Response To Ontario Government Press Release

VRAN has been informed that “the Ontario government has released the following on the flu vaccine program (to which they are investing $44 Million next year) due to the HUGE success of this years program - "success" is defined in terms of how many shots were given - how perverse is that!”

Full Version Of Press Release

To The Honourable Tony Clement, MPP
Minister of Health and Long Term Care
Government of Ontario,

Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario

29 June 2001

Dear Sir,

Regarding your Press Release entitled "Ontario Launches Campaign to Fight Influenza," dated 27 June 2001, I request your direct response to the following:

You are quoted as saying that "last year's incredible success, with over five million Ontarians vaccinated, illustrated the government's commitment to making Ontarians healthier. This year, we've expanded that pledge to focus on the workplace." It is stated that $44 million will be invested into next year's influenza vaccination campaign.

Is the "success" of last year's campaign evaluated only in terms of the number of vaccine doses administered? Certainly you are aware that this past flu season was extremely mild, with low incidence, throughout the country. Can you direct me to the published studies that demonstrate that Ontario's influenza campaign was a success in terms of efficacy, i.e. influenza prevention, and that we experienced a lower incidence of influenza than any other province in Canada due specifically to the vaccination campaign?

Are there published studies demonstrating that the influenza vaccination campaign in Ontario reduced workplace absenteeism and increased production as the new release suggests?

Can you also please direct me to published studies on the number and types of vaccine associated adverse event reports submitted for this past flu season and similar reports for prior flu seasons? As Ontario is the only province with mandatory VAAE reporting, I am assuming that this information is readily available.

I would also like to be directed to the Ontario Government's cost-benefit analysis for the campaign. Specifically, I would like information on the following:

• - What was the actual savings per Ontarian when accounting for the cost of the vaccine; its administration; wastage; storage; handling; treating influenza-infected vaccinated persons; and, those who experienced VAAEs in comparison to the costs associated with treating influenza-infected unvaccinated persons?



• - How much actual time was lost from work or school due to vaccination (at school, at work, or at the doctor's office), due to VAAEs, or due to infection (for the latter, differentiating between vaccinated and unvaccinated persons)? How does this compare with other years when incidence was similarly low throughout the province and the country?

I will look forward to receiving your prompt reply to my questions as I am very interested in reading the aforementioned reports.

Sincerely,

Catherine J. M. Diodati, M. A