Comments on: An open letter to the people running the Walter Baker H1N1 vaccine clinic http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:55:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: The “Moms fight the flu” blog tour http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-119480 The “Moms fight the flu” blog tour Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:17 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-119480 [...] been a little over three weeks since we all received our H1N1 vaccines. Tomorrow, if all goes according to plan, I’ll be taking Lucas for his booster shot. (If you [...] [...] been a little over three weeks since we all received our H1N1 vaccines. Tomorrow, if all goes according to plan, I’ll be taking Lucas for his booster shot. (If you [...]

]]> By: mom of the busy toddler http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-112600 mom of the busy toddler Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:08:25 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-112600 First of all, I'm happy to hear that your experience was a good one. Ours was a good one too. It was a long process to decide if we should receive vaccines. We were concerned that our 20 month old would have a reaction to the vaccine. As an adult with asthma and health care worker, I didn't want hang out in close quarters with possibly ill people. After hearing that there had been no adverse effects from the vaccine on children and that people in our circles were getting pretty ill, we decided to do it. I think I will use part of this to send to the city. We didn't receive our vaccines from Ottawa Public Health. We got ours at Riverside Hospital. My mom-in-law works there and after vaccinating the employees, they offered it to their families. Including paperwork and sitting for 15 minutes post vaccine, it took us 30 min. They had huge amounts of volunteers to get you from forms, to intake, to the nurses and waiting areas. I'm sure they vaccinated huge amounts of people this way. Maybe ottawa public health should call out for volunteers to help get the vaccine to people who need it now. From a personal viewpoint the people who seem to be getting it are school age children. I think they should be priority soon. Here's hoping that little people don't need the 2nd shot. Thank you! First of all, I’m happy to hear that your experience was a good one. Ours was a good one too.

It was a long process to decide if we should receive vaccines. We were concerned that our 20 month old would have a reaction to the vaccine. As an adult with asthma and health care worker, I didn’t want hang out in close quarters with possibly ill people. After hearing that there had been no adverse effects from the vaccine on children and that people in our circles were getting pretty ill, we decided to do it.

I think I will use part of this to send to the city. We didn’t receive our vaccines from Ottawa Public Health. We got ours at Riverside Hospital. My mom-in-law works there and after vaccinating the employees, they offered it to their families.

Including paperwork and sitting for 15 minutes post vaccine, it took us 30 min. They had huge amounts of volunteers to get you from forms, to intake, to the nurses and waiting areas.

I’m sure they vaccinated huge amounts of people this way. Maybe ottawa public health should call out for volunteers to help get the vaccine to people who need it now. From a personal viewpoint the people who seem to be getting it are school age children. I think they should be priority soon.

Here’s hoping that little people don’t need the 2nd shot.

Thank you!

]]> By: TA http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-111163 TA Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:32:35 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-111163 I can now answer my own question so thought I would post again. I experienced disaster at Vanier clinic location in Ottawa today. I stood in the rain for two hours (1:00-3:00 pm) hoping for bracelets so I could go back tonight at the designated time with my three young kids. The clinic hours were posted as 2:30-8:00pm. However people started lining up at 7:00 am. They gave out 500 bracelets starting at 2:00 pm. (they were for various time slots for this evening) . People were allowed bracelets for members of their immediate family that are on the priority list. I would have taken 4 (three for my kids and one for asthmatic self). So you can see that the first 200 people in line took the 500 bracelets. This mathematical exercise could have been concluded by 9:00 or 10:00 am. There were hundreds of parents, babies, small children all outside in the cold rain. There is almost no parking at this location and the neighbourhood streets are a mess with no parking signs everywhere. We were officially asked/encouraged to let friends know how the process works! (Or doesn't work in this case) Why not simply update the Ottawa.ca and the Twitter feed! Another useful tip..they are not accepting the online consent form for some reason so pick up the copy if ever you are lucky enough to get a bracelet. It seems that now that I have actually decided I want the shot for my family that it will be very hard to get it ! I can now answer my own question so thought I would post again. I experienced disaster at Vanier clinic location in Ottawa today. I stood in the rain for two hours (1:00-3:00 pm) hoping for bracelets so I could go back tonight at the designated time with my three young kids. The clinic hours were posted as 2:30-8:00pm. However people started lining up at 7:00 am. They gave out 500 bracelets starting at 2:00 pm. (they were for various time slots for this evening) . People were allowed bracelets for members of their immediate family that are on the priority list. I would have taken 4 (three for my kids and one for asthmatic self). So you can see that the first 200 people in line took the 500 bracelets. This mathematical exercise could have been concluded by 9:00 or 10:00 am. There were hundreds of parents, babies, small children all outside in the cold rain. There is almost no parking at this location and the neighbourhood streets are a mess with no parking signs everywhere.

We were officially asked/encouraged to let friends know how the process works! (Or doesn’t work in this case) Why not simply update the Ottawa.ca and the Twitter feed! Another useful tip..they are not accepting the online consent form for some reason so pick up the copy if ever you are lucky enough to get a bracelet. It seems that now that I have actually decided I want the shot for my family that it will be very hard to get it !

]]> By: DaniGirl http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-111135 DaniGirl Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:47:31 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-111135 TA, it seems to change from place to place and even day to day. It's really not clear what today's policy is. Good luck to you! TA, it seems to change from place to place and even day to day. It’s really not clear what today’s policy is. Good luck to you!

]]> By: TA http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-111124 TA Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:17:50 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-111124 Question... does the whole family need to be there to get bracelets or can 1 parent go and get 5 bracelets. Why can't they have these FAQs on the ottawa.ca site ??!!! Moms who help other moms rock. THanks to you all. Question… does the whole family need to be there to get bracelets or can 1 parent go and get 5 bracelets. Why can’t they have these FAQs on the ottawa.ca site ??!!! Moms who help other moms rock. THanks to you all.

]]> By: Jen http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110938 Jen Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:12:11 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110938 I'm just very interested to hear that in Ottawa you're actually able to get the vaccine! I had mine yesterday because I have an autoimmune disease and take pretty heavy immunosuppressants - but even I wouldn't have qualified except that I happened to be at my doctor's office anyway and he offered it, knowing my medical issues. However, no one here (in BC) is supposed to be getting it except for (a) pregnant women past 20 weeks, and (b) the critically ill (i.e., those on chemotherapy or with HIV). I hate to think it's just another case of you folks in Ontario getting preferential treatment over the rest of us, but...history kind of speaks for itself. Kind of depressing, to tell you the truth. I’m just very interested to hear that in Ottawa you’re actually able to get the vaccine! I had mine yesterday because I have an autoimmune disease and take pretty heavy immunosuppressants – but even I wouldn’t have qualified except that I happened to be at my doctor’s office anyway and he offered it, knowing my medical issues. However, no one here (in BC) is supposed to be getting it except for (a) pregnant women past 20 weeks, and (b) the critically ill (i.e., those on chemotherapy or with HIV). I hate to think it’s just another case of you folks in Ontario getting preferential treatment over the rest of us, but…history kind of speaks for itself. Kind of depressing, to tell you the truth.

]]> By: Angela ( jhscrapmom) http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110700 Angela ( jhscrapmom) Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:41:47 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110700 you had an awesome flu vac experience and we had an awesome emergency room experience,lol. i think the h1n1 is making us nicer to each other;). shared panic can go both ways, i think, and i am glad to hear it went well for the both of us. flu clinics open in cornwall tomorrow and everyone is quite anxious. it is just ridiculous how many people have been touched by the virus here. i know it is nowhere near as prevalent in toronto ( my sister is having mild anxiety over pediatricians recommending against the vaccination at this point) and the take on it is very different. i hope you guys remain healthy:)). we have opted to keep holly out of school for a few more days, even with the vaccination, ensuring that she is as protected as she can be. with alex now having h1n1 ( still can not believe my "boy in the bubble" has it... when worst scenarios come true...that is this week in my life ), i feel i would be remiss sending her back to school as a risk. so she is in one part of the house, not allowed to interact with her brother and we are in the other. disinfecting as we go... could it be may already, please????? you had an awesome flu vac experience and we had an awesome emergency room experience,lol. i think the h1n1 is making us nicer to each other;). shared panic can go both ways, i think, and i am glad to hear it went well for the both of us.

flu clinics open in cornwall tomorrow and everyone is quite anxious. it is just ridiculous how many people have been touched by the virus here. i know it is nowhere near as prevalent in toronto ( my sister is having mild anxiety over pediatricians recommending against the vaccination at this point) and the take on it is very different.

i hope you guys remain healthy:)). we have opted to keep holly out of school for a few more days, even with the vaccination, ensuring that she is as protected as she can be. with alex now having h1n1 ( still can not believe my “boy in the bubble” has it… when worst scenarios come true…that is this week in my life ), i feel i would be remiss sending her back to school as a risk. so she is in one part of the house, not allowed to interact with her brother and we are in the other. disinfecting as we go…

could it be may already, please?????

]]> By: DaniGirl http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110678 DaniGirl Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:55:15 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110678 Michelle, there won't be another clinic at Walter Baker until late November. My mom went over around 11:00 today and they were already full up. You can find a complete list of Ottawa clinics here: http://ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/swine_influenza/h1n1_clinics_en.html Michelle, there won’t be another clinic at Walter Baker until late November. My mom went over around 11:00 today and they were already full up. You can find a complete list of Ottawa clinics here: http://ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/swine_influenza/h1n1_clinics_en.html

]]> By: Mary @ Parenthood http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110616 Mary @ Parenthood Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:49:02 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110616 I meant the Nepean locations. Erm. I am hearing good things about Kanata too though. I meant the Nepean locations. Erm. I am hearing good things about Kanata too though.

]]> By: Mary @ Parenthood http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110610 Mary @ Parenthood Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:47:31 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110610 Sounds like the kanata locations REALLY have their act together. I highly recommend going there instead of one of the downtown locations which (by all accounts) still don't. I mean, they were nice and all, but efficient is not a word that could be applied... Sounds like the kanata locations REALLY have their act together. I highly recommend going there instead of one of the downtown locations which (by all accounts) still don’t. I mean, they were nice and all, but efficient is not a word that could be applied…

]]> By: Michelle http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110588 Michelle Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:05:32 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110588 I have been trying to find a clinic offering this and it was around the corner from my house YESTERDAY? Crap. You don't happen to know if/when they are offering another? I have been trying to find a clinic offering this and it was around the corner from my house YESTERDAY? Crap. You don’t happen to know if/when they are offering another?

]]> By: Brie http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110561 Brie Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:07:25 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110561 This is good to know. I am still figuring out how to work getting the vaccine. I appreciate hearing how it went for you. This is good to know. I am still figuring out how to work getting the vaccine. I appreciate hearing how it went for you.

]]> By: Guillermo http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110549 Guillermo Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:08:26 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110549 Well... At least now I'll have a reason to be optimistic when I drop by the Walter Baker place. Thanks for the story. Well… At least now I’ll have a reason to be optimistic when I drop by the Walter Baker place. Thanks for the story.

]]> By: Chantal http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110546 Chantal Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:55:25 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110546 This is my post about the KRC experience: http://chantal-blogaholic.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-experience-with-flu-shot.html This is my post about the KRC experience: http://chantal-blogaholic.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-experience-with-flu-shot.html

]]> By: Chantal http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110509 Chantal Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:03:08 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110509 It seems things are run differently at each location (at least between KRC and Barrehaven). I wasn't going to write about my experience, but maybe I will. If it helps someone not have to wait the hours that I did then it would be good. BTW I never blamed the staff, or got angry with anyone there. I found that most people were very pleasant even when faced with hours of sitting around. I made sure I was pleasant to every staff person I talked to and thanked them. It is the least I could do. I may have had a 7 hour wait (not all sitting there) but they were probably working 10-12 hours shifts (possibly longer) and deserve lots of kudos. It seems things are run differently at each location (at least between KRC and Barrehaven). I wasn’t going to write about my experience, but maybe I will. If it helps someone not have to wait the hours that I did then it would be good. BTW I never blamed the staff, or got angry with anyone there. I found that most people were very pleasant even when faced with hours of sitting around. I made sure I was pleasant to every staff person I talked to and thanked them. It is the least I could do. I may have had a 7 hour wait (not all sitting there) but they were probably working 10-12 hours shifts (possibly longer) and deserve lots of kudos.

]]> By: Lana http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110508 Lana Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:02:47 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110508 I noticed that the city now has the registration forms on their site so you can fill them in ahead of time! Handy! I found out that we are considered high priority due to our little guy and his health, so I'm going to attempt going today. Am I crazy? http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/swine_influenza/h1n1_clinics_en.html I noticed that the city now has the registration forms on their site so you can fill them in ahead of time! Handy! I found out that we are considered high priority due to our little guy and his health, so I’m going to attempt going today. Am I crazy?

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/swine_influenza/h1n1_clinics_en.html

]]> By: Shannon http://danigirl.ca/blog/2009/10/29/an-open-letter-to-the-people-running-the-walter-baker-h1n1-vaccine-clinic/comment-page-1/#comment-110507 Shannon Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:02:08 +0000 http://danigirl.ca/blog/?p=3107#comment-110507 I'm glad to hear a positive experience about this. I mean, a week ago these vaccines weren't even available in Ottawa and I think we need to focus on how many people the city has successfully managed to vaccinate in such a short time. Of course there will be flaws, but with hundreds and hundreds of people lining up to get the vaccine at locations not really equipped to handle such crowds, I am really pleased to hear someone reaching out to say thank you. Glad it went well - you're motivating me to get my family out in the next couple days! I’m glad to hear a positive experience about this. I mean, a week ago these vaccines weren’t even available in Ottawa and I think we need to focus on how many people the city has successfully managed to vaccinate in such a short time. Of course there will be flaws, but with hundreds and hundreds of people lining up to get the vaccine at locations not really equipped to handle such crowds, I am really pleased to hear someone reaching out to say thank you.

Glad it went well – you’re motivating me to get my family out in the next couple days!

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