Critics are blasting the Harper government for its handling of the swine-flu
outbreak as long lineups continue for flu shots and some provinces warn of
dwindling supplies of H1N1 vaccine.
A number of provinces, including Nova
Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, face vaccine shortages after a
production problem at the manufacturer's plant last week slowed delivery of the
drug.
An emergency swine-flu debate in the
House of Commons was called Monday night after a request by the federal Liberals
and NDP, who accused the Harper government of incompetence.
Thousands of Canadians have been
vaccinated since Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq approved the H1N1 vaccine last
month - after other countries had already begun vaccinations. But there have
been long lineups, confusion and frustration across the country as people rush
to get the vaccine and some are turned away.
Lower-than-expected production of the
vaccine this week by Quebec-based manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has meant some
clinics have run out of supply. The drugmaker expects to ship roughly 436,00
doses of vaccine with an adjuvant - or booster compound - as well as about
225,000 doses of vaccine without the adjuvant, which are meant for pregnant
women.
Opposition MPs peppered the
Conservatives with questions in the Commons on Monday, asking why the vaccine
rollout has been such a "failure" given that the government assured the public
months ago it would be prepared.
Liberal MP Bob Rae said the
government has two main responsibilities: "The first is to ensure a steady and
reliable supply of vaccines for H1N1. The second is to provide leadership and
information on a coherent pandemic response."
"I would like to ask the government a
very simple question: How could it have failed so miserably to execute these two
critical responsibilities?" Rae asked.
Aglukkaq at first left it to
Transport Minister John Baird to answer questions, before finally weighing in.
She said every Canadian who wants the vaccine will get it by Christmas, adding
that Canada has more doses of vaccine per capita than any other country.
"For the last eight months, we've
been very transparent in the rollout of this vaccine, communicating with
provinces and territories ... including the critics," Aglukkaq said.
"Six million doses were produced
ahead of schedule. As soon as they were available and authorized, they were
transferred to the provinces and territories for their rollout. We will see
thousands more this week and a million more next week."
There was also anger over private
clinics getting the H1N1 vaccine while many Canadians wait for their shots.
Private medical clinics in Vancouver and Toronto that charge patients thousands
of dollars for treatment have received doses of the swine-flu vaccine.
"You shouldn't be able to buy your
way to the front of the line for flu vaccination," NDP Leader Jack Layton said.
"That is just not right in Canada."
Fellow New Democrat MP Judy
Wasylycia-Leis took Aglukkaq to task in the Commons.
"Why should pregnant women have to
stand in line for hours, while the rich get access to a private clinic in
Toronto?" she asked.
Aglukkaq answered that the provinces
are responsible for the delivery of health care, not Ottawa.
Public-health officials are appealing
to lower-risk Canadians to wait a little longer for the vaccine, at least until
those who are most vulnerable get their shots.
The vaccine shortage, coupled with
the flood of people seeking shots, has forced Alberta to temporarily suspend all
swine-flu vaccination clinics. The province is facing a shortage after deciding
last week to vaccinate everyone who wanted a flu shot, regardless of whether
they were at high or lower risk.
In Manitoba, public vaccination
programs are being temporarily suspended in Winnipeg and other parts of the
province because vaccine supplies are running short.
Other provinces asked that only those
deemed to be at high risk get the shot last week.
Nova Scotia's health minister,
Maureen MacDonald, said there simply isn't enough vaccine to get to people who
may legitimately need it at this point. She said health officials are having to
evaluate on a daily basis whether there is enough vaccine to meet the demand in
targeted groups.
Health officials in Saskatchewan say
they have enough swine flu vaccine for pregnant women and children under the age
of five, but other high risk groups will have to wait for now.
Ontario's premier sounded a more
optimistic note Monday, saying he's confident this week's rollout of the H1N1
vaccine will be better than last week's.
Dalton McGuinty acknowledged that the
rollout in cities such as Toronto - where pregnant women and toddlers lined up
in the rain for hours last week - wasn't handled as well as it could have been.
But he said the province has now
doubled the number of flu clinics, to 100 from 50 last week, to meet swelling
demand.
Health officials admit they were
caught off-guard by the swelling crowds at vaccination clinics. Polls leading up
to the vaccine rollout suggested few Canadians planned to get the swine-flu
shot.
But that was before the recent deaths
of three Ontario children who caught H1N1 - with another death still unconfirmed
- put a human face on the virus and galvanized worried Canadians to get
themselves and their families vaccinated.