Planning for an Influenza Pandemic

Waterloo Region's pandemic plan, the Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan (CPIPP), was developed by over 200 individuals from over 50 organizations. This includes representatives from the hospitals, municipalities, emergency response agencies (police, fire, ambulance) and social service agencies.

The CPIPP can be downloaded in its entirety or by individual chapters.  See Waterloo Region's Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan.

The CPIPP will be updated on ongoing basis. The most recent version was approved in late November 2008 and released in January 2009.

Special Note about the H1N1 flu virus pandemic and Waterloo Region's Pandemic Plan

Based on provincial recommendation and evidence related to the southern hemisphere's flu season, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Region of Waterloo Public Health continue to anticipate a busier than usual flu season, but not one which will overwhelm the health-care system. Therefore, it is unlikely Waterloo Region's Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan (CPIPP), which includes provisions for a severe pandemic, will be implemented in full given the mild to moderate severity of the H1N1 virus to date.

Some of the main differences between the full plan and the current response plan include:

• An official emergency may not be declared and Waterloo Region's pandemic response structure may not be fully activated;
• Public health measures may not be implemented as expected. For example, schools and child care facilities are currently recommended to remain open and mass gatherings will likely not be cancelled;
• Primary care needs will generally be met by modifying existing services (for example extending hours of service) rather than setting up influenza assessment, treatment and referral centres (also referred to as "Flu Centres");
• Communication updates will continue on a weekly basis (or as important information becomes available) rather than implementing the 24 hour business and communication cycle;
• Physicians and health care partners (i.e. most family physicians, hospitals) will immunize patients and health care providers against H1N1 flu virus in addition to mass immunization clinics run by Region of Waterloo Public Health;
• The strategies developed for a surge in natural deaths will not be implemented; and
• Antivirals are recommended only for people who are very ill (i.e. hospitalized) and people at risk of complications (i.e. pregnant women, people with underlying chronic conditions). Antivirals are being distributed through existing systems, by physicians and through pharmacies, not through Flu Assessment and Treatment Centres.

At the present time, Region of Waterloo Public Health is not anticipating the more serious scenario of up to 35% absenteeism

View the Waterloo Regions Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan