CTV News Montreal

Updated: Sun Nov. 01 2009 12:50:46 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

Canada's chief public health officer says he is disappointed that a shortage of swine flu vaccine will result in fewer Canadians being inoculated this week than the federal government had originally planned.

"My reaction, and I think (that of) most public health people really, is disappointment in that we won't be able to immunize next week as many people as we hoped," Dr. David Butler-Jones told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

On Friday, Butler-Jones announced that the vaccine's maker, Glaxo Smith Kline, will make only 600,000 doses of the vaccine available across the country by the end of this week, instead of the planned two million. That is in addition to the six million doses already distributed over the last three weeks.

He said he was unaware of the shortage until Thursday night.

The announcement sparked fears of a vaccine shortage. Since vaccine clinics opened last week, Canadians have lined up by the thousands, overwhelming health care workers. Many clinics have had to cut off line-ups hours before closing time in order to control the crowds.

On Saturday, health officials in Alberta announced they were suspending H1N1 vaccination clinics for the general public so they could concentrate on immunizing Albertans in high-risk groups.

And in Quebec, health officials warned those not in high-risk groups to say away from vaccination centres this week.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq blamed Glaxo Smith Kline for the shortage, saying the company "over-estimated their amounts," but said she is still confident that every Canadian who wants the vaccine will eventually be able to get it.

"If you look at and compare per capita, we are well ahead in distributing the vaccine on a per capita basis than any other country," Aglukkaq told Question Period.

"I have confidence that every Canadian who wants to receive the vaccine will be able to by December."

Both Butler-Jones and Aglukkaq said the chaos surrounding the vaccine's rollout has a lot to do with the decision to distribute it to the provinces and territories as it came off the production line, rather than waiting for the full supply to be ready.

But she said the distribution of the vaccine is the responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments and refused to criticize how they are organizing their immunization campaigns.

She also refused to weigh in on a decision by Toronto Public Health to distribute some vaccine to a private health clinic, which charges its patients for health care services.

Aglukkaq did not answer a question of whether it was fair for a private clinic to inoculate paying customers while others stood in line, instead saying the decision to give the clinic vaccines was made at the local level.

In the wake of public outrage over that issue, the clinic said it would offer the vaccine to the general public.

According to Butler-Jones, there is now enough vaccine in circulation to inoculate about 60 per cent of Canadians in high-risk groups.

"It's a huge undertaking," Aglukkaq said. "This is the largest immunization campaign in the history of Canada. Thirty-three million people cannot receive the vaccine in seven days."

Please Add Comments

grumpy old man
One day Canada's chief public health officer Butler-Jones onnounces on the news, we are in a better situation then other countries, we have enough vaccine for everyone.
The next day, bad news, there is a shortage of vaccine.
Clearly, no one is in control of the situation.
If this was something serious we would be all dead.
In my opinion, this just another waste of taxpayers money because no one from the civil servant/government apparatus know how to make things work in real life.

Chris
Why did the Federal govt use only one drug supplier to produce this vaccine? Could they not have forseen potential problems down the road? A second drug supplier would have eliminated any shortages.

Heather
Yes Jojo it would be interesting to hear how those who have received the vaccine will make people sick? I am wondering if your post was to read "you are now carrying the virus" if that is the case you are misinformed, and just adding to the problem/panic. The vaccine does not contain the virus and there is no way you can make someone sick from getting it.

Kathy, Calgary
How ridiculous that the government (whether provincial or federal) wasn't able to predict that there would be line-ups and hysteria by people attempting to get vaccinated....after all, wasn't it the government who was preaching to us to make sure we and our loved ones got vaccinated in the first place? Duh!

Esther
What a frightening idea, that the provincial and federal governments will be in charge if and when there is a real emergency or disaster. What a bunch of stooges.

Lindsey
On the news tonight, you showed an individual whose child had just been diagnosed with H1N1, she had other children and they were there at one of the clinics trying to get the shot. So wrong! When someone is diagnosed, if I'm not mistaken, the family is given Tamiflu or another drug to help treat any other infections. But even if they didn't get the Tamiflu or equivalent, why in heavens name were they in the line? The shot takes approx 10 days to become effective, they could already be infectious, and standing in line with all the "high risk" people is idiotic! That's one of the major problems with this campaign. Exposing "high risk" to people like this.

julie
Don't they say that pragnant lady are not aloud to take any doses?Don't they worry about UNBORN BABY??Isn't Dangerous giving flu shot to pragnant women??
How can you tell that H1N1 Vaccine will help not go get flu?
Who would want to get flu shot when the person is healthy and not knowing about that vaccine?
Think about it..After when they get vaccine done,How would will React and how would they feel?
I am worry about my two kids if they get H1N1 Vaccine because we never know if they get more sick.

Don
Healthy people that want a shot can not be blamed. It is the organization of the vaccination campaign that is at fault. They had a year to get prepared For something like this, There must be someone fired (ie, as long as they don't get a 5 milion dollar pension). There is too much crap gong on in the health dept. It is getting worse. FIRE SOMEONE!!! Preferrably the health minister.

Alberta RN
If the clinics had actually followed through with the "high risk" vaccination protocol, they wouldn't be in this predicament. They should have enforced "high risk" vaccination only, and put the word out that if people show up and aren't high risk they will be turned away. There wouldn't have been the crazy long line ups and actual high-risk individuals would not now be left out in the cold. Why even make a high risk priority if it's not going to be enforced?

Kim
I am not in the high risk group and after all the media coverage, I definately wanted the H1N1 shot but I did not get it because of the line ups. I would never want to take the shot over someone in a high risk group but my understanding from the beginning was that the government said for all Canadians to go get the shot; that 50 million doses were available. There was no mention until a few days ago to let the high risk groups go first. Now of course, we have a shortgage. I feel there was a major miscommunication here. Of course the high risk groups should go first but that wasn't how the government worked it initially.

Stoke City
I wonder if this "Screw-Up" can be traced back to ms.Leona back on the hill? It seems like anything she touches turns into ashes(either directly or indirectly)

Adam
I think we need to blame government BUT we really need to blame the media all they talk about is H1N1 this and H1N1 this. Let's not forget all the people who will die of cancer, Aids, Car crashes, Suicides, Murder. there seems to be little talk of this, yet more people have died from this then H1N1 in canada.

Jt
JoJo
Can you explain how those who get the vaccine are going to make peoople sick.

Humanity anyone?
This is beyond riducleous how people are attacking each other, are we not all adult human beings!!? Yes the vaccination process has been so unorganized. Ok can we have solutions for when vaccines start again?
AHS: 1) Please go to all the schools and vaccinate, close the school for the day or two and that way parents who want children and selves vaccinated can attend. 2)Have a clinic for all our wonderful emergency personal. 3) Have Doctors offices help in giving the vaccines in their office by appointment especially for their high risk patients. 4) Have clinics for everyone else who is not high risk. 5) Please don't forget about our seniors who and have them go to there Dr. office or go to the senior facilities like you used to for seasonal flu. Please let us not hurt one other with cruel words and angers, judgements. Life is to short......Humanity anyone please??

Roxanne: Relax Folks
There is a shortage due to the manufactuer under delivering. Don't worry about it your more likely to be killed by a drunk driver that need hospitalization.

Jeff
The only people we can be mad at are the people not part of high risk groups that jumped line to get the shot and are now bragging about it.

Kate
No, according to the AHS website, all clinics are closed, for everyone. Here's the quote straight from the site, dated Oct. 31:

"After consulting top senior public health officials from across Alberta, and with a reduced supply of H1N1 vaccines expected to arrive in the province starting next week from the manufacturer, we have ordered the suspension of all immunization clinics in Alberta effective immediately. The suspension will remain in effect until further notice."

Doesn't say here that high-risk people are still being given the shot. Now maybe they are - not the first time in this fiasco that that conflicting stories have gone out.

HANNELORE
in my opinion the health services should have had a better plan when they introduced the h1n1 flu shot because they knew it was coming - not plan things at the last minute

concerned
what about the people that need the vaccine. My wife is pregnant and has an immune disorder but she can't risk standing in the line up of healthy inconsiderate people to get the shot thanks to all the rude Calgarians!!!!!!

George
Playing with our lives?

You mean getting the shot is playing with your life.

People this is a flu stop the panic and start behaving rational.

Jojo
Good! Gives people more time to come to their senses and realize how ridiculous it is to get this vaccine. Look online and do your research people, look at the FACTS on both sides, not the propaganda that is being spewed on the news.
If you get vaccinated stay at home,because YOU are the ones who are going to make people sick, you are not carrying the virus.
Common sense people, it's something that should come naturally, but why are so many lacking in it?

Troy
As a person in the high risk area, it's those that aren't in the high risk area thats preventing me from getting it. They are the ones that are making it impossible for me to get my shot. Come one people, let the one's in the HIGH RISK area get thier shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pm
I thought they had 50million vacines ready. I do think as usual they are playing with our lives. Shame on them.