OTTAWA — Angrily denouncing the “myths” circulating about the new H1N1 flu vaccine, Canada’s chief public health officer delivered an impassioned plea Friday for all Canadians to get immunized as soon as possible.
Dr. David Butler-Jones said if Canadians start doubting the scientific evidence that is in favour of vaccines, they “risk losing ground” in the battle to wipe out major diseases.
“The worst thing that could happen is people listen to these claims. I just saw somebody on the news this morning claiming neurological damage from vaccines. That is just plain not true, but it persists,” he said.
Hot Button: What myths have you heard about the H1N1 vaccine?
On Wednesday, Health Canada approved the H1N1 flu vaccine, and wide-scale immunization will be underway next week. The approval comes just in time: The federal government said Friday the “second wave” of the pandemic has taken hold nationwide.
But surveys in the United States and Canada suggest much of the public is leery of getting inoculated. A Decima poll earlier this month found only about one-third of Canadians planned to get the vaccine, down from 45% in August. A September poll in the United States found similar results.
“Some are worried about either vaccine efficacy or possible side effects, even though we’ve got the message out there to reassure them that all the scientific checks and balances have been complied with,” said Dr. Anne Doig, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
As well, getting immunized means a person does not spread the illness to others, she noted. “To a certain extent, we are very selfish people. We are very focused on what this means for me and not focused on what it means for my society, my community.”
In a bid to battle skepticism, health authorities have ramped up their rhetoric. Butler-Jones said bluntly Friday: “There is a very real risk of the flu. Even in its mildest form it’s miserable, and at its worst it kills or puts into the ICU and onto ventilary support perfectly previously healthy young people.”
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq added half the deaths from H1N1 in the United States last week were among “perfectly healthy children.”
The virus has contributed to 86 deaths in Canada since the spring.
Aglukkaq said testing of the vaccine so far has shown it to be 85-98% effective in healthy adults. Meanwhile, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline said the first clinical trials in children suggest one dose may be sufficient to protect them from the virus. Canada’s current guidelines for children between six months and nine years of age call for two half-doses administered three weeks apart.
christina.spencer@sunmedia.ca
