Question Period H1N1 Influenza Immunization for Homeless People
Ms Blakeman:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After questions in this House about vaccine clinics for the homeless in the inner city a flurry of phone calls erupted from the minister’s office, and on October 30 a clinic opened at the Hope Mission and was then cancelled. Other clinics for the Boyle McCauley health centre, Operation Friendship, and Boyle Street Community Services centre never opened.
The agencies who serve the inner-city population were surprised they were not provided with vaccine to distribute as part of last week’s expansion to include vulnerable people. To the minister of health: what can the minister tell these agencies about timelines now?
Mr. Liepert:
Well, I don’t want to sound like someone who’s going to take another question under advisement, but I have to. It is my understanding, in consultation with the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, that the vaccine had been provided to the homeless. Now, I don’t have where exactly it was provided to the homeless, but I will check into it and get an answer by tomorrow for the member.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman:
Well, thank you. Yes, if the minister can confirm that government will release vaccine supplies to these agencies to administer for the inner-city population of vulnerable people, which, of course, includes the homeless and those who are immune compromised, we would appreciate it.
Mr. Liepert:
I can give the member that assurance. I’m going to ask the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs to supplement the answer, Mr. Speaker.
The Speaker:The hon. member.
Mrs. Fritz:
Thank you. I’m pleased to let you know, Mr. Speaker, that at Hope Mission we did vaccinate 289 people. With the change in the priority plan that has occurred most recently, the homeless are very much in the high-priority area. I can also assure this member that the Boyle health centre will be receiving the vaccine very shortly, I think tomorrow or the next day, and they will be out vaccinating more of the homeless.
The Speaker:The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman:
Thank you. Back to the Minister of Health and Wellness: given that the Edmonton Police Service requested special treatment for its front-line officers and was turned down the same day that a special clinic was held for friends, family, and team members of a hockey club, when will the minister release the ethical guidelines that established the priority ranking for vulnerable people and allowed for these two groups to be treated in the order that they were?
Mr. Liepert:
Well, Mr. Speaker, we’ve dealt with the issue in Calgary relative to what the member raises. I am pleased to say that effective today any of the first responders – firefighters, police – can get vaccinated. They are in that group. They can go to a mass clinic any time today and going forward.
In addition to that, we will be making arrangements today with the various municipalities around the province to provide the vaccine. In most cases the municipalities are wanting to do the vaccination themselves. If they choose to do it that way, we will provide them the vaccine, and those arrangements are being made today by Alberta Health Services.
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