Meanwhile, in Canada, firefighters in one province were actually ridiculed in writing by a senior provincial health official for daring to ask during the H1N1 pandemic that they be properly recognized as front-line health care workers and be prioritized. In another province, firefighters were turned away from a vacant H1N1 vaccination clinic that had been set up for health care workers at a city hospital.
The firefighters weren't recognized as front-line health care workers despite the fact that they were coming into direct contact with citizens infected with H1N1 in the course of their duties as medical first responders and accompanying them to the hospital.
This is typical of what we saw during the H1N1 pandemic and the vaccine rollout. Some firefighters were successful in getting priority, but many weren't. A patchwork of protections was in place.
In testimony here Tuesday, we heard about the need to maintain flexibility in vaccination prioritization so that a vaccine can be targeted to those in the greatest need. Provincial and local health officials will still have a say in the final vaccine sequencing, so the federal government should not be afraid to formalize language that recognizes firefighters as front-line health care providers and as essential service providers who need to be protected.
I would add that in Canada, 50.4 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine were ordered, and there are approximately 25,000 professional firefighters. In the city of Ottawa, for example, you're talking about prioritizing an extra 900 individuals who could be vaccinated by paramedics in fire halls, thus not taking space in vaccination clinics for at-risk public groups. In many places, such as Saskatoon, firefighters did receive priority vaccination without any recorded consequences to other groups.
The Canadian pandemic influenza plan includes a good discussion about vaccine prioritization, including some good language about the recognition of firefighters as health care workers and the need to protect firefighters in order to minimize the societal impact of the pandemic. Unfortunately, these facts seemed lost when the Public Health Agency's guidance in H1N1 vaccine sequencing was drafted and released to the provinces.
The IAFF believes that all Canadians are deserving of an equal level of protection in the event of an influenza pandemic, and we believe that the Government of Canada has the responsibility to create a clear, nationwide protocol for vaccine sequencing that considers the protection of all facets of the nation's critical infrastructure.
We also understand that consultation is now under way on a revision of the plan, including vaccine prioritization. The International Association of Fire Fighters, Canadian Office, would welcome the opportunity to be a stakeholder in those discussions and also when future vaccine guidance is being drafted in response to a future pandemic.
To clarify testimony delivered here on Tuesday, the IAFF was not consulted by the Public Health Agency of Canada on this issue until yesterday.
In closing, we request the committee to recommend that the Government of Canada, through the Public Health Agency of Canada, clearly state in the Canadian pandemic influenza plan and in any subsequent vaccine sequencing guidance that professional firefighters should be included among the first to be eligible for available vaccines and antivirals in the event of an influenza pandemic, in recognition of their role as front-line medical first responders as well as the need to protect the nation's emergency services infrastructure.
The IAFF appreciates the committee's consideration of our views and our recommendation, and I am glad to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.