Many Regional Clinics Postponed

Due to a shortage of vaccine, all H1N1 Vaccination clinics scheduled for the next week have been temporarily postponed in Saint John and surrounding areas.
Clinics for priority groups in Grand Manan, Deer Island and Campobello Island will remain on.
The postponed clinics are:


Kennebecasis Park Elementary School 10 Broadway St.
Hazen White/St Francis School 538 Sandy Point Rd.
Millidgeville North School 500 Woodward Ave.
Prince Charles School 317-319 Union St.
M. Gerald Teed Memorial School 151 Black St.
Forest Hills School 15 Glengarry Dr.
St Martin's School 69 Main St.
Fundy Shores Elementary School 1095 Rte 790
Westfield Elementary School 147 Nerepis Rd.
Hampton Middle School 11 School St.
Quispamsis Middle School 189 Pettingill Rd.
Harry Miller Middle School 63 Hampton Rd.
Lorne Middle School 90 Newman St.
Seawood Elementary School 859 Sand Cove Rd
Ecole Samuel de Champlain, SJ 67 Ragged Point Rd.
Sussex Middle School 49 Bryant Dr.
St Stephen High School 9372 Rte 3
Simonds High School 1490 Hickey Rd.
Barnhill Memorial Middle School 750 Manawagonish Rd. W
Princess Elizabeth School 20 Sixth St.
Kennebecasis Valley High School 398 Hampton Rd.
Sussex Regional High School 55 Leonard Dr.
New Brunswick Community College Saint John 950 Grandview Ave.
Beaconsfield Middle School 630 Fundy Dr.
Saint John High School 1490 Hickey Rd.
Sir James Dunn Academy, St. Andrews 180 King St.
Hampton High School 34 Elizabeth Ave.
Rothesay High School 61 Hampton Rd.
Universtiy of New Brunswick Saint John 100 Tucker Park Rd., Rm 112 Athletics Centre
St Malachy's High School 2-20 Leinster St.
Harbourview High School 305 Douglas Ave.
Fundy High School 44 Mount Pleasant Rd.
St Stephen Middle School 11 School St.
New Brunswick Community College St Andrew's 99 Augustus St.
For more information: go to www.gnb.ca/flu or call 1-800-580-0038.

Flu Hot Line Flooded With Calls

The province's flu hotline has been jammed with calls over the past couple of days -- Health Department spokesperson Roberto O'Regan says the call volume peaked over the weekend at 95-hundred calls on one day.
O'Regan says more staff and nurses have been hired to handle the call volume and reduce wait times.
The toll free flu hot line number is 1-800-580-0038 or check online info here.

Prisoners In Provincial Jails Still On Flu Priority List

(Dr Eilish Cleary - file photo)

It's on hold for now -- but -- public health officials are still planning to give prisoners in provincial jails the H-1-N-1 flu shot -- those clinics have been temporarily scrubbed due a growing shortage of the vaccine.
Chief Medical Health Officer - Dr Eilish Cleary - says they're a priority given their housed in close quarters and many are suffering from chronic conditions.
Cleary says correctional officers were also scheduled to receive the shots because it made sense to do them while giving the inmates shots.

Please Do Not Visit If You Are Sick

The Horizon Health Network's hospitals and health care facilities are asking anyone with flu-like symptons not to visit patients in the hospital.

Those symptoms include cough, fever, aches and pains, sore throat, and runny nose.
They believe this preventative measure will help protect patients with compromised immune systems from getting sick.
If you need to visit, you will be asked to wear a mask and to clean your hands.
All visitors entering and leaving Horizon Health Network facilities are asked to use hand sanitizer located at all entrances.

NB Power Employee Speaks Out on NB Power Sale of Assets

An employee with NB Power is calling the proposed deal between NB Power and Quebec Hydro that would result in the provincial utility's assets being sold off, a monopolization of the Eastern Seaboard power grid. Roger Stoddard is out on long term disability with the company and tells CHSJ News Hydro-Quebec will have the say on what goes on in our own energy corridor.

Stoddard also says employees within NB Power have been muzzled---and told not to say anything on the issue. Energy Minister Jack Keir says he is not aware of any such instructions.

Local MLA Opposes Proposed Sale of NB Power Assets

The Saint John-Portland MLA thinks Energy minister Jack Keir is from another planet if he thinks energy policy won't change if the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec goes through. Trevor Holder tell CHSJ news the government has to go the polls now, hold a referendum or put a moratorium on the issue until next fall's election.

He says if the Graham government wanted to give every day New Brunswickers a break, they should have given them the same deal as the large industrial users.

Mayor Against Proposed User Pay Garbage Collection Plan

Common council has passed a motion that council consider the merits of the user pay system. But Mayor Ivan Court says there is no way he can support implementing a service that increases the cost of solid waste services to the poor, but gives richer citizens a tax break. Court says the user pay proposal is taking advantage of the most vulnerable.

Court says the service needs to be affordable to everyone, and it cannot be maintained on the backs of the poor.

City Considers New User Pay Garbage Collection System

Common Council is getting a look at the price associated with switching to a user pay system for residential solid waste. Commissioner of Municipal Operations Paul Groody says as it looks right now every resident will pay $173.52 for services, which depending on the value of your home could be more or less than you are currently paying.

Groody says the benefits of a user pay system would be it would put the responsibilty of how much you pay directly on the shoulders of those creating waste.