As the flu shot campaign continues in Quebec, some people say the government is neglecting older people.
Seniors over the age of 65 -- even those with chronic illnesses -- are near the bottom of the priority list.
Seniors with chronic health problems can get their shots as of Nov. 30, while those in good health will have to wait until Dec. 7.
Retiree Chaia Libstug, a senior citizen who volunteers her time to help other retirees at the Cummings Center in Cote St. Luc, is not impressed.
"Why should I wait three weeks? I have a granddaughter who is sick, and a son who's also sick with the flu," she said.
Seniors are not prioritized because some in the scientific community have said that most people born before 1957 have some immunity from H1N1 -- since they were born in the aftermath of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic,
That logic, however, is questioned by seniors such as retired doctor Nyla Grossman.
"I would like them to show me an anti-body study and show that I'm immune. That would make a difference," Grossman said.
Of the 11 confirmed deaths so far in Quebec since September, six were seniors.
"There's so many contradictions here that we get nervous," said Irve Gubitz, a resident at the Cummings Centre.
Dr. Michael Libman, director of the division of infectious diseases at the MUHC, says the vaccine shortage has forced health authorities to set priorities based on cold, hard facts.
"Saving a child, for example, life saves a lot more years than saving an elderly person -- without making any kind of moral judgment about whose life may be more valuable," Libman said.
Health minister warns of possible flu vaccine shortages
At a press conference in Quebec City Tuesday afternoon, Health Minister Yves Bolduc announced that the government is expecting to have a very low supply of vaccine in the next few days.
Bolduc said it's possible some centres may even have to close for a couple of days -- but if that happens, he expects supplies to be replenished quite quickly.
Health authorities also addressed how they plan to vaccinate school-aged children.
Vaccinations for youth aged 5 to 18 are scheduled to begin Dec. 7.
Instead of bringing the vaccine into schools, the government wants to transport students by bus to mass vaccination centres.
"If you bring students to big massive places, you can vaccinate more than 320 (people) per hour -- so imagine, in one day, you can do a lot of schools," said Dr. Horacio Arruda, the director of Quebec's Department of Public Health Protection.
The details of the plan have not yet been finalized, and Montreal's public health agency has not yet commented on the proposal.
Update on ER situation at Montreal Children's
The Montreal Children's Hospital is still dealing with a huge volume of young patients in its ER, but officials at the hospital say those with the flu have mild cases.
Officials also noted that lots of parents are worried about children who develop fever after getting vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.
Dr. Harley Eisman, medical director of the Emergency Department at Children's says a fever is a sign the body is developing the desired response to the vaccine.
"Fevers ranging from six hours to 24, 48 hours after the vaccine, some of the children have been a little sleepy, lethargic, feeling ill, have to lie down -- and that is a normal reaction to the vaccine. There's also a good amount of pain in the area and sometimes you get (a) mild runny nose. Those are all normal vaccine reactions," he said.
Eisman added that if parents are still worried, they should consult their child's doctor or go to a clinic.
