Let me make it clear. I think any system, even within the tiering, allows public health officers within their community.... For instance, there was the priority tier for H1N1. I am absolutely sure that public health officers, hospitals, or whatever made determinations on who we are going to do first and who we are going to do second. That's understandable.
However, I do find it somewhat of an unusual comment, and on the surface not very scientifically based. Maybe there is a more scientific basis for it that I am missing. I would suggest to you that there is no specific criteria that define firefighters differently from other health care workers. I point to Mr. Hills there. There is no defining difference in age between paramedics and firefighters. As I pointed out, in some communities they are the same people. I am not suggesting that if there is overwhelming epidemiological evidence, scientific evidence, to suggest, for instance, that males don't get this disease—and firefighting is still predominantly a male occupation, although it is certainly changing—there could be circumstances that preclude.... I think the guideline allows flexibility for local public health officers to make the decision.