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Flu shot refusals spark warning
Canada's top health officials fear crisis in health care
By Sarah McGinnis, Calgary Herald
October 25, 2009 12:29 PM
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No one in Canada will be left out when the H1N1 flu vaccine is ready, according to Dr. David Butler-Jones
Photograph by: Getty Images, Canwest News Service
If a majority of Canadians refuse the H1N1 vaccine, hospitals will be overrun by serious flu patients and many businesses will be strapped for staff by Christmas, Canada's chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones warned Saturday.
His warning comes as Alberta Health Services prepares to begin offering H1N1 influenza vaccines in Calgary on Monday.
A recent Canwest News Service poll showed 48 per cent of Canadians surveyed aren't keen to roll up their sleeves for the shot--a possibility that worries Butler-Jones.
If that happens, "we've got a big problem in ICUs (intensive-care units) being able to keep up. We would have a big problem in the health system being able to keep up over Christmas," Butler-Jones said Saturday during a visit to Calgary. "Any doctor or any nurse should give up on any Christmas holidays."
Last week, Alberta reported its ninth H1N1-related death.
The Calgary man was over the age of 50 with a pre-existing medical condition, said Alberta Health and Wellness spokesman Howard May.
The death, along with an upswing in absences from local schools and business offices, has confirmed the second wave of H1N1 influenza has hit. "We need people to stay calm, stay healthy and get vaccinated," said Alberta Health Services spokesman James Finstad.
Finstad declined to speculate on what might happen in a few months should people avoid taking the H1N1 flu shot. But he said there are measures in place to ensure there would be enough medical staff to treat an upswing of flu patients.
"We have been looking at all available options and have been working with our union partners to see how staff could be redeployed as part of our contingency," he said.
The province's Health Department has negotiated compensation for physicians who may be redeployed from their regular duties to assist in treating flu patients.
In the event of an emergency, the special pandemic pay for doctors would be a base rate of $225 per hour, with $270 per hour for evening and weekend shifts and $295 per hour for night shifts.
Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Chip Doig said the fees reflect the increased financial risk doctors would be under if called to augment H1N1 patient treatment.
Doctors who contract the flu while treating patients would need to be quarantined.
But unlike other health staff who miss work due to illness, physicians might not be eligible for disability insurance for months, Doig said.
"It's certainly higher than the hourly rate a physician might typically make, but it's taking into consideration . . . the unique practice situation of physicians compared to other members of the health-care system," he said.
As health professionals continue refining pandemic plans, all employers are being urged to encourage staff to take the vaccine or risk mass absences during the height of the holiday season.
Without the flu shot, it could be common to have 30 per cent of employees out sick or at home caring for ill family members on any given day, Butler-Jones said.
"You can shut down a whole organization if you don't have the vaccine, seriously," said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who was also in Calgary on Saturday to promote the new vaccine.
"As employers, that should be a concern. You should encourage your staff to get vaccinated."
Widespread illness could cripple small businesses, said Richard Truscott, Alberta director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
Many of his members have between 10 and 15 employees --or fewer. Having one or two people call in sick could force some businesses to close temporarily.
Having a possible flu pandemic strike near Christmas makes the already challenging financial picture even more grim.
"The Christmas season is huge. It means the difference between having a profitable year and losing money for many businesses, especially given the latest economic turmoil," said Truscott.
"I don't think the timing could be worse."
Despite all of the vaccination pleas, concern continues to swirl around the shots.
Calgary social work student Christine Molohon is struggling to decide whether to get vaccinated.
"It feels like it got pushed through so quickly. I'm not feeling secure it's safe," she said. "I'll probably get it because I'm afraid not to."
Gut reactions or rumours should not replace scientific fact as the basis for choosing whether to get the vaccine, said Aglukkaq.
"People are looking to media for medical advice and it's not necessarily correct advice, and they're putting themselves at risk," she said. "Dr. Butler-Jones has been very, very adamant-- it's safe. It's the one thing we can do as Canadians to protect ourselves and our families and our communities."
The risk of experiencing severe side-effects after taking the H1N1 shot is literally one in one million, compared to the 20 to 35 per cent of the population who will get sick from this pandemic flu without protection, said Butler-Jones.
"If every single Canadian is inoculated, then 30 Canadians could have the potential for a severe side-effect, compared to 10 million people sick, 100,000 people in hospital and 10,000 people dead," he said.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/shot+refusals+spark+warning/2142535/story.html
Canada's top health officials fear crisis in health care
By Sarah McGinnis, Calgary Herald
October 25, 2009 12:29 PM
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More Images ?
No one in Canada will be left out when the H1N1 flu vaccine is ready, according to Dr. David Butler-Jones
Photograph by: Getty Images, Canwest News Service
If a majority of Canadians refuse the H1N1 vaccine, hospitals will be overrun by serious flu patients and many businesses will be strapped for staff by Christmas, Canada's chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones warned Saturday.
His warning comes as Alberta Health Services prepares to begin offering H1N1 influenza vaccines in Calgary on Monday.
A recent Canwest News Service poll showed 48 per cent of Canadians surveyed aren't keen to roll up their sleeves for the shot--a possibility that worries Butler-Jones.
If that happens, "we've got a big problem in ICUs (intensive-care units) being able to keep up. We would have a big problem in the health system being able to keep up over Christmas," Butler-Jones said Saturday during a visit to Calgary. "Any doctor or any nurse should give up on any Christmas holidays."
Last week, Alberta reported its ninth H1N1-related death.
The Calgary man was over the age of 50 with a pre-existing medical condition, said Alberta Health and Wellness spokesman Howard May.
The death, along with an upswing in absences from local schools and business offices, has confirmed the second wave of H1N1 influenza has hit. "We need people to stay calm, stay healthy and get vaccinated," said Alberta Health Services spokesman James Finstad.
Finstad declined to speculate on what might happen in a few months should people avoid taking the H1N1 flu shot. But he said there are measures in place to ensure there would be enough medical staff to treat an upswing of flu patients.
"We have been looking at all available options and have been working with our union partners to see how staff could be redeployed as part of our contingency," he said.
The province's Health Department has negotiated compensation for physicians who may be redeployed from their regular duties to assist in treating flu patients.
In the event of an emergency, the special pandemic pay for doctors would be a base rate of $225 per hour, with $270 per hour for evening and weekend shifts and $295 per hour for night shifts.
Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Chip Doig said the fees reflect the increased financial risk doctors would be under if called to augment H1N1 patient treatment.
Doctors who contract the flu while treating patients would need to be quarantined.
But unlike other health staff who miss work due to illness, physicians might not be eligible for disability insurance for months, Doig said.
"It's certainly higher than the hourly rate a physician might typically make, but it's taking into consideration . . . the unique practice situation of physicians compared to other members of the health-care system," he said.
As health professionals continue refining pandemic plans, all employers are being urged to encourage staff to take the vaccine or risk mass absences during the height of the holiday season.
Without the flu shot, it could be common to have 30 per cent of employees out sick or at home caring for ill family members on any given day, Butler-Jones said.
"You can shut down a whole organization if you don't have the vaccine, seriously," said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who was also in Calgary on Saturday to promote the new vaccine.
"As employers, that should be a concern. You should encourage your staff to get vaccinated."
Widespread illness could cripple small businesses, said Richard Truscott, Alberta director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
Many of his members have between 10 and 15 employees --or fewer. Having one or two people call in sick could force some businesses to close temporarily.
Having a possible flu pandemic strike near Christmas makes the already challenging financial picture even more grim.
"The Christmas season is huge. It means the difference between having a profitable year and losing money for many businesses, especially given the latest economic turmoil," said Truscott.
"I don't think the timing could be worse."
Despite all of the vaccination pleas, concern continues to swirl around the shots.
Calgary social work student Christine Molohon is struggling to decide whether to get vaccinated.
"It feels like it got pushed through so quickly. I'm not feeling secure it's safe," she said. "I'll probably get it because I'm afraid not to."
Gut reactions or rumours should not replace scientific fact as the basis for choosing whether to get the vaccine, said Aglukkaq.
"People are looking to media for medical advice and it's not necessarily correct advice, and they're putting themselves at risk," she said. "Dr. Butler-Jones has been very, very adamant-- it's safe. It's the one thing we can do as Canadians to protect ourselves and our families and our communities."
The risk of experiencing severe side-effects after taking the H1N1 shot is literally one in one million, compared to the 20 to 35 per cent of the population who will get sick from this pandemic flu without protection, said Butler-Jones.
"If every single Canadian is inoculated, then 30 Canadians could have the potential for a severe side-effect, compared to 10 million people sick, 100,000 people in hospital and 10,000 people dead," he said.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/shot+refusals+spark+warning/2142535/story.html