The McGuinty government needs to take immediate action to ensure Ontario families aren’t left waiting for hours – sometimes days – for access to the H1N1 vaccine, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said today.

“Ontarians have told us they’ve had to wait up to seven hours to speak to a Telehealth nurse, and some were sent home from clinics after spending nearly a day waiting in line for the vaccine,” Horwath said. “The health minister today told Ontarians in need of care to visit a web site, but she should instead be standing up to announce a plan to bring waits down.”

Horwath said there are reasonable, pragmatic steps the government can take to ensure families can get timely access to the vaccine. Extending clinic hours and improving communication to ensure priority groups are vaccinated first and other Ontarians aren’t left to languish in line would be good first steps, she said.

“This government should be telling Ontario families that help is on the way,” said Horwath. “Instead, they’re being told they’ll just have to wait.”