H1N1 Vaccine: Seniors in Canada

Canada's H1N1 vaccine supply is 1,000,000 doses short, due to the Harper government's late decision to order for non-adjuvanted vaccine intended for pregnant women. Rather than going ahead with non-adjuvanted formula for everyone, as the United States opted to do, Canada followed World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to use an adjuvanted formula for the general public, a measure which allows for the production of a greater quantity of vaccine and was hoped to benefit not only Canadians but also people in other countries where vaccine will be short.

At the last minute, the Canadian government elected to order a small quantity of non-adjuvanted vaccine for pregnant women and very young children, as there was little data on the safety of adjuvant in this population. This late decision has resulted in the disruption of adjuvanted vaccine production this week, as demand for vaccine rises and before the non-adjuvanted vaccine has even been approved.

Ironically, the World Health Organization is now saying the adjuvanted vaccine is safe for expectant mothers and children under three. Despite the fact that manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has returned to making the approved adjuvanted vaccine, supplies for this week are expected to be much smaller than originally stated - only one-fifth of what was predicted. ("Flu frustrations to worsen as vaccine shortage takes hold")

It will take two weeks for GSK to get back to its optimal production speed. ("Pénurie temporaire de vaccins") This means that the general public in Canada may not be able to get their swine flu shots until just about the time H1N1 is expected to peak. Estimates given in Global News coverage predict between 20 and 35 percent of all Canadians will become ill with swine flu this season. ("Flu frustrations to worsen as vaccine shortage takes hold")

Canadian Seniors Asked to Wait for H1N1 Vaccines

Senior citizens are being asked to stay away from vaccination clinics until their turn comes up. This puts vaccination three or more weeks away, even for those with chronic conditions that put them at higher risk for complications. My parents went to get their annual flu shot a couple days ago. The clinic was simultaneously distributing H1N1 vaccine, and they asked if they could receive the vaccines together since various health conditions put them both in the risk group for experiencing complications from swine flu if they do contract it. They were given their seasonal flu shot, but told they'd have to wait and come back later for the H1N1 vaccine. Their experience was not unique. ("Seniors asked to wait for shots as H1N1-vaccine shortage looms")

If the past week's scenario holds for the distribution of H1N1 vaccine across Canada in weeks to come, our elderly citizens can expect a long outdoor wait that could prove quite harrowing for those with chronic illnesses. Some clinics are offering indoor seated waiting for a few clients, but footage from across Canada shows us images of people waiting in outdoor lines with no protection from inclement weather, and even people lining up at 3 am so they can be near the front of the line and be assured of a chance to receive the flu shot.

Canadian Seniors Lining up for Two Flu Shots

For elderly Canadians whose health is already poor, it seems getting vaccinated against both types of influenza this year will prove to be a draining experience. While some may say the difficulty is justified because those born prior to 1957 are thought to have partial immunity to H1N1. But is asking seniors to line up twice really a good choice for Canadians as a whole?

I have trouble understanding why seniors would be allowed to queue up for seasonal flu shots in the exact same facilities that are distributing H1N1 vaccine, and then denied the swine flu shot. This means that an extra week of distribution in some provinces will be given over to seniors with chronic illnesses, and that seniors who are considered healthy will be coming back to queue up at the very same time when the general public will be heading out to be vaccinated. A second clinic visit, a second set of paperwork and screening by health staff, and a second encounter with the nurse giving the shots can hardly be justified. There is an increased cost associated with all of this, but also an increased wait time for those who end up behind the elderly people in question. The benefits of this policy are very difficult to see at present.

Sources:
"Flu frustrations to worsen as vaccine shortage takes hold" Janice Tibbetts, Meagan Fitzpatrick and Sharon Kirkey (Canwest News)
"Pénurie temporaire de vaccins" Amélie Daoust-Boisvert (Le Devoir)
"Seniors asked to wait for shots as H1N1-vaccine shortage looms" Richard Watts (Victoria Times)
"Single H1N1 shot sufficient, pregnant women can use adjuvanted vaccine: WHO" Helen Branswell (Canadian Press)