have run out, WHY. Could it be because this vaccine was rushed in without enough research, are we to suspect that within 2 weeks all of those that had the vaccine will actually come down with H1N1. Way back when Polio was amongst us there was years and years of research before they came up with a vaccine, but here we are, 6 months after this showed up in Mexico and they have come up with a vaccine, makes you wonder. Half the problem, as I see it is, that people have become so sterlized that they have no immune system, when I was a kid we had a garden, it was tilled every spring with whatever manure was around, horse, cow, sheep, pig or chicken, we would go to the garden, pull a carrot, wipe it off in the grass and eat it, we were exposed to lots of stuff, thereby creating an immune system, most people today don't have one, go to Sobeys and watch these people wiping down the shopping carts, silly, at best. Do people realize that their are thousands of people die every year just from the flu, because of a weakened immune system, and yes , these people maybe should have the shot, but the average person doesn't need it, yes, you will probably get it, but it will not kill you, I hope I get it because I know I will survive, I will build up a resistance to it and continue on, I have not lived in a glass bubble, I have resistance.
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- so called liberal
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:27
I cant believe this, there are alot of so called liberals on PEI, but dont understand the difference in policy's and ideology. If you are a liberal you should be supporting the decision by the liberal government to look out for all criminals so they dont get mistreated.
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- UNBELIEVABLE !
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:43:34
It's difficult to even address such points made here as to why our Students can't get the Vaccine and the Schools are where the outbreaks are presently occuring!
If you can't vaccinate ALL Students till mid to late next week CLOSE THE SCHOOLS before we have children on PEI Dying!
(The province wont consider closing schools until absenteeism rates hit 30 per cent.) Then I guess Parents will have take that into their hands and keep their children HOME! One student can infect a hundred through chain reactions so why is 30 % a magic number??? Ten students could infect half the student population! Who comes up with these percentages? Would you have waited till 30% of Sleepy Hollow or our Hospitals came down with the H1N1 before allowing visitors in or inmates out??? I SURE HOPE NOT!!
And when Inmates are seen as more of a Priority then those at risk and students, it seems the Priotities of Government are viewed differently than those of our tax paying population! Students are also within closed and confined facilities for up to seven to nine hours per day including their long Bus Routes!! Then let's add Sports Events and other activities!
The 280 doses given to the Inmantes might have covered 280 people at risk. And apparently it was felt those at Risk and Students could survive the wait for more Vaccine but Inmates couldn't ?
And maybe we should have went with another Company if GlaxoSmithKline uses a single production line! And even at that why would GlaxoSmithKline have to stop their a single production line to make the non-adjuvant type for pregnant women??? Why wouldn't their adjuvanted vaccine production have been completed by now??? We've been talking about these Vaccines since July!!!
Everyone else around the World have reported that adjuvanted vaccines are safe for Pregnant women except PEI ! Everywhere else Pregnant women are receiving the Adjuvanted Vaccine. Our Goverment however had to put out the report that the unadjuvanted was safer for Pregnant women!
Even by mid to late next week we still won't have enough Vaccine to do all students and those at risk will we? How is that going to happen if the Manufacturing Company has stopped making the Adjuvanted to produce the non Adjuvanted and they don't have enough vaccine now to cover all who need it?? Confusing to say the least!
The Vaccines that arrive after next week will be REDUNDANT as most likely the H1N1 will be full blown on PEI by then!
And unfortunately being patient doesn't provide safety. Vaccine does!
I'm truly lost in being able to find the appropriate words to express the failings our citizens are encountering!! -
- fred
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:57
I bet Currie had his shot and didn't have to stand in line to get it!
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- John
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:22
A bad case of science trumping politics. But it is only the flu, unless you are in a high risk group you have nothing to worry about.
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- blueblue
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:16
Simply disgraceful!! Just think those people who were actually jailed for impaired driving -- vaccinated before our children. Those who were commiting fraud -- vacinated before our children. Drug dealers -- vaccinated before our children. It's not like these inmates were somewhere to catch the flu. Wake up dept of health and be responsible.
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- Melissa
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:37
Inmates are people too. Also when you look at the number of vaccines it would take to get them all done it is only a fraction of the number it would take to immunize all the school aged children.
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- Jarrod
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:21
Maybe I'd care if I was a parent, but honestly, the words H1N1 have become almost some kind sick catchphrase. What happened to SARS? The bird flu? Yes, the swine flu has some potential to be dangerous, and yes, a few people will die. How is that any different than any other flu? The REGULAR flu? The way this story was written, it almost seems like it's trying to strike fear and stir anger in Islanders. And with great success, evidently.
I'm sure if you were to ask most of these inmates, they would say, yes, vaccinate the children. These isn't death row. C'mon! -
- concerned
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:19
I am very concerned that all the gov. workers even the ones that are now layed off from liquor stores and the Access pei workers were given the virus shot before all the school kids...this is shameful that grown adults couldn't wait and let all of these young chilrdren go first.......SHAME ON YOU GHIZ YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER PREMIER TO TAKE YOUR PLACE.....BUT OH WAIT NO THERE WON'T ALL THE YOUTH OF PEI IS NOW AT RISK ....POSSIBLY DEATH. Hang your head its unforgivable....I hope we all will learn a lesson here and make the right vote next time..I am sick of Ghizneyland
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- joe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:07
This can,t be true can it,tell me i'm dreaming this.
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- t
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:03
I am shocked and appaled, i would rather see a sick inmate than my 10yr old daughter who has contracted a flu, somethings not roght here!!!
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- S.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:48
I hope this comes up in the next Provincial and Federal Election.
This is impossible to justify. -
- Supercork
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:13
This makes me sick to my stomach...Not that Inmates shouldn't get it-but they shouldn't be the first...Currie and Ghiz have to go
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- Tell it
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:09
Couldn't have put it better myself, Molly. Those selfish people who jumped the queue should be hanging their heads in shame. And the staff who gave them their shots? I don't know whatever possessed them.
Someone said that because there were only 280 inmates, their shots wouldn't have gone far in the schools. Mayber not. But I can think of lots of other people who could have used the shots ahead of the prisoners. How about some of those people in the high risk category that were scheduled this week but hadn't been able to due to the ignorant pushers in? Prisoners getting it now? Outrageous. -
- Angela
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:40:06
I was all prepared to take my son to get vaccinated... We arrived to get him vaccinated and they closed the doors on us, yet there were well over 1/2 of the people waiting were not children or parents of children... They said they had none left... And I find out they gave some to the criminal before my innocent child?!?!?!?!? I'm not gonna forget this one~~!!
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- no surprise here
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:16
no surprise here, I'm sure all the MLA s got there flu shot at the same time.
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- Alan
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:41
Hear that noise,that's me banging my head against the wall.
You sure wouldn't want a guy doing 6mos. to come down with the H1N1. -
- John B.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:06
This news is totally unacceptable. The staff at these work areas should yes get their needles but as for the people in Jail who have not taken others that they have inflicked Pain, concern work and hardship unto , should have to wait.. They are not out in the work feild meeting and mixing with the general public to get the virus.. Who ever made this decision is no better tan the criminal them self... Everybody can note who was the first to roll up their sleev and get the vavcine in the early paper this week,Giz.. He is no more important than others his age.. Yet, did he step back, No.. Not hard to tell who he is looking out for ..Himself and the devil of a virus can get the rest... This to is unacceptable...
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- Jon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:35:52
Once again using the ratepayers money to molycoddle the delinquents of society!
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- Patiently Waiting
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:35:08
The inmates were vaccinated as part of Public Health's schedule. All the people who were not in the top at-risk categories and went to the vaccine clinics this week are the ones at fault.
Also, I think people are overreacting because they think we're not going to get enough vaccines for everyone who wants it. We are being sent a new shipment of vaccines as they are being produced. Yes, we are not getting as much as was thought for the coming week, but again, how many people went to the vaccine clinics this week when it wasn't their turn?
Stress affects your immune system. Calm down!
