Calgary parents criticize potential delays in vaccinations

A Calgary mother is frustrated with theimmunization system, after she wastold her infant daughter could face substantial delays for her one-year vaccines.

To get an earlier appointment, shewouldhave to call every single clinic in the Calgary area,every day, in the hopes of a sudden opening due to cancellation.

"We had to rebook her one-year vaccination, sowhen I called the clinic that we go to they told me that the next available appointment would be in December," explained Amanda Jacques, mother of infant Hazel.

The vaccinations scheduled for Hazel included themeasles, mumps andrubella (MMR) vaccinesomething Jacques considered of critical importance as her daughter will be starting daycare soon. Hazel's daycare provider had been promised vaccinations would be up to date.

"If we had the delay for her vaccination, that'd be four months of her being in daycare where she could potentially be exposed to something or exposing other kids to something," said Jacques.

If Alberta Health Services is telling me it's important to get my child vaccinated at twomonths, then I feel they should be able to get her vaccinated at two months.- Catherine Lebel, Calgary parent

After spending days calling every clinic in Calgary and surrounding communities, Jacques was initiallyable to get a timely appointment inCochranea fair distance from her Parkdale home innorthwest Calgary.

Thankfully, Jacques was able to get a last-minute appointment for Hazel to get her vaccinations after days of calling multiple clinics on her own to snap up a cancelled slot.

May not be a new problem

Other Calgary parents saydelays like this are not a new issue.

Catherine Lebel faced the same sort of delays with her eldest child more than five years ago when trying to get vaccines for her as an infant.

"It was surprising to me that they couldn't get her in on their own mandated schedule," said Lebel in reference to those earlier delays.

"If Alberta Health Services is telling me it's important to get my child vaccinated at two months, then I feel they should be able to get her vaccinated at two months."

Lebelhad to bookbooster shots for one of her other children, afour-year-old son, several months in advance to make sure they were done on time.

"For me, personally, it's just kind of annoying. It's a hassle," said Lebel.

She is concerned these difficulties could stop parents less dedicated to vaccination from going through with what is considered an important public health intervention.

"Potentially fewer people are gettingvaccinated because they either can't get to an appointment, they can't wait four months for an appointment or they're just unsure about it and so they don't bother calling around all the different clinics," said Lebel.

Edmonton has centralized booking

Alberta Health Services does not provide a central booking system for vaccination appointments in the Calgary region. But in Edmonton,appointments are handled centrallyby the780-401-BOOK telephone hotline.

The provincial health authority says it does its best to accommodate parents.

"It is a dynamic situation, demand and matching that demand with resources. Clinic appointments, for instance. Sometimes there can be long wait times, and some times of the year are busier," said Dr. Judy MacDonald, medical officer of health for the Calgary region.

I think it'd be great if the booking became a little more patient-centred.- Amanda Jacques, Calgary parent

After inquiries from CBC News, AHS said it would look into a centralized booking system for Calgary to match Edmonton's system.

"It's great that people are bringing their kids in for immunization. We need to make it as easy for them to do as possible," said MacDonald.

That move would be welcomed by Amanda Jacques, who will be going back to work soon as her maternity leave wraps up and she wouldn't have time to call every clinic, every day, if she was working full time.

""I think it'd be great if the booking became a little bit more patient-centred," said Jacques.

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