New wristband policy in Ottawa H1N1 Clinics

A new wristband policy has been enacted in all Ottawa H1N1 immunization clinics. It states that anyone who wishes to get their flu shot must get a wristband, and cannot take it off anywhere but the clinic. The reason behind this policy is to prevent fraud, as people have advertised on the internet that they would be willing to stand in 3+ hour lines for someone else to get their flu shot for a fee.

Of course people do not want to wait hours in line to get a flu shot, even if it can prevent them from getting H1N1 and potentially save their life, but this could become a serious issue. In a city as big as Ottawa, clinics are lined up so that some people have to wait upwards of four hours to get their shot. People who offer a service like this cheat honest people out of getting their shot. This policy was a good idea to enact, but I think something still should be done to make clinics more efficient in giving out the vaccine, so that even if this service was allowed, it would not be as much of a service to employ.


Article courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/wristband%20policy%20counter%20fraud%20H1N1%20clinics/2172325/story.html