No one jumping H1N1 vaccine queue on P.E.I., Currie says WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Nobody is jumping the H1N1 queue in Prince Edward Island, Health Minister Doug Currie says.
Currie was responding to the controversy in Alberta after Calgary Flames players, management and family members were given their swine flu shots ahead of thousands of other Alberta residents.
Alberta health officials fired one of their staffers over the decision.
Currie said nobody has been given special treatment in P.E.I. and that includes the P.E.I. Rocket, the Island’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, and provincial cabinet ministers. He said they’ll all have to wait just like everybody else in the province.
“Nobody has received any special preference unless they’ve had an underlying chronic health condition,” said Currie.
“We haven’t had any requests from any special group or team or individuals or elite clubs or anything to be asked to be given any special preference.”
The story became public Tuesday, launching a firestorm of criticism toward the Flames and reigniting anger toward Premier Ed Stelmach’s Alberta government for a vaccination rollout that became so overwhelmed officials shut it down Saturday to reorganize.
In New Brunswick, members of the Moncton Wildcats and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, which also play in the Quebec league, were also vaccinated ahead of thousands of residents.
The New Brunswick government has since apologized for putting the hockey players ahead of ordinary residents.
But it didn’t pay off in the end.
Two players of the Moncton team tested positive for the swine flu on Tuesday.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said because all the vaccine comes out of a single source, the provincial pharmacy, it is easy to track who is getting the vaccine and who is not. She said they’ve stuck with the guidelines developed by the Public Health Agency to focus on high-risk groups.
“Unless someone on a team had an underlying health condition and stood in line, that would be the only way they’ve gotten the vaccine,” said Morrison.
Prince Edward Island had its own H1N1 controversy when it decided to set aside nearly 400 doses of the vaccine for inmates at jails in Charlottetown and Summerside as well as the Youth Centre in Summerside.
Inmates have now all been vaccinated but the school vaccination program only gets underway today.
A similar program in Quebec was scrapped because of public outcry. Corrections officials in Quebec now say convicts will be treated just like everyone else.
Morrison said last week that inmates are considered a priority group because it is a closed facility and they have underlying health conditions.
With files by The Canadian Press
Schools:
There were 26 Island schools with 10 per cent of the school population reporting influenza-like illness on Wednesday. That’s eight in the east, 15 in the west and three French-language schools. Those numbers are down by one school in each of the Island’s three school boards.
Eastern:
Eliot River Elementary School
Gulf Shore Consolidated School
L.M. Montgomery School
Morell Consolidated School
Sherwood Elementary School
Vernon River Consolidated School
West Kent Elementary School
Westwood Primary School
Western
Alberton Elementary School
Amherst Cove Consolidated School
Bloomfield Elementary School
Ellerslie Elementary School
Elm Street Elementary School
Greenfield Elementary School
Hernewood Intermediate School
M.E. Callaghan Intermediate
Miscouche Consolidated School
O’Leary Elementary School (30.1 per cent)
Parkside Elementary School
Somerset Consolidated School
St. Louis Elementary School (51.0 per cent)
Tignish Elementary School
Westisle Composite School
French
Ecole Pierre-Chiasson
Ecole Saint-Augustin
Ecole Francois-Buote
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JD from PE writes: The defense begins.
Funny how the Government isn't so quick to say which MLA's or Cabinet Ministers got special treatment when it came to getting PNP Money.
But here we see them all saying none of them received special treatment with the vaccine.
Well all saw the Premier first in line last week.
Plus is there anyway to find out if any of the MLA's or even Currie himself haven't already received the vaccine?
Just taking Currie's word for it is not quite enough knowing this Government's record for being upfront,honest and transparent.
We all can remember and see their behavior surrounding the PNP program.
Honesty is not one of hallmarks of this Government.
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Just hold on a minute ... from PEI writes: Premier Ghiz got his vaccination on Monday, the first day it was available.
He is the father of a young baby, so he is on the priority list.
But guess what? That group (parents of babies 6 months of age or younger) were not supposed to be vaccinated until Wednesday of the that week.
Check the Guardian ads. Check the government websites.
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Um Yeah from PE writes: Um, yeah....there has been special treatment. The premier jumped line.
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Head shaker from pe writes: More proof that Currie doesn't know anything going on in this province.
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GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE! from pei writes: Hey Currie what about the inmates????
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Arnold Ziffel from PEI writes: If the minister thinks that nobody is jumping the queue then he's sadly mistaken. Maybe the Rocket or MLA'S never got a shot but many Islanders got in line and were not turned away when the rules said they should have been.
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Johnny Fever from P EI writes: But not everyone with underlying conditions has had the chance to get it. Where are they now in this equation?
Lost in the shuffle perhaps?
I doubt theres enough spin doctors out there to spin this one,........
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What Currie Doesn't Know from pei writes: Minister Currie's statement is embarassing. How can a Minister of Health make such a blatant statement and expect people to believe it. I personally know of several people who are healthy, older, and do not even have children in their midst who have stepped up to the nurse and have been innoculated. They were heading for Florida and wanted to make sure they go the shot free before they left. Several, not just a couple. So, Minister Currie, if you are being told no one jumped the queue, then you are being lied to, or if you haven't been told, consider this message your revelation.
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Shaking Head from pei writes: I, myself, can very easily name off a dozen adults that have received the vaccination and are not on the priority list. In addition to that, I know many parents chose to take their school aged children to be vaccinated last week so that they wouldn't have to be done within their schools. Cartainly, special clinics have not been arranged for special treatment , but the rules have not been enforced. If you waited in line and rolled up your sleeve, you got the shot.
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SocietyIsNuts from PE writes: For god sakes people it aint Ebola...mass histeria...gotta love it! Its a flu people, honestly ... its a flu... Realize the fact that every other flu strain causes pretty close to the same fatalities in the exact same age groups as every other strain of influenza out there... Disgraceful how preferential treatment is being exposed...now we all know how society would react to a major outbreak...the preparedness level was disgusting ... It didnt need to be hyped up as much as it was... especially when you cant properly manage the situation. god help us all in an actual outbreak.
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worried from pei writes: well i took my 5 yr old son up to get immunized last wednesday and the nurses (or whoever) was handing out the papers to get them done told me that me and my daughter could ours that day as well....if they would have turned people away, there wouldn't have been such a panic and the schools would have had lots....if i had known they were gonna run out i would have NEVER gotten mine...it really makes me sick...of course there is people that is gonna go and get there shots if they r not being turned away or run out....im sure there is alot of people out there that feel guilty about getting theirs....i know i do... they should have been more strict!!!
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Katherine Glavin-Large from Charlottetown, PE writes: I believe that the Health Minister was responding to the issue of sports teams and their families receiving vaccinations before high risk groups in other provinces. I am certain that he is well aware of the selfish actions of those who jumped the line and the problems that this has created. What is done is done and all the Health department can do is learn from their mistakes. Obviously expecting people to be honest and wait their turn was a naive expectation. Unfortunately, we all will need to provide proof the next time around.
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The Observer from Stratford, PE writes: It may be true that sports teams/other groups have not jumped the queue in this province but if everyone who was in the lineup last Wed. at the Sherwood Centre when I receivied my shot were really high-risk, I'll eat my hat.
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Priority Case from PEI writes: I find the comments interesting that nobody has been given special treatment for the H1N1 vaccine, including Cabinet Ministers. Minister Currie was in the line-up in front of me on the very first day and Preimer Ghiz was all over the news that day as well. However, I am not sure whether they has an underlying chronic health condition or not.
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The Observer from Stratford, PE writes: In fairness to Mr. Ghiz and Mr. Currie who received their shots first last Monday: Although it already seems to have been forgotten there was last Monday the fear that most Canadians were not going to get a shot for H1N1. There were also cynical comments being made by those opposed to the vaccine, either because they felt it was unsafe or that the vaccine was part of a world-wide conspiracy of some kind, that they would bet that people in authority would not be getting a shot. By showing their willingness to be vaccinated both men put the lie to these ridiculous claims and rumours.
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Sick as a Dog from pei writes: Yes, it's fellow islanders who are to blame for jumping the line up, not the politicians. Those that did should be ashamed of themselves. Worried from pei - you do sound as if you have a conscience about receiving your shot. You made the point that the staff should have been more strict and turned people away. True. But, you could have said No, I'll wait my turn. As for all those healthy people who showed up , they knew what they were doing.
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turned away from Pei writes: I am one of the high risk people who SHOULD have gotten the shot during the first week of Vaccinations. I had to take the time off work to go and i was told that the wait was about 4 hours long or i couldn't get it because they were only giving the shots to pregnant women and children under 6 months.
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sad from pei writes: All you folks who jumped the line last week heres something to think about. When a young child dies from this because you got their shot and I believe some will for this very reason, its on your head yes your head. I know some of the disgusting ones wont care but its something that will haunt many for the rest of their days. How very selfish you people have been I hope you all get sick.
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worried from pei writes: I honestly didnt even know much about the needle...i wasnt reading anything on here about it....i am not one for even listening to the news..i just started looking on here after i got the shot and more people were talking about it! I knew nothing of being a shortage and i do feel guilty..if i could turn the time back i would NOT have gotten it! It really worries me about all those children not having the shot yet :(
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Jimmy from Summerside, PEI writes: Well they were jumping the que all last week in Summerside. Lots of seniors butting in the line up. To heck with the children and babies, at least all the old people got it. You know who you are in Summerside and I hope you all feel guilty. Lots of small children got turned away that day.
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