From FluWiki:
"Canada: Over 40% of critical healthcare workers may not go to work when a pandemic hits"
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2007/14/c7921.html
"For further information: or an interview in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary
or Vancouver, please contact: GlaxoSmithKline,..."
Over 40% of critical healthcare workers may not go to work when a pandemic hits
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Proper planning and preventive medicines are critical to ensure essential frontline healthcare services function during a pandemic TORONTO, Nov. 14 /CNW/ - Results from a national survey reveal thatalmost one quarter (23 per cent) of our nation's healthcare workers would beuncomfortable reporting to work if someone in Canada was to be diagnosed withpandemic influenza. Even more alarming is that if people in their city werediagnosed with the flu pandemic, 43 per cent of healthcare workers, includingnurses, pharmacists and medical technicians would be uncomfortable reportingto work. However, the likelihood of reporting to work during a pandemic fluoutbreak is 90 per cent if healthcare workers know that their employers areable to make preventive medicines available to them. Another critical factor which can reduce the level of discomfort aboutreporting to work during a pandemic is knowing that a pandemic plan is inplace. With knowledge of such a plan, level of discomfort among healthcareworkers is reduced by more than 20 percentage points, even if the flu pandemicwas to hit their city. "We know that the need for health care will increase substantially duringa pandemic, and it is critical that all parts of the healthcare systemcontinue to function," said Dr. McGeer, microbiologist and infectious diseaseconsultant, department of microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital. "Our greatestchallenge is human resources, and all of the planning in the world will beirrelevant if our frontline healthcare workers don't show up to work. Ourplans must address the needs of all the staff that provide healthcareservices, and all of these staff must know what the plans are, and becomfortable with what their role will be." The national survey, conducted by Leger Marketing and sponsored byGlaxoSmithKline, used a combination of telephone and online interviews with700 healthcare workers, which includes nurses; hospital support staff such ascustodial, clerical or food preparation; medical technicians such asradiology, x-ray or laboratory; and pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Morekey findings are included at the end of the release under "Note to theEditor." Protection Against Flu Pandemic: Antivirals According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines(1): << - Antivirals are effective for both treatment and prophylaxis and are an important adjunct to vaccination as a strategy for managing pandemic influenza - Prophylaxis is more likely to prevent serious complications from influenza than treatment - The neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir) are preferred for stockpiling - Pandemic plans should address advance stockpiling, selection of appropriate agents, rapid distribution of drugs and monitoring of resistance >> Current Thought Leadership on Stockpiling and Antivirals Since antiviral resistance contributes to the failure of therapy, itcannot be overlooked as an important factor in planning for a pandemic. Inresponse to recent reports that some strains of the H5N1 virus are becomingresistant to oseltamivir, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) has changed its stockpiling strategy to decrease the share ofoseltamivir from 90 to 80 per cent and increase the share of zanamivir from 10to 20 per cent(2). In the U.K., an influential group of scientists hasrecommended the government modify the national stockpile to 50 per centzanamivir and 50 per cent oseltamivir(3). "A key factor to Canadian pandemic planning and preparation is ensuring adiversified stockpile, including adequate amounts of more than one antiviral,which is essential to pandemic preparation in order to protect againstdrug-resistant strains of pandemic flu," said Dr. McGeer. The Last Century Of The Flu History shows that influenza pandemics have occurred three to four timesper century(4). Scientists believe pandemic flu viruses develop in two keyways. First, a new subtype can result from the mixing (or "re-assortment") ofhuman and avian viruses, which is what scientists believe started the last twoinfluenza pandemics in 1957 and 1968. Because humans had no defence againstthe new strain, it spread rapidly around the globe, causing widespread illnessand higher rates of death compared to seasonal influenza. These pandemics eachresulted in more than one million deaths globally. Second, a new pandemic strain can develop if an avian influenza viruschanges (or mutates) into a virus that can cause human illness and spreadeasily from person to person. This is likely how the "Spanish flu" killedbetween 20 to 50 million people worldwide in 1918 and 1919, including about30,000 to 50,000 in Canada.(5) << --------------------------------- (1) World Health Organization. Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, WHO Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines and Antivirals during Influenza Pandemics. 2004. (2) The Congress of the United States, Congressional Budget Office. A Potential Influenza Pandemic: An Update on Possible Macroeconomic Effects and Policy Issues. May 22, 2006; revised July 27, 2006: 13-14. (3) The Royal Society & the Academy of Medical Sciences, Pandemic influenza: science to policy, November 2006. (4) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/hl-ps/index.html#ip (5) The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector. Public Health Agency of Canada, Revised November 2006. >> ABOUT GLAXOSMITHKLINE GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-basedpharmaceutical and health-care companies - is committed to improving thequality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and livelonger. In Canada, GlaxoSmithKline is among the top 15 investors in researchand development, contributing more than $176 million in 2006 alone. GSK is anImagine Caring Company, and is consistently recognized as one of the 50 BestEmployers in Canada. For company information, please visit www.gsk.ca. NOTE TO EDITOR - Flu Pandemic Survey, conducted by Leger Marketing << About the Survey - A 13-minute survey was conducted between August 7th and August 23rd, 2007. - With a national sample of 2000 respondents, results can be considered accurate to within +/-2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. When looking at either business continuity or healthcare workers separately (n= 1300 and 700, respectively), results can be considered accurate to within +/-2.7 and +/-3.7 per cent respectively. - Business continuity workers comprised of: utilities or city/regional workers such as water, electricity, gas, garbage collection, parks and recreation, city hall and mail delivery; transportation such as trucking, shipping, courier and public transit; banking; communication providers such as telephone, mobile, cable and IT; grocery and food warehousing; and medical product manufacturers involved with pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, warehousing and distribution. Key Findings - Only 64 per cent of healthcare workers believe their employer has a pandemic plan in place. - Of this group 69 per cent feel their employer's pandemic plan looks after their needs to stay safe in the work environment. - Less than half (only 49 per cent) feel their employer's pandemic plan looks after the needs of their families. - One quarter of healthcare workers don't think that a flu pandemic will likely come to Canada - More than a quarter of healthcare workers are not aware that there are medicines that can reduce or prevent the impact of pandemic flu - Only 64 per cent of healthcare workers get an annual flu shot - One-third of healthcare workers surveyed note that their sense of responsibility would motivate them most to report to work, regardless of the outbreak's proximity to them. Less than a quarter of healthcare workers surveyed noted that helping others would motivate them most, but this does not hold true across all scenarios, as the percentage who note this as a motivator after an outbreak is found in their city drops significantly (14 per cent). - If a flu pandemic were to hit the world and someone in Canada was diagnosed with it, 67 per cent of healthcare workers would be comfortable with shaking hands or being handed something from someone; however, this number significantly drops to 39 per cent as the outbreak hits closer to home (in the city) - This means that 60 per cent of healthcare workers are not comfortable if people in their city were diagnosed with the flu pandemic >></PRE><!-- RELBODY END --><!-- RELCONTACT START -->
For further information: or an interview in Toronto, Montreal, Calgaryor Vancouver, please contact: GlaxoSmithKline, (905) 819-3464,peter.j.schram@gsk.com; TORONTO, Pamela Arora, (416) 586-0180,parora@national.ca; MONTREAL, Roch Landriault, (514) 843-2345,rlandriault@national.ca; CALGARY, Tanja Vick, (403) 531-0331 x261,tvick@national.ca; VANCOUVER, Claire Munroe, (604) 684-6655 x237,cmunroe@national.ca</PRE><!-- RELCONTACT END -->
"Canada: Over 40% of critical healthcare workers may not go to work when a pandemic hits"
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2007/14/c7921.html
"For further information: or an interview in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary
or Vancouver, please contact: GlaxoSmithKline,..."
Over 40% of critical healthcare workers may not go to work when a pandemic hits
<!-- RELHEAD END --><!-- RELBODY START -->
Proper planning and preventive medicines are critical to ensure essential frontline healthcare services function during a pandemic TORONTO, Nov. 14 /CNW/ - Results from a national survey reveal thatalmost one quarter (23 per cent) of our nation's healthcare workers would beuncomfortable reporting to work if someone in Canada was to be diagnosed withpandemic influenza. Even more alarming is that if people in their city werediagnosed with the flu pandemic, 43 per cent of healthcare workers, includingnurses, pharmacists and medical technicians would be uncomfortable reportingto work. However, the likelihood of reporting to work during a pandemic fluoutbreak is 90 per cent if healthcare workers know that their employers areable to make preventive medicines available to them. Another critical factor which can reduce the level of discomfort aboutreporting to work during a pandemic is knowing that a pandemic plan is inplace. With knowledge of such a plan, level of discomfort among healthcareworkers is reduced by more than 20 percentage points, even if the flu pandemicwas to hit their city. "We know that the need for health care will increase substantially duringa pandemic, and it is critical that all parts of the healthcare systemcontinue to function," said Dr. McGeer, microbiologist and infectious diseaseconsultant, department of microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital. "Our greatestchallenge is human resources, and all of the planning in the world will beirrelevant if our frontline healthcare workers don't show up to work. Ourplans must address the needs of all the staff that provide healthcareservices, and all of these staff must know what the plans are, and becomfortable with what their role will be." The national survey, conducted by Leger Marketing and sponsored byGlaxoSmithKline, used a combination of telephone and online interviews with700 healthcare workers, which includes nurses; hospital support staff such ascustodial, clerical or food preparation; medical technicians such asradiology, x-ray or laboratory; and pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Morekey findings are included at the end of the release under "Note to theEditor." Protection Against Flu Pandemic: Antivirals According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines(1): << - Antivirals are effective for both treatment and prophylaxis and are an important adjunct to vaccination as a strategy for managing pandemic influenza - Prophylaxis is more likely to prevent serious complications from influenza than treatment - The neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir) are preferred for stockpiling - Pandemic plans should address advance stockpiling, selection of appropriate agents, rapid distribution of drugs and monitoring of resistance >> Current Thought Leadership on Stockpiling and Antivirals Since antiviral resistance contributes to the failure of therapy, itcannot be overlooked as an important factor in planning for a pandemic. Inresponse to recent reports that some strains of the H5N1 virus are becomingresistant to oseltamivir, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) has changed its stockpiling strategy to decrease the share ofoseltamivir from 90 to 80 per cent and increase the share of zanamivir from 10to 20 per cent(2). In the U.K., an influential group of scientists hasrecommended the government modify the national stockpile to 50 per centzanamivir and 50 per cent oseltamivir(3). "A key factor to Canadian pandemic planning and preparation is ensuring adiversified stockpile, including adequate amounts of more than one antiviral,which is essential to pandemic preparation in order to protect againstdrug-resistant strains of pandemic flu," said Dr. McGeer. The Last Century Of The Flu History shows that influenza pandemics have occurred three to four timesper century(4). Scientists believe pandemic flu viruses develop in two keyways. First, a new subtype can result from the mixing (or "re-assortment") ofhuman and avian viruses, which is what scientists believe started the last twoinfluenza pandemics in 1957 and 1968. Because humans had no defence againstthe new strain, it spread rapidly around the globe, causing widespread illnessand higher rates of death compared to seasonal influenza. These pandemics eachresulted in more than one million deaths globally. Second, a new pandemic strain can develop if an avian influenza viruschanges (or mutates) into a virus that can cause human illness and spreadeasily from person to person. This is likely how the "Spanish flu" killedbetween 20 to 50 million people worldwide in 1918 and 1919, including about30,000 to 50,000 in Canada.(5) << --------------------------------- (1) World Health Organization. Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response, WHO Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines and Antivirals during Influenza Pandemics. 2004. (2) The Congress of the United States, Congressional Budget Office. A Potential Influenza Pandemic: An Update on Possible Macroeconomic Effects and Policy Issues. May 22, 2006; revised July 27, 2006: 13-14. (3) The Royal Society & the Academy of Medical Sciences, Pandemic influenza: science to policy, November 2006. (4) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cpip-pclcpi/hl-ps/index.html#ip (5) The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector. Public Health Agency of Canada, Revised November 2006. >> ABOUT GLAXOSMITHKLINE GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-basedpharmaceutical and health-care companies - is committed to improving thequality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and livelonger. In Canada, GlaxoSmithKline is among the top 15 investors in researchand development, contributing more than $176 million in 2006 alone. GSK is anImagine Caring Company, and is consistently recognized as one of the 50 BestEmployers in Canada. For company information, please visit www.gsk.ca. NOTE TO EDITOR - Flu Pandemic Survey, conducted by Leger Marketing << About the Survey - A 13-minute survey was conducted between August 7th and August 23rd, 2007. - With a national sample of 2000 respondents, results can be considered accurate to within +/-2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. When looking at either business continuity or healthcare workers separately (n= 1300 and 700, respectively), results can be considered accurate to within +/-2.7 and +/-3.7 per cent respectively. - Business continuity workers comprised of: utilities or city/regional workers such as water, electricity, gas, garbage collection, parks and recreation, city hall and mail delivery; transportation such as trucking, shipping, courier and public transit; banking; communication providers such as telephone, mobile, cable and IT; grocery and food warehousing; and medical product manufacturers involved with pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, warehousing and distribution. Key Findings - Only 64 per cent of healthcare workers believe their employer has a pandemic plan in place. - Of this group 69 per cent feel their employer's pandemic plan looks after their needs to stay safe in the work environment. - Less than half (only 49 per cent) feel their employer's pandemic plan looks after the needs of their families. - One quarter of healthcare workers don't think that a flu pandemic will likely come to Canada - More than a quarter of healthcare workers are not aware that there are medicines that can reduce or prevent the impact of pandemic flu - Only 64 per cent of healthcare workers get an annual flu shot - One-third of healthcare workers surveyed note that their sense of responsibility would motivate them most to report to work, regardless of the outbreak's proximity to them. Less than a quarter of healthcare workers surveyed noted that helping others would motivate them most, but this does not hold true across all scenarios, as the percentage who note this as a motivator after an outbreak is found in their city drops significantly (14 per cent). - If a flu pandemic were to hit the world and someone in Canada was diagnosed with it, 67 per cent of healthcare workers would be comfortable with shaking hands or being handed something from someone; however, this number significantly drops to 39 per cent as the outbreak hits closer to home (in the city) - This means that 60 per cent of healthcare workers are not comfortable if people in their city were diagnosed with the flu pandemic >></PRE><!-- RELBODY END --><!-- RELCONTACT START -->
For further information: or an interview in Toronto, Montreal, Calgaryor Vancouver, please contact: GlaxoSmithKline, (905) 819-3464,peter.j.schram@gsk.com; TORONTO, Pamela Arora, (416) 586-0180,parora@national.ca; MONTREAL, Roch Landriault, (514) 843-2345,rlandriault@national.ca; CALGARY, Tanja Vick, (403) 531-0331 x261,tvick@national.ca; VANCOUVER, Claire Munroe, (604) 684-6655 x237,cmunroe@national.ca</PRE><!-- RELCONTACT END -->