Newfoundland and Labrador Set to Receive H1N1 Vaccine

Health and Community Services
August 11, 2009
Newfoundland and Labrador Set to Receive H1N1 Vaccine

Newfoundland and Labrador is set to receive 768,089 doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine, enough to immunize any resident of the province, who would need and want the vaccine when it is available in the fall, at no cost to individuals. This is estimated to be about 75 per cent of the population, with the World Health Organization advising that two doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be required per person.

The Honourable Paul Oram, Minister of Health and Community Services, confirmed today that the province will pay 40 per cent of the $6 million cost of the vaccine, resulting in an investment of approximately $2.4 million.

"We felt strongly that this vaccine should be ordered immediately to ensure that our residents are offered the best protection against the H1N1 influenza virus and we are very pleased to see the Federal Government moving to confirm this order," said Minister Oram. "While we would have appreciated further discussion on the cost-sharing approach for this vaccine, we recognize the importance of acting immediately to secure the vaccine for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."

In addition to the $2.4 million invested for the purchase of the vaccine, the Provincial Government invested $4.7 million in 2006 for enhanced health and emergency preparedness, including the establishment of a stockpile of antivirals.

"We anticipate that additional investments will be required by our government to respond to this pandemic for things such as vaccine distribution and health care costs including supplies," said Minister Oram. "I want our residents to be assured that we are prepared to make these necessary investments to mitigate the impacts of this pandemic in our province."

The Department of Health and Community Services and regional health authorities have been jointly planning over the last number of years to respond to an influenza pandemic. In November 2007, the Department of Health and Community Services established Planning Guidelines, Roles and Responsibilities for the Health Sector in the event of a pandemic. In addition, a provincial steering committee on pandemic planning for the health system has been actively working to advance the development of regional and provincial planning for pandemic influenza.

"Prior to the discovery of the H1N1 influenza virus we had already made significant progress in planning for our health care system to respond in the event of a pandemic," said Minister Oram. "We are now building on the plans we have in place as we work diligently to prepare our health system for a potentially more serious and widespread outbreak of the virus in the fall."

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Media contact:

Tara Power
Communications Manager
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-2888, 727-5953
tarapower@gov.nl.ca

2009 08 11 1:05 a.m.

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