Ontario’s Former Top Doc Says No Need To Panic Over H1N1

The death of a 13-year-old boy, seemingly never-ending lines at H1N1 vaccination clinics and “alarmist” language has many people confused and concerned about the current influenza outbreak, but Ontario’s former top doctor said a little perspective is needed to ease frazzled nerves.

Dr. Richard Schabas said the risk of serious illness or death among the healthy general public is very low.

 “Yes, we are seeing a flu outbreak in southern Ontario. Right now we’re probably pretty much at the peak of that outbreak as we speak and what that means is a lot of people are getting a little ill, but as we could predict … very, very few people are getting seriously ill and ultimately very few people are dying from this,” the former provincial chief medical officer explained.

“So people have to put this in perspective. This is really no worse than a normal flu season. It’s just being blown out of all proportion, by unfortunately the alarmist talk which has come from some public health experts and also by the way the media is making just a complete meal out of this.”

He also expressed concern about who is getting the flu shot right now. Public health units have clearly stated the first wave of immunizations are for high-risk groups only, yet healthy people have been lining up for the jab.

On Thursday Canada’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones said temporary shortages of the vaccine are expected in the next two weeks, because the manufacturer has been asked to start producing more adjuvant-free shots for pregnant women.

“Basically what they’re doing is they’re taking the vaccine out of the arms of the people who really need it.”

So far, 30 people have died of the H1N1 virus in Ontario. Complications from seasonal flu kill approximately 2,000 people a year.

“We do have a small number of children die every year from influenza and we expect to see a few more children … die this year because that’s one of the characteristics of the H1N1 virus is that it does tend to infect more children,” he explained.

“But this is not unexpected. It’s not an indication that the virus has changed or the risk has changed, we have to keep it in perspective and recognize that for the healthy general public the risks are very, very small.”

The former provincial top doctor also had a message of calm for families, many of whom may not have access to the vaccine right now due to the long lines or the fact their doctors aren’t offering it.

“Carry on with your lives, this thing is going to pass, we’re going to see a downturn very soon and it’s something that should not unduly disrupt the lives of people.”