Ontario: Private-clinic patients jump the line for flu shot

The Medcan Clinic , a pay-for-service private health-care provider, received 3000 doses of H1N1 vaccine from Toronto Public Health Friday.

Opening your wallet wide may lead to quickly rolling up your sleeve, at least in Toronto, as the pay-for-service Medcan Clinic received 3000 doses of adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine from Toronto Public Health Friday. As others in the city and across the country lined-up for hours for the chance to receive their H1N1 flu vaccination from the dwindling supply of vaccine, thousands of clients of a private Toronto clinic were able to make appointments for themselves and their families. The one caveat: To get the vaccine, they and/or their family members must be among one of the high-risk groups. If Medcan does not adhere to this policy, part of the agreement they made with the public health department, the clinic risks losing the right to have, and to administer, the vaccine. A comprehensive executive health assessment at the clinic costs about $2300 as it is not covered by OHIP. On the bright side, the flu shot is free, there is no waiting, and parking is not a problem — Medcan offers valet parking for clients for only $30 Monday to Friday from early morning to late afternoon. The clinic’s medical director James Aw said, "We’re just trying to get the vaccine into Canadian arms as soon as we can, and . . . to patients that would benefit the most." He said that demand for the much sought after vaccine has far exceeded the clinic’s 3,000 doses and the clinic's phone is still ringing off the hook. The clinic’s physicians and health-care workers and are in luck; No line-ups and no telephone tag for them as they qualify for the vaccine right now.