Ask military to help with H1N1: Ottawa councillor

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Ask military to help with H1N1: Ottawa councillor

Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 12:11 PM ET

CBC News


Coun. Bob Monette believes doctors and nurses from the Armed Forces could be deployed in cities to help with H1N1 vaccinations. (CBC)

An Ottawa city councillor wants to call in the Armed Forces to help conduct swine flu vaccinations.

Coun. Bob Monette said Thursday he has written to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq asking if doctors, nurses and medics from the Canadian

Forces could be deployed in cities across Canada to help with the H1N1 vaccinations.

Monette said the idea came to him after speaking with a constituent who's a member of the Forces.

"Why not think of all the possibilities?" Monette said.

"This was one more possibility that I found was worthwhile looking into, and let's see if anything comes from it. If we can get one or two doctors, a nurse, to help out, then it's worthwhile," he said.

Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau has endorsed Monette's idea. He said he's also written to the health minister and to the minister of defence.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/11/06/dnd-swineflu.html?ref=rss

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Re: Ask military to help with H1N1: Ottawa councillor

I was just talking with someone about this idea. In reality, most Military doctors and nurses already are working at least some shifts at civilian hospitals as reserves. Activating them will only leave their regular shifts unfilled for the most part so there isn't much to gain, unfortunately.