The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector

Published

Specializes in Too many to list.

Here it is at 609 pages in PDF form, it sounds like they are taking this seriously:

The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector - Public Health Agency of Canada

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/index.html]

Recruit professional staff for the pandemic response

Within facilities, consideration should be given to reassigning medical and nursing personnel with administrative, research and educational assignments to clinical duties.

Alternate sources of HCW would include, but are not limited to:

retired physicians/nurses (need to be assurance that work during a pandemic would not affect their pension plans)

physicians/nurses currently not working in clinical health care (i.e., working in education, administration, research, private industry)

trainees (i.e., medical students and nursing students)

registered nursing assistants

patient care assistants

emergency medical technicians

veterinarians

pharmacists

therapists (respiratory/occupational/physio)

technicians (laboratory, radiography)

health care aides

Compelling Workers

Under Emergency Legislation provinces/territories may have the authority to designate “Essential Services” and workers and have the ability to compel people's time or property with due compensation as a last resort.

This issue has been raised both because of the existing shortage of health care workers and concerns that health care workers and others may refuse to work during a pandemic due to changed job responsibilities, fear of infection, family responsibilities or other reasons. However, the Subgroup notes the extreme difficulty of enacting or enforcing such legislation and would strongly encourage the jurisdictions to review all other methods of obtaining health care workers, in advance of a pandemic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Too many to list.

globeandmail.com: Ottawa updates pandemic flu plan

globeandmail.com: Ottawa updates pandemic flu plan]

... pandemic planners estimate that should be enough for everyone... doing away with a need for the priority groups the earlier version of the plan included.

Canada is still, however, looking at the issue of whether antiviral drugs should also be used for prophylaxis...would mean supplies could be stretched across fewer people.

Some people argue that keeping health-care workers and some essential services personnel from becoming sick would reduce the crushing impact a pandemic could have on society.

They say it would ensure hospitals can continue to look after the ill and utilities can continue to function.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is holding focus group-like discussions across the country with representative groups of citizens to get a sense whether Canadians believe the country's antiviral stockpile should be used for both prophylaxis and treatment or for treatment only.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry, I don't get it... why are they making such a big deal out of the influenza virus this time? A new strain arises almost every year if I remember correctly..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Too many to list.
Sorry, I don't get it... why are they making such a big deal out of the influenza virus this time? A new strain arises almost every year if I remember correctly..

Good question. It's because it is not like a seasonal influenza. The current

influenza that has virologists spooked has killed thousands of birds since it became highly pathogenic. It is an avian flu virus that is adapting itself to mammals. The mortality rate in humans is over 60%. The victims are primarily the young, unlike in seasonal flu where it is the elderly. With this virus, H5N1, 80% of those infected are under age 40, and 50% are under age 20. That is very different. Humans have no immunity to this flu, and we have no vaccine to it. There will be no vaccine until 6 to 9 months into an epidemic, and that vaccine will likely not prevent infection, but is hoped to lessen mortality. It can be treated with Tamiflu, an antiviral, but there is only enough to treat a small percentage of the people who may be infected if this virus goes pandemic.

Virologists are telling us that only a few mutations are needed for this virus to become more transmissible to humans. There have been a few cases of human to human infections documented and other cases where it is suspected that this has occurred. The latest fatality in Egypt has given us information that has increased the cause for concern because the viral sequencing has revealed regions of identity with influenza B which is a seasonal flu that is easily transmissible.

Pandemics occur naturally every 30 to 40 years as influenza A viruses mutate. Some are more severe than others. The 1918 virus killed millions and started out (at least two years before becoming pandemic) only killing a few then mutated to become more deadly. That is the concern with H5N1. If not this virus then another will most likely become pandemic is what the experts are saying, and why billions are being spent to deal with this worldwide.

Our concern as healthcare workers is that we are going to be the ones providing the care. We will be at risk with only our personal protective equipment (PPE) as a barrier between us and the virus. If we do not plan now, and get informed, we may find that our healthcare facilities are not adequately prepared to protect us. Question, is there a plan where you work? Have they purchased what will be needed to protect you so that you can do your job? You most likely will not be receiving Tamiflu prophylactically as there is not enough to go around for this. Your PPE

is therefore a real concern.

There is more info in the Pandemic Flu Thread II under Nursing News.

Community education such as this RN is suggesting is an important part of getting ready also. Planning is never wasted as catastrophic events can occur without warning i.e. Katrina, and SARS.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f162/nj-nurses-needed-do-pandemic-community-education-194715.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion