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Edmonton emergency medical workers are bearing the stress of the H1N1 pandemic while some are still waiting for their own vaccinations, says their union boss.
"They don't want to get (the flu), they don't want to take it home to their families. There's always some apprehension about these types of things, but we're doing the best we can under the circumstances, I think," said Gerry Wiles, president of CUPE Local 1397, which represents Edmonton's ambulance workers.
CALLS SWELL
Workers are feeling the stress as the number of calls swell with flu sufferers, said Wiles.
Some workers are rumoured to have the flu themselves, he said.
"There will probably be a number of (emergency workers) who get this illness," he said.
Wiles didn't know exactly how many staff are off-duty because of H1N1.
Responders are on the "high risk" list, giving them priority in getting the H1N1 vaccine.
Inoculations are ongoing this week, said Wiles, even as public clinics are limited to young children and pregnant mothers.
"I'm sure that not everyone got vaccinated yet, but they're working on vaccinating everyone they can," he said.
Alberta Health Services, which manages EMS services, has not advised Wiles of specific immunization plans for his members, he said.
In the meantime, ambulance attendants are trying to combat infection by wearing disposable masks and gowns, along with glasses and gloves.
"Normally, we don't do all those precautions for every call. When it's flu-like symptoms, we're told in advance and we have to use the safety precautions," he said.
Wiles doesn't know when immunizations for his members will be finished.
RICHARD.LIEBRECHT@SUNMEDIA.CA