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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 below).
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.
DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD (All files are in PDF format)
|
Complete Plan Waterloo Region's Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan 399 pages - Note: The file size is large (2.7 MB). |
| Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan by Individual Chapters/Sections
Preface Executive Summary
Part I: Planning Framework Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Background and Context for Planning Chapter 3 Goals, Assumptions, Guiding Principles, and Ethical Framework for Decision Making Chapter 4 Responding to an Influenza Pandemic Chapter 4 Appendices
Part II: Region of Waterloo Public Health Response Tools and Guidelines Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Appendix Chapter 7 Antiviral Procurement, Distribution and Use Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Appendices
Part III: Health and Support Services during an Influenza Pandemic Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Appendices Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Appendices Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Appendices
Part IV: Health Care Sector Response Tools and Guidelines Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Infection Prevention and Control Chapter 13 Appendices Chapter 14 Healtth Human Resources Planning Chapter 14 Appendices Chapter 15 Psychosocial Supports for Healthcare Workers Chapter 15 Appendices
Part V: Municipal Services Response Tools and Guidelines Chapter 16 Maintaining Municipal Critical Infrastructure Chapter 17 Planning for a Surge in Natural Deaths Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Appendices |
| The first planning stage produced a strategic planning guide and operational framework that establishes goals, assumptions, and principles pertaining to the community response and recovery effort, and outlines the process that will be used to finalize the CPIPP. The first phase of Waterloo Region's pandemic plan is titled Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan: Strategic Planning Guide and Operational Framework and was released in late April, 2006. Click here for a copy of the CPIPP. Please note: file size is 1.26MB. |
PLANNING UPDATES
Public Health is committed to providing regular updates throughout the planning process. Newsletters will be made in Fall 2006 and Winter 2006/2007.
Click here for a copy of the Pandemic Planning Newsletter (Summer 2007 edition).
Click here for a copy of the Pandemic Planning Newsletter (Winter 2007 edition).
Click here for a copy of the Pandemic Planning Newsletter (Fall 2006 edition).
Click here for a copy of the Pandemic Planning Newsletter (August 2006 edition).
The first phase of Waterloo Region's pandemic plan is titled Community Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan: Strategic Planning Guide and Operational Framework and was released in late April, 2006. A copy of the CPIPP can be found here. Please note: file size is 1.26MB.
Planning at the federal level is the responsibility of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Information on the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (CPIP) can be found here.
Planning at the provincial level is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Information on the Ontario Health Pandemic Influenza Plan (OHPIP) can be found here.
Internationally, the World Health Organization is organizing all activities related to surveillance and reporting. More information on their efforts can be found here.
For more information on the community planning process, please click here.
