Sattler: Flu vaccine mess must be fixed urgently to save lives

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPP Peggy Sattler (London West) took the concerns of Londoners over the continued lack of flu vaccines to the Ontario legislature Thursday. Sattler asked the government to explain why pharmacies in London still don’t have the supplies of flu vaccine they need despite repeated promises by Doug Ford and his health minister Christine Elliott that there would be enough for everyone.

“Londoner Peter Chaffey emailed me yesterday to express his frustration after attempting unsuccessfully for the twentieth time to get the high-dose flu vaccine at various pharmacies and at his doctor’s office,” said Sattler during question period Thursday.

“Kingsley Abel emailed me last week, frustrated by almost a month of daily calls to local pharmacies and booking multiple doctor appointments only to have to cancel and rebook because no shots were available. Mike Kerr emailed me, saying he is tired of getting the same message week after week: either there are no vaccines, or the allotted quota has been reached,” said Sattler.

Sattler says her office has been inundated with calls and emails from Londoners who want to do the right thing by getting a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their families, only to be turned away by pharmacies who haven’t received the promised shipments.

“Why has this government failed to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines so that Londoners like Peter and Kingsley and Mike can get their flu shots?,” Sattler asked the premier.

“It’s over a month since the Ford government launched what Ontarians were told was the largest flu immunization campaign in the province's history, but so far all we have seen is confusion, delays and frustration,” added Sattler.

Sattler says the Ford government must fix this mess immediately. As we face surging COVID-19 cases and with the winter flu season approaching, lives are at stake and it’s more critical than ever to provide Londoners with the vaccines they were promised.