CBC Newfoundland and Labrador | Features

The Plans:

N.L. Government

N.L. Government: Nov. 20 - Effective immediately, all individuals will be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine, the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today. Students in Grades 10 to 12 will receive the vaccine beginning next week within the school system, where possible. Beginning this afternoon, and for today only, Eastern Health and Central Health will extend operating hours at mass immunization clinics to offer the vaccine to the general public. After today, Eastern and Central clinics will reopen on Monday. Western Health and Labrador-Grenfell Health will hold mass immunization clinics tomorrow. After tomorrow, these clinics will reopen on Monday as well. All clinics will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and will use a numbering system. For specific details regarding clinic locations and times, please visit Regional Health Authorities websites.; Nov. 16 - Beginning Monday, November 16, all individuals up to but not including 65 years of age with a chronic medical illness will be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine at mass immunization clinics throughout the province, the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services.; Nov. 13 - The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today that effective immediately all post-transplant patients will now be offered the H1N1 vaccine. Minister Kennedy also added that discussions are in progress on the use of the unadjuvanted vaccine, which was approved by the Federal Government earlier today, and further details will be announced in the next 24 to 48 hours.; The following groups will be added to the priority groups for H1N1 vaccination beginning on Thursday, November 5. These new groups include: Hospital in-patients less than 65 years of age with one or more chronic health conditions; Expansion of school-aged children from Kindergarten to Grade three; Individuals between the ages of 25 and up to, but not including, 40 with chronic respiratory disease such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis. Eligibility will require proof of active treatment of the disease (e.g. Prescription, labeled medication, insurance forms, etc.); and, Individuals undergoing active cancer treatment (chemotherapyor radiation) and transplant patients (including pre-transplant patients on a wait list and directed by their physician to receive the vaccine and post transplant patients in the last two years).

N.L. Government: Surveillance Summary: Download PDF

Eastern Health

Eastern Health: Dec. 7-12 Clinic Schedules: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 26-28 Clinic Schedules, including extended hours: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 25-28 Clinic Schedules, including extended hours: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 23-27 School Clinic Schedules including MUN: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 20 Clinic Schedules, including extended hours: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Flu Assessment Clinic Closes: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 18-24 School Schedule Grades 4-6, 7-9: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 18-20 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 16-17 Updated Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 13 Updated Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 12-14 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 10 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 7-9 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 5 Clinic & School Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 4 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 2 Schedule Adjustment: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Nov. 1 Schedule Revising New Criteria: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Oct. 30 Visitor Restrictions: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Oct. 29 New High-Risk Immunization Plan: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Oct. 28 Immunization Plan: Download PDF

Eastern Health: Download PDF

Central Health

Central Health Dec. 7 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Central Health Nov. 20 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Central Health Nov. 16-17 Clinic Schedule: Download PDF

Current Stories

Newfoundland & Labrador Timeline:

June 13, 2009: Newfoundland and Labrador officially records its first case of swine flu, becoming the final Canadian province to report an incidence of the disease. The case involves a sample collected from a young adult male who was treated Thursday at the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor. Officials say they know there were cases already in the province, but it was the first case tested and confirmed as positive.

June 17, 2009: The Newfoundland and Labrador Health Department confirms the province's second and third cases of H1N1 influenza in two children from the same family, both under the age of five.

June 23, 2009: There are now eight confirmed cases of H1N1 flu virus in the province, including one case at the Hoyles Escasoni Complex - a long-term care facility in St. John's.

July 16, 2009: Provincial health officials confirms 45 cases of H1N1 flu in all four health regions.

July 24, 2009: The Newfoundland and Labrador government announces it is working on a plan to carry out a mass immunization against H1N1 flu this fall.

August 11, 2009: As of early August, health officials confirms more than 75 cases of swine flu in Newfoundland and Labrador since the epidemic began. The province orders more than 780,000 doses and plans to carry out a mass vaccination program when the H1N1 influenza vaccine is available in the fall.

August 27, 2009: The Newfoundland and Labrador government announces an intensive hand-washing campaign aimed at schoolchildren in the hopes of getting a jump on an outbreak of H1N1 flu. Three people have been hospitalized with swine flu in the province and there have been more than 100 confirmed cases.

October 20, 2009: Seven new cases of swine flu in one week prompt the provincial government to make its stockpile of anti-viral medication to fight H1N1 influenza available to doctors.

October 21, 2009: Provincial Health Minister Jerome Kennedy announces in a release that a voluntary, province-wide immunization program will begin the week of Oct. 26.

October 22, 2009: Provincial health authorities announce plans for mass immunization.

Definitions (derived from the Public Health Agency of Canada website www.phac-aspc.gc.ca)

Influenza: Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory infection that is caused by a virus.

H1N1: H1N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that in the past, usually only affected pigs. In Spring 2009, it emerged in people in North America. This is a new strain of influenza and because humans have little to no natural immunity to this virus, it can cause serious and widespread illness. The majority of Canadian cases of H1N1 Flu Virus have experienced mild illness and have recovered at home. Overall, the World Health Organization is describing this pandemic as moderate.

Vaccine: A vaccine is any preparation intended to produce immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies. Vaccines are the primary means to prevent illness and death from influenza.

Adjuvanted vs. nonadjuvanted vaccination: An adjuvanted vaccine is a vaccine that includes a substance that boosts an individual's immune system and increases their response to a vaccine. An unadjuvanted vaccine has no "booster" element.

Antiviral: Antivirals are drugs used for the prevention and early treatment of influenza. Early research indicates that there are two prescription antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza that are effective in treating the H1N1 Flu Virus.