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H1N1 clinics target priority group
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| FEELING A LITTLE PINCH: Patti Diplock [left], public health nurse, inoculates Rachel Bryant for H1N1 and seasonal influenza at the Powell River Recreation Complex flu clinic. (paul galinski photo) |
Current community infections mild
Powell River’s highest priority recipients of H1N1 influenza vaccine are receiving it. To date, 16 minor cases of the flu have been diagnosed in the community.
Dr. Paul Martiquet, medical health officer for Vancouver Coast Health (VCH), said his understanding is the confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza diagnosed in the Powell River region were all “mild symptomatology.” To his knowledge, nobody has ended up in intensive care unit (ICU) as a result of contracting the flu.
Clinics in Powell River last week did not result in huge lineups, and for the most part, people were processed in 20 minutes or less. The clinics were averaging 178 people a day.
“We are still getting our highest priority group, that’s pregnant women, adults under the age of 65 with chronic health conditions and first nations people immunized,” Martiquet said. “This week we’ll finish that off and start with the health care workers that are in front-line service.
“Then, we are going to move to those over six months and younger than five years of age, and those that provide care for those under six months, moms with babes, basically.”
The next to be immunized will be first responders, such as fire, police and the rest of the health care workers.
“After those are completed, we’ll move it to the general population, with an interest in getting our youth vaccinated, those over the age of five,” Martiquet said.
“The main message I think the public would benefit from is there will be enough vaccine. Those who aren’t high priority, just stand back and let those who are priority get vaccinated first. Then we’ll move onto the general population.”
Kevin Morris, School District 47 district principal, said H1N1 has not affected school attendance in any noticeable way in Powell River.
City of Powell River Councillor Maggie Hathaway provided an update on preparations in the community in the event of a pandemic which she said seems unlikely. “I think things are pretty much under control,” she said at a special council meeting held on October 29.
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) is following a template pandemic plan that was originally developed in New Zealand and then modified by the City of Penticton, Hathaway said. “It contains information on how to prepare for a pandemic, human resource issues, business continuity planning, which is really important for some of the essential services,” she said.
Other organizations, such as BC Ambulance Service, Powell River Fire and Rescue, public health, Powell River General Hospital and the RCMP have their own pandemic plans, Hathaway said. “These are all coordinated through PEP to provide an overall preparedness plan for our city,” she said.
PEP is also working closely with the Powell River Regional District and Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation emergency coordinator, Hathaway said.
The city wants to act as an information conduit, said Stan Westby, chief administrative officer. “We want to update our website and put all relevant and salient information on there.”
For more information on the H1N1 flu virus, readers can visit www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1 and www.vch.ca.
Dr. Paul Martiquet, medical health officer for Vancouver Coast Health (VCH), said his understanding is the confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza diagnosed in the Powell River region were all “mild symptomatology.” To his knowledge, nobody has ended up in intensive care unit (ICU) as a result of contracting the flu.
Clinics in Powell River last week did not result in huge lineups, and for the most part, people were processed in 20 minutes or less. The clinics were averaging 178 people a day.
“We are still getting our highest priority group, that’s pregnant women, adults under the age of 65 with chronic health conditions and first nations people immunized,” Martiquet said. “This week we’ll finish that off and start with the health care workers that are in front-line service.
“Then, we are going to move to those over six months and younger than five years of age, and those that provide care for those under six months, moms with babes, basically.”
The next to be immunized will be first responders, such as fire, police and the rest of the health care workers.
“After those are completed, we’ll move it to the general population, with an interest in getting our youth vaccinated, those over the age of five,” Martiquet said.
“The main message I think the public would benefit from is there will be enough vaccine. Those who aren’t high priority, just stand back and let those who are priority get vaccinated first. Then we’ll move onto the general population.”
Kevin Morris, School District 47 district principal, said H1N1 has not affected school attendance in any noticeable way in Powell River.
City of Powell River Councillor Maggie Hathaway provided an update on preparations in the community in the event of a pandemic which she said seems unlikely. “I think things are pretty much under control,” she said at a special council meeting held on October 29.
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) is following a template pandemic plan that was originally developed in New Zealand and then modified by the City of Penticton, Hathaway said. “It contains information on how to prepare for a pandemic, human resource issues, business continuity planning, which is really important for some of the essential services,” she said.
Other organizations, such as BC Ambulance Service, Powell River Fire and Rescue, public health, Powell River General Hospital and the RCMP have their own pandemic plans, Hathaway said. “These are all coordinated through PEP to provide an overall preparedness plan for our city,” she said.
PEP is also working closely with the Powell River Regional District and Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation emergency coordinator, Hathaway said.
The city wants to act as an information conduit, said Stan Westby, chief administrative officer. “We want to update our website and put all relevant and salient information on there.”
For more information on the H1N1 flu virus, readers can visit www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1 and www.vch.ca.
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Stephan wrote on Nov 9, 2009 1:51 PM:
" The clinic is not organized very well. First the information on the recording are (or were) different from what's on the VHU website. Second, you get there register successfully to then get turned away by the nurse who gives the shot (after waiting for 45 minutes). Third, the schedule is not suitable for students who mostly attend school from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. I know many people are concerned and start to get angry so I think the least they could do is get the message out when everybody is getting the shot. Even a sign on the door would help so you don't get confused, turned away and waste everybody's time. "
Mica wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:06 PM:
Why give into hysteria?! "