A look at the latest H1N1 developments in Canada and around the world
Published Sunday November 1st, 2009
Developments Saturday in the ongoing H1N1 pandemic in Canada and around the world:
Canada's top doctor acknowledged Sunday that health officials didn't expect so many people to line up for the swine flu shot.
Dr. David Butler-Jones, the chief public health officer, told CTV that as recently as a few weeks ago officials didn't anticipate such long lineups at clinics for the H1N1 flu vaccine.
There have been long lineups, confusion and frustration across the country as people rushed to get the vaccine.
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Alberta's Opposition Liberals want the health minister to resign after a decision to temporarily suspend all swine flu vaccination clinics, the party's leader said Sunday.
Dr. David Swann, who is also a physician, stood outside a closed clinic in Calgary on Sunday as he accused Health Minister Ron Liepert of mismanaging the province's pandemic response.
"This closure is evidence this government has no capacity to manage our pandemic. It's further evidence of negligence, political interference and mismanagement at a high level," he said.
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The experts who advise Canada on vaccine policy said Sunday it is unnecessary to delay giving seasonal flu shots this year.
They urged provinces and territories to offer the shots as soon as possible.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization said seasonal shots can be given before, after or at the same time as pandemic flu shots, if that can still be arranged.
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Ontario's top health officials said Sunday flu clinics will be doubled in the province for high priority groups and she expects the vaccine rollout to run more smoothly this week.
Dr. Arlene King said hundreds of family doctors will also be administering shots this week and advised doctors to use up every dose they are given by the end of the week.
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Newfoundland recorded its first swine flu death on the weekend.
Health Minister Jerome Kennedy confirmed Sunday that a 36-year-old woman from the province's central region died Saturday night after contracting the H1N1 virus.
He said the woman had an underlying medical condition.
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In the United States, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama said Sunday the government will catch up to the demand for swine flu vaccine within a week.
David Axelrod said the manufacturers of the vaccine were wrong when they advised the administration earlier this year that they would have 40 million doses ready near the end of October. Instead, only 28 million doses of vaccine were available.
Axelrod said 10 million more doses are expected to be available this week. He predicted that the U.S. will have all the vaccine it needs "in very short order."
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Terrorism suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base will soon get swine flu vaccines, despite complaints that American civilians should have priority.
Army Maj. James Crabtree, a spokesman for the U.S. jail facility in southeast Cuba, said Sunday the doses should start arriving this month, with guards and then inmates scheduled for inoculations.
He acknowledged there may be an "emotional response" from critics who argue that terror suspects should not be allocated swine-flu medications while members of the U.S. public are still waiting due to a vaccine shortage.
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