[Return to the Question Period archive]

2009 Oct 29 (Thu)

H1N1 Influenza Immunization

Kevin encourages the Minister of Health and Wellness to open H1N1 vaccination clinics at seniors' facilities and postsecondary institutions.

 

1540 Alberta Hansard October 26, 2009

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of Health and Wellness. In his ministerial statement the minister said, “Alberta Health Services will also look at the possibility of resuming immunization programs for the seasonal flu in seniors’ lodges once a critical mass of the general population has been immunized for H1N1.” Will the minister tell this Assembly what per cent of Albertans need to be immunized for H1N1 to reach that critical mass?

Mr. Liepert: I don’t know if there’s a specific number that I can lay out today. That will be a judgment call by the chief medical officer of health and public health officials across the province. You know, the other issue that we have to keep in mind here, Mr. Speaker, is that this is out of the norm when it comes to delivery of health care services, and we want to ensure that we’ve got the right professionals involved in this particular immunization. There will be some hiccups as we move through it, but we’re going to work to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible.

Dr. Taft: Thanks. Again to the same minister: will this minister take action and immediately order the opening of H1N1 vaccination clinics at seniors’ facilities? This would reduce waiting times at mass clinics and, frankly, relieve stress on worried seniors who have to travel, stand, go to great lengths. Will he push that forward immediately?

Mr. Liepert: I didn’t catch the very outset. Is the member referring to the seasonal flu or the H1N1?

Dr. Taft: The H1N1.

Mr. Liepert: Well, I think I answered that question before. The intent with H1N1 is to get to the most vulnerable as quickly as possible. It has been determined that our seniors population is not the most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. It clearly has been with the other seasonal flu, and that’s why over the past couple of weeks we’ve had the seasonal flu vaccination program under way, and it has focused on our seniors population.

Dr. Taft: Thanks again. H1N1 is unusual – obviously, the minister knows – in that it hits young people particularly hard, yet as far as we can see, there are no clinics where young people are most concentrated, in postsecondary institutions. Again to the minister: will the minister take action and immediately order that vaccination clinics for H1N1 be opened at major postsecondary institutions?

Mr. Liepert: Well, again, Mr. Speaker, either the member is not listening or is choosing to misinterpret the facts. As I said in my statement, those most vulnerable are between the ages of six months and five years. The last time I checked, none of those go to postsecondary institutions. I also said that those who are most vulnerable are those under 60 with chronic conditions, and for the most part that doesn’t include those who are in mass numbers at postsecondary institutions. But I will say that once we get those who are the most vulnerable, once we get additional supplies, we will ensure that on workplace sites, at universities, where there is the ability to vaccinate a mass number of people, we will do that.

 

 

 

Date: Thu Oct 29 20:40:24 MDT 2009 changed by: Rebecca IP: 68.149.137.22