Flu vaccine clinics for seniors cancelled

A staff shortage has forced the cancellation offlu vaccine stations at 10 senior centres in Calgary.

The clinics had been arranged for seniors to get the vaccinations two weeks early, ahead of clinics for the general public.

Dr. Judy MacDonald, deputy medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services, said a delay in the arrival of the seasonal flu vaccine as well as a staff shortage led to the cancellation of the service at the senior centres.

"The same staff that were going to be doing the seniors clinics are doing the mass clinics. So it was a matter of, we only have this number of staff and when our mass clinics start, we need all of our staff,"MacDonald said Friday.

"So this is just a small glitch in our planning for this year."

Senior Sue Shaw, who visits the Confederation Park 55 Plus Activity Centre every week, is uncomfortable with having to go to an unfamiliar place for her flu shot.

"I'm used to coming here. I know the people and it's friendly. The challenge is I'd have to go farther and be amongst people that I don't know. If I come here, I know everybody."

An estimated 6,000 seniors will have to get their free flu vaccinations at four general public clinics, starting on Oct. 13.

"It's inconvenient. There will be long lineups. There won't be any seating for them," said Karen Hurley, executive director of the Confederation Park centre.

Calgary seniors groupsare calling for the clinics to be reinstated.

MacDonald said a special clinic for the most vulnerable seniors, such as those who are not mobile and in care homes, will be held one week before the mass clinics begin.

Province ponders flu-shot delay

The province is reconsidering the timing of flu shots after a new study indicated the vaccine could make people more vulnerable to the H1N1 virus.

Ontario has already decided to postpone flu shots this year.

Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert said his department and the province's chief medical officer of health are looking into the matter.

"It's an important vaccine for people to get so really it's an issue about timing here and making sure that people don't mistrust the decision that we make. So, it has to be well informed and I need some more time to think it through," Dr. Andre Corriveau told CBC News on Friday.

Corriveau said the study in question is still under peer review but he is weighing all factors before making a decision.

The province will reveal itsdecision next weekon when and if the flu shots will be made available.