Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=245 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3 height=3>Last updated at 9:00 AM on 03/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Special H1N1 vaccines to arrive today
Health Supply of regular shots still tight

BARB SWEET
The Telegram

Special H1N1 vaccines are coming for pregnant women and were expected to arrive in the province today.

The province will also receive about 1,000 more regular vaccines than it expected in this week's limited allotment from Health Canada.

Some 2,900 doses of the unadjuvanted vaccine - which is most recommended for pregnant women - will be given out by appointment because of the smaller numbers requiring it, Health Minister Jerome Kennedy announced Monday in his daily media briefing with provincial chief medical officer Dr. Faith Stratton.

Kennedy said it was expected the regular H1N1 vaccine was expected to run out in the St. John's area by today, but not in rural Avalon.

But some 7,500 doses of the adjuvanted - a faster reacting vaccine - will arrive Wednesday.

Kennedy said he would announce today what groups would be now vaccinated, but intends to keep the focus on children.

Adults with chronic health conditions were originally considered high risk and of priority to get vaccines, but because of mass lineups lasting hours, the criteria was tightened Friday.

Not only were healthy people lining up to get the vaccine along with children and people with chronic conditions, but many nurses were offering the vaccine to parents who brought their kids in.

So the rules were tightened to children six months to five years and people up to age 24 with chronic health conditions, pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy and then, Sunday, caregivers of people that can't be immunized in those age ranges, as well as those of infants.

Many worried people have been publicly critical of the decision to exclude adults with chronic health conditions and Kennedy acknowledged he has received e-mails from people asking when their turn would come.

The province's first death from H1N1 was a 36-year-old woman with an underlying health condition in central Newfoundland.

"Yesterday I was shook up. Still, today, I really want to send out condolences to the family of that lady who died," Kennedy said.

"I sat there yesterday and wondered am I making the right decision ... (but) I feel looking after our children I am doing the right thing."

He said adults with chronic health conditions represent 20 per cent of the population and with the limited number of vaccines he can't just pick and choose among those adults who get it.

If the province receives its regular allotment of vaccines next week it could get up to 57,000 doses. Children under 10 only need a half dose, which has allowed the vaccine to be spread further.

Stratton said Monday 26 more people were admitted to hospital with respiratory illness in a 24-hour period since Sunday, with seven of those in intensive care and four on ventilators. The seven are in central and western. Though it's not known exactly how many of those hospitalized are H1N1 cases, a significant number are, Stratton said.

The virus has hit the west coast the hardest.

Besides the vaccine, medical officials have also stockpiled some 880,000 doses of antiviral Tamiflu used to treat severe symptoms.

Kennedy acknowledged the mistakes that were made Friday with the immunization clinics and said Eastern Health is looking into why the policy on who was to be given the vaccine didn't filter down, as well as how health care workers last week were able to sneak in family members to get the vaccine.

Some of the lineups at Eastern Health seemed to be running smoother Monday.

Monday morning, there was no one waiting outside Hazelwood Elementary in the west end and people in vehicles are being screened by security on the parking lot. People were again screened at the door by Eastern Health officials and are being given numbers.

"I'm impressed," said Nicki Tonkin-Normore, who brought her two children to the clinic Monday morning. "I was expecting four to six hours."

But she was given a number and was in and out in roughly an hour. Waits on Friday around the city were as high as nine hours.

Chris Dillon brought one of his three sons Monday to Hazelwood in a tag-team effort that saw his wife go at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning at Cordage Place to be early in line to get a number for another of their three boys.

They are hoping their third son, aged seven, will get the vaccine in school, but have been keeping him at home until then to make sure he doesn't contract the virus.

"Why be in a panic? Wait your turn," Dillon said Monday.

Schools have continued to see high absenteeism. Some 33 of the Eastern District's 87 schools had an absenteeism rate of 20-29 per cent and 35 schools had 30-39 per cent of their student absent.

Meanwhile, Stratton noted there have been two adverse reactions to the vaccine so far - one a swelling of the throat or mouth and the other a rash.

Pregnant women wanting to make an appointment can now start calling toll free lines - set up for H1N1 concerns - and the vaccine will start to be given out Wednesday.

The toll free lines are as follows: Eastern Health 1-877-752-4358; Central Health 1-877-311-261; Western Health 1-877-632-H1N1(4161); Labrador-Grenfell Health 1-877-896-0422

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=299949&sc=79

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=2454&latest=1

Additional Groups Announced for H1N1 Vaccine

There's some new criteria for those receiving H1N1 vaccinations. Priority groups will be expanded Thursday to include hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age with one or more chronic health conditions, school aged children from Kindergarten to Grade Three, individuals between the ages of 25 and 40 with chronic respiratory disease with proof of active treatment of the disease, and individuals undergoing cancer treatment. Health Minister Jerome Kennedy says the vaccine will go into the schools as early as Thursday. Non-adjuvanted vaccine has arrived for pregnant women in the first half of their pregnancies. Kennedy says by the end of the week, we should know more details about our next shipment of vaccine, due next week. He says they continue to roll out the immunization process as logically as possible, but he's still getting a number of complaints. He says people have to remain patient. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Faith Stratton says the number of admissions to hospitals is still on the rise. 34 new admissions have been reported in 24 hours, bringing the total to 84 people in hospital. 9 are in intensive care with 5 on ventilators.


The vice president of Medical Services with Western Health believes the numbers of staff in the region with flu like symptoms will start to level off in a couple of weeks. Dr. Ken Jenkins says as of yesterday, there were 27 patients with H1N1 at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook. He says they've also been experiencing a high number of staff with illness. Dr. Jenkins says they've cancelled elective surgeries to free up beds in acute care, expanded a flu assessment centre and established a flu ward at the hospital. He says there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Dr.Jenkins says they'll continue to monitor the level of staff illness to determine when elective surgeries can resume.


There is a free seminar this morning in St. John's for businesses wondering how to deal with the H1N1 virus. Officials with the International Centre for Infectious Diseases and the Public Health Agency of Canada will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about how small and medium-sized businesses can deal with the situation. The Chair of the St. John's Board of Trade, Bruce Templeton, says all businesses are invited to attend. He says businesses have been asking a lot of questions about how to operate with reduced staff, including how to operate their businesses from remote locations, and security of information.


Individuals with questions regarding documentation required to prove eligibility of chronic illness or for clinic information and locations should call their health authority. You can also click here for more information.

Eastern Health 1-877-752-4358

Central Health 1-877-311-2613

Western Health 1-877-632-4161

Labrador-Grenfell Health 1-877-896-0422

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Arnold's Cove students protest H1N1 shot delay

Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 4:01 PM NT

CBC News

Students angered that they still haven't received the H1N1 vaccination protested on Thursday outside their school in Arnold's Cove, on the province's east coast.

The protest at Tricentia Academy involved about 75 students, more than 20 per cent of the school's enrolment.

Grade 12 student Kaitlin Clarke said it's unfair that she and other students in the K-12 school have yet to receive a shot to fight swine flu, while others, including inmates at the prison in St. John's, have.

"Prisoners who are not within the target group were vaccinated long before people who are within the target group were even allowed access to the inoculations," she said. "We're saying the chances of coming in contact with the H1N1 virus ? we have more chances at school than they do."

Tricentia Academy doubles as a community vaccination site, and Clark said having so many people inside the building getting flu shots only increases the students' risk of contracting the virus.

Health officials started giving the shot to students from kindergarten to Grade 3 on Thursday, saying more students will be vaccinated as the nation-wide shortage of the vaccine eases.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/05/nl-shot-students-051109.html

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

N.L to begin vaccinating schoolchildren

CBC News


Vaccination of Newfoundland and Labrador students from kindergarten to Grade 3 against H1N1 influenza will begin Thursday, according to top education officials, but the province's limited supply of vaccine means it may take time to immunize them all.

"The vaccine will be provided to students in schools wherever it is feasible and possible," said provincial Education Minister Darin King. "However, there is currently a nationwide shortage of the vaccine. School-based immunization will be expanded as the supply of vaccine allows. Parents are encouraged to be patient and continue to reinforce enhanced hand washing and hygiene practices with their children."

King said that despite high absenteeism — which has left some schools in the province with half as many students as usual — schools will remain open.

"We certainly appreciate concerns parents have about the possible presence of H1N1 in schools," said King. "However, the recommendation that is being followed throughout Canada is to keep schools open. Health officials advise that this is not a school-based influenza, but a community-based pandemic. Closing schools will not contain the spread of the virus.

At the same time, we are prepared to make any necessary changes to these plans depending on information we are receiving on a daily basis."
King said education officials won't let students fall behind in their studies because of swine flu.

"School districts have plans in place to help ensure learning continues despite absences or possible loss of instructional time if students are absent for extended periods of time," said King.

"This includes the preparation of online support materials and unit plans for home study."


Click here for schedule: Eastern School District: H1N1 school immunization schedule

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/04/nl-student-vaccination-1104.html

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

N.L. H1N1 vaccine may run out on weekend: Kennedy

Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 6:04 PM NT

CBC News

Newfoundland and Labrador's Health Minister said Friday he believes it's unlikely the province's current supply of H1N1 vaccine will last through the weekend.

Jerome Kennedy told reporters during his daily update on the H1N1 situation that mass immunization clinics may have to close in the next few days, depending on the availability of vaccine.

Kennedy said that in the St. John's area, schoolchildren in kindergarten to Grade 3 will continue to receive inoculations on Saturday at the region's two mass immunization clinics. Inoculations for students in that age group began in schools across the province on Thursday.

"This may cause some inconvenience for some of the parents, but we felt it best where we have vaccine available that we can utilize it as quickly as possible," he said.

Faith Stratton, the province's chief medical officer, said it is unclear right now if the clinics will continue on Sunday.

"We were hoping to give the nurses a rest on Sunday thinking that most of the vaccine would already have been given and we would actually run out of vaccine," she said.

Over the next few days, health officials will weigh which risk groups will get access to the next shipment of vaccine on Wednesday.

Latest numbers released by the province show there are 111 people in the province currently in hospital with symptoms of the H1N1 flu. Thirty-one people are in intensive care while 15 of them are on ventilators to help them breathe.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/06/kennedy-vaccine-116.html

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Vaccinations 20 per cent done
100,000 people inoculated in province so far

ALISHA MORRISSEY AND JAMES MCLEOD
The Telegram


With 20 per cent of the province's population now vaccinated against H1N1 flu, the disease continued its sweep through the rest of the population.

Four more people were put on ventilators as of 8 a.m. Friday for a total of 15 people. In total, 111 people are currently hospitalized with the disease, 31 of which are in intensive care. Health Minister Jerome Kennedy and Faith Stratton, the province's chief medical officer of health, said roughly 100,000 people have been inoculated and they plan to continue giving shots to kindergarten to Grade 3 students today.

Sunday will likely be a day off for the taxed medical workers who have been administering the immunizations for 13 days straight.

"We're hoping to give the nurses a rest on Sunday, thinking that most of the vaccine would already have been given, and we would actually run out of vaccine," Stratton said.

Kennedy said Monday will be a day for the province to reassess and redistribute any remaining vaccine ahead of the next scheduled shipment Wednesday.

"If it turns out on Monday that there's vaccine out there that's not utilized, then we will certainly move it around or do whatever we have to do to make sure it's all utilized," he said.

With two lives already taken by the disease, health officials were quick to assure that they have adequate equipment and preparation to handle the pandemic.

"We're OK right now," said Dr. Michael Jong, vice-president of medical services for Labrador-Grenfell Health.

"If we do not have increased numbers in cases over what we have now, we're OK. Unless something happens, but with vaccinations we should be OK."

Stratton said the current pandemic is unlike any seasonal flu they've experienced, but they were as prepared as they could be.

"We've certainly been able to use all the plans that we've been putting in place," she said. "We've been getting ready for this for at least 10 years."

With the weekend inoculations, Kennedy said the students and parents affected had already been contacted, and people could also consult schedules on the Eastern Health and Eastern School District websites.

The next shipment of vaccine is slated for Wednesday. Across Canada about 1.8 million doses will be shipped; Newfoundland and Labrador will get its 1.5 per cent share.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=301350&sc=79

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

N.L. H1N1 clinics set to resume

Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 10:20 AM NT

CBC News


A mass immunization program aimed at interrupting the spread of swine flu was set to resume in Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday.

Vaccination clinics around much of the province shut down Sunday to provide a break for the health officials who are administering the vaccine.

During a regular H1N1 briefing, Health Minister Jerome Kennedy gave reporters an update on the H1N1 situation in the province Sunday:

• 18 more people were admitted to hospital between Saturday and Sunday.
• Half of those admissions happened on the east coast.
• 27 people are now being treated for H1N1 in intensive care units
• 15 are on ventilators.
• 124 cases of influenza-like illnesses in the province.

"There doesn't appear to be a pattern developing," Kennedy said, "other than it continues to be a mostly mild to moderate flu. However, certain people with underlying conditions have a more serious effect."

The medical official of health for the St. John's region, Dr. David Allison, told CBC News on Monday morning that H1N1 has continued progressing across the province, travelling from the western region to eastern Newfoundland, but he said it appears to be slowing down as it reaches the area administered by Eastern Health, the province's largest health authority.

"Things seem to be stabilizing a little bit," he said. "If nothing else, people are, perhaps, less anxious about the fact we've got illness."
Health officials said Monday there have now been four deaths in the province related to swine flu.

A 48-year-old man from central Newfoundland died Sunday afternoon, while a 63-year-old woman died in St. Anthony, on the Northern Peninsula, died just before midnight Saturday.

The woman had multiple medical problems, health authorities said.

Two other people, a 36-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, died last week in central Newfoundland from H1N1-related complications.
Kennedy said the Health Department has enough H1N1 vaccine remaining to continue giving the shot to school-age children and people in other high-risk groups, with the possibility that the list of people who qualify could be expanded on Tuesday.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/09/nl-swine-update-091109.html

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N.L. planning swine flu vaccine blitz

Last Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | 7:44 PM NT

CBC News


Newfoundland and Labrador is refocusing its swine flu immunization plans Thursday, targeting people between the ages of 40 to 65 with chronic respiratory problems.

In addition, individuals under the age of 65 with compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder (for example: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, spina bifida) will also be eligible for vaccination Thursday.

"Because of what we're seeing coming, the people that we're seeing coming into the hospitals," said Provincial Health Minister Jerome Kennedy.

"The age group that we're seeing coming into the hospital and in the ICU. We're essentially going to blitz this vaccination."

The ages of those who died H1N1-related deaths in the province this fall has ranged from 36 to 69. All but one of them had serious underlying medical conditions.

The province has been offering H1N1 vaccinations to schoolchildren and people at high risk of developing complications from influenza.

On Monday, Kennedy said that unless medical experts could convince him to changes his plans, elementary school students from Grades 4 to 6 would be the next group to be immunized.

That must have happened because Tuesday Kennedy said students in Grade 4 to 6 won't be vaccinated until Nov.16, and the list of people eligible for shots will be expanded Thursday to include people between the ages of 40 to 65 with chronic respiratory problems.

The province's chief medical officer said those aged 25 to 65 are more likely to become seriously ill.

"Those people once they do get infected they have more severe disease and are more likely to die from their illness and that's what we've seen across the country in the first wave," said Dr. Faith Stratton.

Individuals aged 25 to 40 with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis were eligible for vaccination this week.

So far, more than 100,000 of the province's 500,000 residents have been vaccinated.

Kennedy said Tuesday that the province has about 7,200 H1N1 shots on hand. Another 15,000 shots are expected to arrive Wednesday.


Vaccination against the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu is currently underway in the province for the following groups:

• Children between six months and five years of age.
• Parents or other primary caregivers of infants under six months.
• Parents or other primary caregivers of people up to the age of 24 who cannot be immunized.
• All pregnant women.
• Hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age with one or more chronic health conditions.
• School-age children from kindergarten to Grade 3.
• Individuals aged 25 to 40 with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis.
• Individuals undergoing active cancer treatment and transplant patients (including pre-transplant patients on a wait list and post-transplant patients in the last two years).

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlan...litz-1110.html

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"></TD><TD> </TD><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD background=images/dash.gif height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 9:24 AM on 11/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Priority group expanded for H1N1 vaccine
BY GAZETTE STAFF
The Southern Gazette

Health and Community Services Minister Jerome Kennedy has announced the priority group to receive the H1N1 vaccine will now be further expanded.

It follows the arrival of the province?s next shipment of vaccine this week.

Mr. Kennedy emphasized the department will continue with its balanced approach to vaccinating the population, which includes a number of high risk groups and our school age children.

?Our statistics regarding hospital admissions demonstrate that individuals with chronic respiratory conditions continue to be at highest risk for severe disease, so we have expanded the group to include all individuals with such conditions under the age of 65. We also continue to be committed to vaccinating school age children and will begin vaccinations for children in Grades 4-6 next week.?

Beginning Thursday, the priority group for H1N1 vaccination will expand to include individuals less than 65 years of age with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.

Individuals will require proof of active treatment of the disease (for example prescription, labelled medication, insurance forms).

In addition, individuals under 65 years of age with compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder (for example ALS, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, spina bifida) will be eligible for vaccination at this time.

As many of these individuals are known to regional continuing care programs, individuals will be contacted by staff to arrange for vaccination. Individuals who are not connected to a continuing care program can contact their regional health authority for further information ? Eastern Health 1-877-752-4358.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 16, more elementary school aged children will also begin receiving the H1N1 vaccinations. The vaccine will be delivered in the schools where possible.
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http://www.southerngazette.ca/index.cfm?sid=302185&sc=382

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

N.L. expands swine flu vaccination program to those with respiratory illness



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November 11, 2009 4:46 p.m.


ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador have added a new group to those who can now get swine flu vaccinations.

Beginning Thursday people under the age of 65 with chronic respiratory illness and compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder will be able to get the H1N1 vaccine.

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy also says that beginning Monday, the vaccination program will move back into schools to inoculate elementary students in grades 4, 5 and 6.

He says the province is expecting a shipment of up to 29,000 doses of the vaccine this week.

Meanwhile, Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Faith Stratton, says 20 new cases of influenza-like illness have been admitted to hospital and it appears about half of those are H1N1 related.

She says that brings the total people in hospital to 120 with 35 in intensive care and 15 on ventilators.

http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/live/article/366382--n-l-expands-swine-flu-vaccination-program-to-those-with-respiratory-illness

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 8:32 AM on 12/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Vaccination groups expanded
The Telegram


Three of the province's four health boards have announced expanded vaccination priority groups for H1N1 shots, with people fitting the criteria able to go for vaccinations as early as today.

The priority groups have been expanded to include people with respiratory illnesses and all children in Grades 4 to 6, among others.

People under 65 with chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis or those with compromised respiratory function due to a physical, neurological or muscular disorder such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis (MS), spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, quadriplegia or paraplegia can now get the flu shot.

But health authorities say people looking to get the vaccine under the expanded criteria will have to provide proof of active treatment of the disease by bringing in prescriptions, doctors' notes, labelled medications or insurance forms.

Children from Grade 4 to 6 in central Newfoundland will be immunized at schools Tuesday Nov. 17, while children on the west coast of the island will be immunized in schools Nov. 16 and 17.

Parents are reminded to return consent forms to the school as soon as possible.

As well, the entire community of LaPoile will receive the H1N1 vaccine today.

Officials have said that if people in the priority groups are unable to be vaccinated due to limited supply of vaccine, they will be prioritized for vaccination following next week's vaccine shipment.

As part of the H1N1 immunization registration process, people are required to have their MCP card with them when they go to get vaccinated. People are also asked to wear short sleeves or easily rolled up sleeves.

People who fall into the high-risk group are asked to contact the Central Health Pandemic Information Line at 1-877-311-2613 and leave their name, number and location. Central Health will then contact each individual to arrange for immunization. In addition, Central Health will also attempt to contact individuals in this high-risk group who are known to the organization to arrange for immunization.

Meanwhile, two seniors' homes in the Central Health region have been closed to visitors after flu-like symptoms have been reported.

Valley Vista Senior Citizens' Home in Springdale and North Haven Manor in Lewisporte are closed to visitors for the time being and the health authority is assuring residents' families and friends that the needs of residents are being met through ongoing care from staff.

Family members who have questions about the closures can contact each facility at the following numbers and ask to talk with the nurse in charge.

Valley Vista Senior Citizens Complex: 709-673-3936.

North Haven Manor: 709-535-6767.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=302400&sc=79

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">LOCAL NEWS</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD background=images/dash.gif height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 6:20 PM on 15/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Critera to be expanded Monday for H1N1 vaccine
The Telegram

The criteria for H1N1 flu vaccinations in the province will be expanded Monday to include all individuals, up to but not including 65 years of age, with a chronic medical illness.

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy said today the expanded group will include people with diabetes, cardiac disease, blood disorders and bowel disease. In addition, anyone receiving hemodialysis, regardless of age, will also be eligible for the vaccine, beginning Monday.

Kennedy also expressed condolences Sunday to the family and friends of a 29-year-old woman who died in an Eastern Health facility Saturday due to complications of H1N1.

On a positive note, the minister said the number of new admissions of patients with flu-like illness has declined in the past 24 hours.

Between 8 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, there were about 20 new admissions to hospital, compared to about 34 Thursday. The number of patients treated for flu-like illness was also down from about 135 Thursday to about 120 Sunday and the number in intensive care were down as well from about 35 to 20.

More information on flu vaccination schedules and clinics can be found on the following websites:

Eastern Health, www.easternhealth.ca

Central Health, www.centralhealth.nl.ca

Western Health, www.westernhealth.nl.ca

Labrador-Grenfell Health, www.lghealth.ca

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=303090&sc=79

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Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=10>Last updated at 8:53 AM on 17/11/09 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=245 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=3></TD><TD class=photoCaption>Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Health and Community Services, Jerome Kennedy, and the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Faith Stratton, provide an H1N1 update during their daily media briefing Monday afternoon. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram</TD><TD width=3></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3 height=3></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Turning the corner on H1N1
Some positive signs as province deals with flu

ROB ANTLE
The Telegram

There are some signs the province could be turning the corner in dealing with the H1N1 virus, as school absentee rates approach normal levels and vaccinations continue to progress.

Beginning Thursday and Friday, needles will be given to students in Grades 7-9. Next week -assuming the province gets the amount of vaccine it is expecting - vaccinations will start for high-school students.

"So it's quite possible that by the end of next week we could have all of our schoolchildren vaccinated," Health Minister Jerome Kennedy said at a media briefing Monday afternoon.

He said health authorities also hope to have completed vaccinations within a couple of weeks for people younger than 65 suffering from chronic medical conditions.

Kennedy acknowledged there is some confusion over what can be considered a chronic medical condition, citing diabetes, bowel disease and cancer as qualifying. He said the issue "has to be looked at with a degree of common sense."

And Kennedy hinted that controls will be loosened on who is eligible.

"Although we're still trying to prioritize and we're still trying to, I guess maintain crowd control is one way to put it, it's not going to be as restrictive as it has been in the past, if you have a chronic medical illness and you can satisfy the people who are screening that is in fact the case," he said.

To date, H1N1-related complications have claimed the lives of seven people in Newfoundland and Labrador. Most of those patients suffered from underlying health conditions.

As of Monday, there were 17 new admissions across the province in one 24-hour period. Two of those patients were in intensive care; one was on a ventilator.

All told, there were 119 people in hospital Monday with suspected - but not all confirmed - cases of the swine flu. Twenty of them were in intensive care, 14 still on ventilators.

Those numbers are all lower than a week ago.

Does that mean the province is past the worst of this wave for H1N1?

"Well, one could be optimistic and say that we're certainly hoping that we've seen the peak of it now," said chief medical officer of health Dr. Faith Stratton.

Another positive indicator, according to Stratton, is that a lower percentage of laboratory specimens is now testing positive for the swine flu virus.

"So that's good news as well," she said.

And school absentee rates have rebounded to near-normal levels.

On Monday, fewer than one in 10 students were absent from class.

At the peak, on Nov. 3, more than triple that number stayed home.

While delivery of the H1N1 vaccine continues to roll out, there will still be a waiting period for everybody who wants the needle to get it.

"Realistically in this province, and in other provinces, it looks to be before Christmas or mid-December at the earliest before everyone will be vaccinated," Kennedy noted.

http://thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=303611&sc=79

[Pathfinder]

Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

<CITE>By CBC News, cbc.ca, </CITE>Updated: November 18, 2009 7:05 AM

N.L. may ignore medical advice on H1N1 vaccine



Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Jerome Kennedy says he is considering making senior citizens the next candidates for getting the province's swine flu vaccine, even if it means overruling the advice of medical experts.

Health officials have said people over the age of 65 are considered to have a lower risk of becoming infected with the H1N1 virus than other members of the population.

But Kennedy told reporters in St. John's on Tuesday that he won't necessarily accept medical recommendations about the province's ongoing mass vaccination program.

"I will not blindly follow the medical advice," Kennedy said.

Kennedy has already gone against the recommendations of doctors when he ordered that schoolchildren be given the shot, opting to vaccinate young people before others who might have been at greater risk of developing complications from an H1N1 infection.

Kennedy said he's willing to do it again when it comes to older people, because sometimes society's expectations should trump medical advice.

"If you look at it, our seniors are not listed as a high-risk group for Health Canada. Am I going to take the vaccine before my 72-year-old mother with a heart condition? No."

Health officials believe seniors are less likely to get sick than healthy adults under age 65, but if they do contract H1N1, it can be quite severe, even fatal.

Dr. Faith Stratton, the province's chief medical officer, stood next to Kennedy on Tuesday during their daily swine flu briefing with reporters, when he said he was willing to ignore medical advice.

Stratton wouldn't commit to which groups should be considered the next priority to receive the vaccine.

"That again will be discussed, I'm sure, with the amount of vaccine that we have in place," she said.

Kennedy said he also wants to make senior high school students one of next priority groups.

Junior high students were set to get the shot starting Wednesday.

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22641451

[Pathfinder]

Re: Newfoundland and Labrador- Novel H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Swine flu shot available to all in N.L.

Health officials investigate 6 more possible H1N1-related deaths

Last Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009 | 3:53 PM NT

CBC News

Newfoundland and Labrador health officials announced Friday that the swine flu vaccine is now available to the general public.

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy said the province has received a large shipment of the vaccine and more is expected over the weekend, allowing the province to immediately make it available to everyone who wants the shot.

The province has been offering H1N1 vaccinations to schoolchildren and people at high risk of developing complications from influenza. The criteria of who was eligible for the shot has been slowly expanded as more of the vaccine arrived in the province.

"Today, we received 35,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine and we expect to receive a further supply over the weekend, allowing us to start offering the vaccine to the general public," Kennedy said in a release.

He said the mass immunization clinics set up in regions covered by the eastern and central health authorities would stay open late Friday to accommodate people who want the shot. Those clinics will then close until Monday.

Immunization clinics in western Newfoundland and Labrador will be open Saturday, but will not be offering the vaccine on Sunday.

In the meantime, health officials confirmed Friday that the chief medical examiner in Newfoundland and Labrador is reviewing six recent deaths to see if they were caused by swine flu.

Kennedy said lab tests have confirmed that the six tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, either before or after they died. Kennedy said a team of medical specialists, led by Dr. Simon Avis, the province's chief medical officer, will review those cases to see what role the virus might have played in their deaths.

"A review by medical professionals is ongoing to ensure we are accurately capturing and reporting the role H1N1 infection may have played in any of the recent deaths," Kennedy said.

"The purpose of the review is to differentiate if an individual died as a direct result of H1N1 infection, or if H1N1 was a contributing factor only. The purpose of this review is to ensure that we report accurate information to the public about the true cause of death."

Kennedy's release said the Public Health Agency of Canada defines an H1N1-related death as a death occurring in any person with lab-confirmed swine flu with "no period of complete recovery between the time of illness and the death."

The province has reported seven deaths due to swine flu. Six involved people who had other medical problems and one person had no known medical problems prior to contracting H1N1, according to medical officials.

The review is expected to be completed by next week.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/11/20/nl-swine-flu-201109.html