Editorial — Doctors are trusted

The H1N1 vaccination program has foundered for two reasons — the believability of public health spokesman, and an initial shortage of supply.

Public opinion surveys had indicated that many people did not plan to get the H1N1 vaccine. There was also a considerable amount of skepticism, fed by web chatter.

This prompted both the chief public health officer of Canada and various provincial health officers to come out and urge people to get vaccinated. Their remarks were widely publicized and frequently repeated. In addition, various government agencies advertised the need for people to get vaccinated.

Is it any surprise that many people took them at their word? While the intent was to hand out the vaccine to high-risk individuals first, public health agencies didn’t get as much vaccine as they expected, due to several manufacturing and distribution issues.

Thus the line-ups at doctors’ offices and clinics began, and a shortage of vaccine was exacerbated by a much larger number of willing recipients than anyone had expected.

This is not necessarily a big problem. It is reassuring that people do trust the word of medical health officers, who are expert at what they do. If they assure the public that a vaccine is safe, most members of the public choose to believe them.

Canadians have always had a high level of acceptance of vaccines. There is not been the high degree of skepticism that exists in many pockets of the United States, and thus most Canadians are less likely to get serious illnesses like polio and diptheria, which vaccinations prevent.

In their hearts, the public health officers probably knew that — yet they may have overestimated the power of the skeptics. Most Canadians know that there is plenty of misinformation out there, and look to reliable officials to set the record straight.

As for the shortage of vaccine, it’s a fact of life. It is not the government’s fault, nor can much be done instantly. It takes time for enough vaccine to be produced, and that means that some people will have to wait a few weeks longer for their vaccinations.

This is not a big deal. It’s a good excuse to practise higher levels of personal hygiene, and to stay away from work and school if you are sick.

Let’s be realistic about vaccination and not fall victim to hysteria or political finger-pointing.

—Frank Bucholtz

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