Health and Community Services
January 13, 2014
Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Residents
Minister Provides Further Update on Provincial Flu Vaccination Program
The Provincial Government is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada and other provinces to secure more than 40,000 vaccines for use in Newfoundland and Labrador. The vaccines are expected to be received over the next three weeks and will be made available to the public in a staged manner that focuses on those most at risk. Since Friday, January 10, 2,500 doses of vaccine have been received and distribution will focus on children under five years of age and pregnant women.
“Nationally, interest in vaccine outpaces available supply. We have
worked with our counterparts across Canada to secure additional vaccine for
use in our province. While more vaccine is expected to be secured in
Newfoundland and Labrador over the coming days and weeks, at this time we
have asked regional health authorities to target their efforts on children
under age five and pregnant women as they have been shown to be at higher
risk from the complications of seasonal influenza. We will continue to
evaluate our options as additional vaccine becomes available.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community
Services
To date, there have been 109 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza, the majority of which have been H1N1. There have been 17 hospitalizations, and seven admissions to intensive care. In comparison, there were 259 cases of influenza, 88 hospitalizations, 11 admissions to intensive care, and five deaths at the same time last year.
“This year, we have had a positive uptake of our public vaccination
program with close to 130,000 vaccines being administered to residents,
which surpasses interest from previous years. Previously, unused vaccine had
to be discarded at the end of the flu season. In the meantime, outside of
receiving the seasonal flu vaccine there are important steps you can take to
prevent the spread of flu including, washing your hands regularly, coughing
or sneezing into your sleeve and staying home when you are sick. Always
remember to clean, cover, and contain.”
- Dr. Faith Stratton, Chief Medical Officer of Health
Regional health authorities will be sharing information regarding clinics in their respective regions over the coming days.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.
QUICK FACTS
- To ensure limited influenza vaccines are used as effectively as possible, the Provincial Government is focusing vaccination efforts on children under five years of age and pregnant women. As additional vaccine is secured, the Provincial Government will continue to assess options to best utilize available vaccines.
- The provincial public vaccination program has had high uptake this year with close to 130,000 vaccines being administered throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. As a result of greater interest in vaccination, the Provincial Government is in the process of securing additional vaccine.
- In this province, there is a publicly-funded vaccine program that targets individuals at most risk – this includes young children, people with chronic disease, seniors, and health care professionals.
- H1N1 has become a part of the normal seasonal flu viruses circulating over the last four years. The current flu vaccine protects against three strains of flu, including H1N1.
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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of
Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
2014 01 13 4:15 p.m.