As thousands of people wait patiently for a flu shot the vaccine is now available to members of an expensive private health clinic in downtown Toronto.
The head of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Doris Grinspun, is irked over a decision to give 3,000 doses of pandemic flu vaccine to Medcan, a centre located in the city’s financial district that charges members about $3,000 for a full checkup.
The self-described “preventative health care” clinic received the flu shots from Toronto Public Health last week. Meanwhile, hundreds of doctors across the province are still waiting for the vaccine and people endured hours-long lineups at clinics run by public health units, with hundreds turned away due to crushing demand.
"Medcan is focusing on vaccinating those who are at high risk for developing complications from H1N1, such as patients with chronic health conditions and young children. We are one of more than 100 private physician offices in the GTA to have received the vaccine," John Mozas, President & Chief Operating Officer of The Medcan Clinic, said in a statement.
"Within hours of setting up our clinic, government officials announced that the vaccine shortage was much more serious than first anticipated."
Medcan said it would be willing to vaccinate any non-member in the designated high-risk groups for free if they come with a referral from a public health official – a note Grinspun claims is next to impossible to attain.
According to a published report, the private centre was providing shots to high-risk people by appointment Saturday and offered valet parking.
Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said the government will investigate the circumstances around why this clinic received the shots, but not until officials get pandemic issues under control first.