Beyond belief

I've made an effort on this blog to not duplicate or rehash what I say on other forums. But sometimes it's just not possible. Sometimes things have to be said until someone takes note and does something. Not that anyone's reading the blog of course.

Because H1N1 is more likely to hit people with underlying health conditions and more likely to cause them complications, New Brunswick - as with other provinces - included them in a 'priority group' for early vaccinations.

When the clinic was announced for all the people in the priority group, nothing was done about spreading the load or ensuring that priority people would get their shots.

Not surprisingly the clinic was swamped by many non priority people who got their shots either by lying (which many have since admitted) or as a result of the policy not to turn anybody away; a not unreasonable policy for where someone was necessarily attending with the person at risk, but not good where people simply turned up because they felt like it.

Many couldn't wait three hours minimum in line outside in sub zero temeratures and, since then, priorities changed and no longer include the sick and disabled. Masses of clinics have been cancelled, while other places have organised things better.

The new priority group includes some healthy people but excludes those at greater risk of complications. They were supposed to be accounted for in other ways.

Don't know what's happened but finally they have announced vaccination clinics for those not in the new priority group. Is it for those displaced from the original priority group; those at most risk from complications?

Nope.

It's for everyone. That means the clinics willl be even more swamped than the one last week because, now, it won't just be those prepared to lie and take advantage, it'll be everyone.

And who will be the ones less able to stand in line for hours? Either outside when it's likely even colder or inside in a confined space huddled with hundreds (thousands?) of other people in conditions ripe for passing things on?

It really is beyond belief