| Pandemic fear leaves many without flu shot |
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| Local Content - Editorial |
| Written by production |
| Thursday, 05 November 2009 15:54 |
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Health officials have been warning of the impending arrival of a flu pandemic for the last decade or so. It appears their warnings did not go unheralded. As soon as the word pandemic was associated with the roll out of H1N1 influenza vaccine a certain percentage of the population took the message to heart and flooded local flu shot clinics. Across the region last week clinics were dealing with long line-ups and a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine. While a number of people were lining up for the seasonal flu vaccine, numbers were swelled by those specifically seeking the H1N1 vaccine. Despite Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Health Services plea for only those most at risk to attend the first round of clinics last week there were hundreds of people every day who simply did not listen or did not care and lined up anyway. Public health officials announced on Oct. 22 the H1N1 vaccine would be made available at local clinics. It seems at that point a little mass fear settled into the region and people, who really could have waited a couple of weeks, swarmed local clinics. People waited in line for hours with many turned away in the end because there was not enough vaccine. Health officials seemed to have been caught off guard by the number of people who wanted the vaccine. It seems ironic the same organization that has been warning of the potential for a world-wide flu pandemic is surprised when hundreds and hundreds of people line up for hours to get the vaccine that will protect them from the pandemic. It appears someone was listening to all those warnings for the past 10 years. While Alberta Health Services has to take some blame for the long wait times and shortage of vaccines, local residents also have to take some responsibility for their own actions. Clinics in rural areas report an influx of people from out of the region traveling in for flu shots, hoping it seems to avoid the long line ups to be found in urban centres. Clinics are open to the public, so there is no real means of turning anyone away but common sense and a little moral character would go a long way to cutting down the line ups if those who really are not in the high risk categories would stay away until the first round of clinics are over. Let us just hope no young children, expectant mothers or those with chronic health conditions have to battle for their lives later this winter because they were not able to get the vaccine. |
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