Liberals stepped up their call for a stronger H1N1 response as the Conservative government keeps falling short of public expectations by revising timelines again and making Canadians wait into 2010 to be vaccinated.
“We stand for a federal government that leads by protecting Canadians with a properly resourced and prepared health system,” said Liberal Health Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett. “Instead, Canadians can see that Conservatives can’t be counted on in times of national crisis, based on their botched H1N1 response.”
H1N1 remains a serious issue on the minds of Canadians, with at least 41 deaths in the past week and 190 deaths in total – and the virus’ peak yet to come. Unlike seasonal flu, 90% of those who die from H1N1 are under 65, with acute H1N1 causing severe illness from “lung attack” that has overwhelmed many hospital ICUs.
“Minister Aglukkaq continues to revise the vaccination timeline – from November, to Christmas, and now not until February,” said Liberal Public Health Critic Dr. Kirsty Duncan. “Most Canadians still don’t know when they or their children can get vaccinated, and the Conservatives have provided no additional support to get the vaccine into schools.”
The revised timeline means the Conservatives will have failed to get the H1N1 vaccine to Canadians before the peak of flu season. Their pandemic preparedness mistakes include:
• Ordering the H1N1 vaccine after 35 other countries
• Stopping the vaccine production line out of poor planning
• Prioritizing seasonal flu vaccine production over H1N1
• Failing to inform the public of the importance of getting the vaccine, and then failing to have the vaccine ready when the public sought vaccinations
• Failing to translate H1N1 information into other languages
• Starting vaccinations weeks after other countries
• Having no general emergency response plan for crises like H1N1, with no “surge capacity” for severe pandemics.
“Canadians can’t feel reassured when they look at the H1N1 performance of this government,” said Liberal MP Dr. Bernard Patry. “We need a federal government that is ready to protect the public, no matter what threat comes our way.”
