Why aren’t there enough flu vaccines here?

OUR nation is facing an avalanche of influenza cases that could escalate into into an epidemic. People are running from hospital to private clinic to health centres in a frantic search for the flu vaccine only to be turned away with the standard “Sorry, no stock” reply.

Why this absurd state of affairs?

The Health Ministry’s allocation of funds in the national budget is woefully inadequate. Has the government of the day got its priorities right? Why such unpreparedness?

Is it not ironic that the government is toying with the idea of making vaccinations compulsory when here we have a situation in which the vaccines are non-existent.

In Canada, vulnerable groups like children under the age of five, adults aged 65 and above, pregnant women, and those with health issues like asthma, breathing difficulties, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are given free vaccinations.

Giving free vaccinations is a cost effective measure compared with being forced to treat a massive number of flu victims in government hospitals where, among other things, beds are hard to get.

The current practice by distributors is to supply first for use in government hospitals for the police, the army, customs and immigration and VVIPs. The private sector is the second recepient. This anomaly must be addressed. The government must realise that private clinics are in the frontlines of healthcare and as such should not be forced to play second fiddle in receiving the vaccines. Private clinics should receive the vaccines at the same time as government agencies.

It is the paramount responsibility of the government of the day to secure the health and well-being of its citizens. After all “health is wealth”, they say.

DR A. SOORIAN

Seremban