Queue-jumping sparks backlash
Sports teams get shots ahead of people at higher risk
Vaccination queue-jumping by sports teams has led to the firing of a health official in Alberta and criticism of a doctor in B.C.
Sports teams will have to wait their turn for an H1N1 vaccine, said B.C.'s chief medical officer yesterday, responding to reports that members of the Calgary Flames and its American Hockey League farm team in B.C., the Abbotsford Heat, were immunized ahead of people considered to be at higher-risk.
"We don't plan to give priority access to professional sports teams or any amateur sports team," said Dr. Perry Kendall.
Kendall said he will tell a doctor at Abbotsford's West Oaks Medical Centre, who gave vaccinations to the Heat team, that the shots were inappropriate and "outside provincial guidelines for the vaccination program."
All but five of the 27 members of the Abbotsford Heat were vaccinated this week after they fell ill during an 11-day road trip and were deemed "high risk" by the team physician.
The vaccinations came just days after members of the Calgary Flames and their families jumped the queue for shots in Alberta.
Yesterday, Alberta's Health Services Department fired the senior staff member responsible for giving vaccine to the Flames. "An investigation is continuing and may result in further disciplinary action," the Alberta government said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Victoria Salmon Kings said team members have not had H1N1 shots. Jeff Harris said so far -- "touch wood" -- the team has not experienced flu problems.
Vaccinations are being given according to a priority list based on vulnerability to complications from H1N1. That list includes pregnant women, those under 65 with conditions such as asthma, children aged six months to five years, some health workers and those living with infants under six months or with people with compromised immunity.
Kendall agreed queue-jumping has occurred, but he said he has no way of knowing the extent of the problem.
Earlier in the week, he said he approved 300 doses for Olympic torchbearers. At the time, a shortage
wasn't expected and Kendall said vaccination made sense since torch carriers would be in contact with crowds of people.
Since then, health officials have warned the vaccine supply could dwindle because of manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline's production problems.
The federal government said yesterday that it expects 1.8 million additional vaccine doses to be available across the country next week. Kendall said he has not received official confirmation yet.
He said B.C.'s share would be 216,000 doses -- significantly more than the 65,000 originally predicted for next week.
By the end of this week, it's expected 800,000 doses will have been administered -- accounting for almost 20 per cent of B.C.'s population. Health officials say they hope the vaccine will be available to everyone by late November or early December.
Kendall said provincial efforts to dispense anti-viral Tamiflu medicine quickly to flu sufferers with underlying health conditions is proving effective at keeping them out of hospital and off ventilators.
He said 46 cases so far have required ventilators, while the province has a capacity of about 1,000 machines. The province ordered a million doses of Tamiflu and has used about 15 per cent of its supply, said Kendall.
rwatts@tc.canwest.com
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Blue
November 06, 2009 - 10:47 AM
Would everyone who spells it "cue-jumping" please go back to school and learn how to spell....it's "queue-jumping". All of those people who are downplaying this flu would be singing a different tune if someone close to them died from it. It's a fast-killing, unpredictable flu and all of us who have compromised immune systems are vulnerable and we don't appreciate perfectly healthy people getting special treatment when the vaccine is running low. All of this could have been organized much better if our Prime Minister wasn't so busy partying with Campbell during the torch relay. You can bet every single politician has had their shot and it was probably hand-delivered to them on a silver platter.
Ket
November 05, 2009 - 11:49 PM
This has seriously gotten out of control. It reminds me of the lord of the flies, except the kids on the island were in worse shape. In a few years, most of us will have forgotten about the swine flu. Does anyone remember SARS? Calm down, wash your hands, and don't believe the hype.
Question
November 05, 2009 - 10:33 PM
How many VIHA staff have contract H1N1?
Re: Ed
November 05, 2009 - 9:24 PM
"The big concern here is that if this was an urgent life or death pandemic - the governments have not instilled any confidence in the public that they would be able to handle it appropriately."
EXACTLY!
D.G.
November 05, 2009 - 9:23 PM
Wait until a stronger more deadly virus comes along, then you will panick.
Suck it up. It's just the flu. You'll get a few days off of work and recover.
Janet
November 05, 2009 - 4:45 PM
Torch bearers get to jump the line? Seriously?!? What a joke.
Do you ever wonder...
November 05, 2009 - 2:58 PM
....WHY the big story is cue-jumping, versus government's failure to get the right amount of vaccine to doctors?
It kind of makes me go "Hmmmm?"
Especially when it's included in all the government-backed sound bites and quotes from Perry Kendall.
Maybe a few spin-masters have decided it's time to get out the oxy-acetylene Blamethrower.
CW
November 05, 2009 - 2:47 PM
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 33 MILLION PEOPLE IN CANADA . YOU ARE GETTING A SUPPLY OF VACCINE FROM ONE DISTRIBUTOR AND YOU ARE TELLING US THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SHORTAGE, SO YOU GO AHEAD AND VACCINATE THE OLYMPIC TORCH BEARERS. I HOPE THEIR LAST LEG OF THE TRIP WILL BE PAST THE CEMETARIES OF OUR DEAD WHO DIED FROM THE H1N1, PS-HOLD THAT TORCH HIGH.
Jenn
November 05, 2009 - 2:05 PM
While I agree that the doctors should have not allowed the line jumping of the hockey teams, there should also be a level of indignation from the public regarding the players sense of entitlement. It is common knowledge that there is list of who is deemed to be priority (agreed that the list seems to be changing). Where is the personal responsibility?? And also from team management??
It doesn't really affect me personally as I am not getting the vaccines, but it seems to a commentary on the emphasis that is often placed on the perceived value of entertainers in our society.
interesting...
November 05, 2009 - 1:27 PM
I don't know about anyone else, but in my lifetime this is the first time I have see the government in action on a national scale. With the way they've handled the national vaccine program, I'd hate to think of what would happen if there was an actual national emergencies such as a large national disaster....
Also, as someone with what is classified as an underlying medical condition which would put me at the top of the list to get a vaccination, I just want to thank all the self centered people who rushed to the clinics last week when VIHA wasn't turning anyone away which made it impossible for some of the people in need to get their shots. There's a reason some people are higher on the priority list, they are either more vulnerable or have more exposure to it.
Mee
November 05, 2009 - 12:33 PM
I agree torch bearers get the shot but not health care workers???? I guess there not in the public either ??? Another Joke !
not surprised
November 05, 2009 - 10:28 AM
Ed is right on. It is government mismanagement that should be blamed. Unfortunately for the one health official in Alberta that was following what he thought was the right protocol gets fired as the scape goat. In reality it is probably someone higher, whomever was responsible for the planning of the entire vaccination program, that should be fired. It's also interesting that none of the plans for the program have taken into account those that do travel a lot (whether for sports, business or government purposes) who are more likely to help spread the virus. You would think they would get down to categorizing several groups or profiles so when shipments of the vaccine come in they can cover those in the order of most vulnerability for either severity of illness or probability of spreading the virus. Oh and the media is also more than happy to jump on the band wagon as they normally do, without any accountability for it, heightening the hysteria when less people will die form this than the seasonal flu. Hopefully they will learn from this so that when a real deadly epidemic does come along they might actually be able to deal with it. Not likely but you can always hope.
dave
November 05, 2009 - 9:57 AM
I see the Toronto Maple Leafs also got to the head of the line. Was there really any doubt in your mind that these super people would be waiting thier turn?
Be Proactive
November 05, 2009 - 9:31 AM
Government is not "All things to all people." and never will be. This roll out of services has illuminated the flaws and shortcomings of the system. It also carries a potent reminder that not all people possess "honor" in their characters. So, use your common sense and stay home more until it blows over. (And don't forget to wash your hands!)
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I guess hockey and basket players have very delicate dispositons so they definitely do need the H1N! injection before a baby can get his / her's. Yes, let's make room for the big guys, Canada. After all, professional athletes are VIP's, aren't they?