wondering if Canada has flu vaccine?

OCCHCanada · Oct 22, 2004

I love the vaccine/cow trade, sounds fair to me LOL

laurasc · Oct 23, 2004

Not so funny - it's already happening! I live in Ontario and U.S. residents in the nearby border towns are trying to make appointments to have their flu shots in Ontario clinics - willing to pay almost anything for them. There is now the fear that Ontario may run out of flu vaccine if the Ontario clinics do this on a large scale. Ontario clinics are now being encouraged to refuse all but Ontario residents.

Our clinic will only give the flu shot to people who have a VALID OHIP card. Those who are not patients have to have their cards cleared through OHIP before they are give the shot.

We have lots of flu shots. There shouldn't be a shortage. The problem is telling our patients that. We started flu shot clinic on Monday and in the first hour alone they gave about 200 shots given by two nurses. People were literally FIGHTING in line. One of our receptionists was yelled at because they thought she was cutting into line.

It's amazing.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 23, 2004

I'm surprised GW hasn't made any snide remarks about our unsafe flu vaccines, in the same way he derided our pharmaceuticals. I'm also mystified about the mad cow thing... fear over maybe developing an orphan disease twenty or thirty years from now from eating a Canadian steak, and not a single Albertan symptomatic or dying from it yet. We eat a ton of beef per person each year, surely someone should have mad cow by now!!! Two junior-high students from my small northern Alberta city have developed what might be a test for mad cow that can be performed on live animals, and the scientific community is agog. Why could two 14 year old boys come up with something like this when all the rest of them couldn't. We'll have to see if it works. but I digress. I got my flu shot on the 12th, no line up, no hassle. My husband had his on the 8th and our son will have his on the 28th.

laurasc · Oct 24, 2004

I'm surprised GW hasn't made any snide remarks about our unsafe flu vaccines, in the same way he derided our pharmaceuticals.

I'm not....One word....BUCK! As in the almighty one, moolah, $$$.

Our pharmaceuticals are costing US pharm companies a mint. Our beef would also cut into the US' beef profits too...now that they know what it's worth. Our softwood lumber too.

BUT...

Our flu vaccines will do "in a pinch".

Some people are saying Canada should not give the US our flu shots until they open the border to our beef. Personally, I like to think that Canada is taking the high road here and helping out our neighbour in need. Although I don't know how on earth 2 million doses will help.

Elly · Nov 17, 2004

Hi there! I am in Ontario and what I am hearing is that we have lots of flu vaccine and I have read there are no restrictions up here. I don't know for sure how true it is , that's just what I am reading in my local paper. We have free clinics in my town and anyone can go in. Hope this helps.

I live in Windsor Ontario which is a border city across from Detroit

Michigan. They do not give flu shots to US residents..Even Canadians have to have 2 valid pieces of ID One has to be a photo ID...There are several clinics giving out shots or you can get them at your local Dr.s office. Where I work the health nurse comes around to the floors ans gives the shots out to the staff....