Ontario invests $38 million to ease emergency room pressures with universal
vaccination program
TORONTO, July 25 /CNW/ - Ontario will become the first jurisdiction in
North America to make flu vaccine available at no charge to all its
citizens
in an effort to ease pressures in hospital emergency rooms this winter,
Health
and Long-Term Care Minister Elizabeth Witmer announced today.
"We're planning ahead to alleviate pressures emergency rooms face
during
flu season," said Witmer. "This unprecedented public health measure will
help
ensure that all Ontarians have equal access to the influenza vaccine to
help
protect themselves against the flu."
The province will spend $38 million this year to ensure all Ontarians
have access to the influenza vaccine. The 7.9 million units of vaccine will
be
initially available during the recommended time period for influenza
inoculation in the fall, at hospitals, local health units, at the offices
of
family physicians, and at select workplaces through corporate programs.
"Much of the illness caused by the flu can be prevented by annual
influenza vaccination," said Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Chief Medical
Officer of Health. "I urge all Ontarians to take advantage of this new
publicly funded program and get vaccinated this fall."
"We support any effort to improve patient care whether it is in
hospitals, in the community or through health promotion efforts like the
extension of the flu vaccination program to all Ontarians," said David
MacKinnon, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. "We
believe
that this initiative will have a positive impact on managing emergency room
pressures this winter."
Last year the Ontario government offered free flu vaccinations to
people
over the age of 65, emergency and health care providers and people with
chronic medical conditions. Today's announcement extends this initiative so
that the population of the entire province is eligible.
Att: Backgrounder
Backgrounder
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INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION
Ontario is the first jurisdiction in North America to provide universal
access to a publicly funded immunization program for influenza. The
Ministry
of Health and Long-Term Care is expanding its publicly funded influenza
immunization program to ensure all Ontarians are eligible for a vaccination
shot every year. The government will spend $38 million, $31 million of
which
is new funding to administer 7.9 million doses of influenza vaccine this
year.
What is influenza?
Influenza is caused by a virus. Symptoms of influenza, commonly
referred
to as the flu, include a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, headache
and
muscle ache. Influenza usually lasts for 5 to 10 days. The cough and
weakness
can persist for up to 6 weeks making physical activity difficult. Most
people
with influenza will not become seriously ill. However, influenza can cause
pneumonia and death in the elderly, children at high risk and those with
heart
or lung problems. Influenza spreads very easily from an infected person to
others through coughing and sneezing. It is also spread by direct contact
with
contaminated surfaces or objects like unwashed hands, clothes, toys, and
eating utensils after they have been contaminated by the flu virus.
Who should get a flu shot?
The government urges all Ontarians to get a flu shot. Vaccination is
strongly recommended for the following groups:
- everyone 65 years of age or over
- anyone with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease
- anyone who works in a health care facility.
- all emergency service workers i.e., firefighters (including volunteer
firefighters), police, and ambulance staff.
- anyone with diabetes, cancer, a blood disorder, or an immune problem
- children and adolescents (aged 6 months - 18 years) treated for long
periods with acetylsalicylic acid
How well does influenza vaccine protect against the flu?
Influenza vaccine protects about 70 per cent of people who receive a
flu
shot. Anyone who has had a shot can still get the flu, but they will be
less
sick than if they were not vaccinated. In elderly people this vaccine can
prevent pneumonia in about 6 out of 10 people and can prevent death in more
than 8 out of 10 people. Influenza vaccine does not protect people from
colds
or other viruses. The viruses that cause the flu change often. That means a
patient should get a new shot each year. The best time to be vaccinated is
from October to mid-November. This gives the body time to build protection
against the virus.
Vaccination against influenza has substantial health-related and
economic
benefits. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed
that
healthy adults who received the flu vaccine reported 25 per cent fewer
episodes of upper respiratory illness than those who were not immunized, 43
per cent fewer days of sick leave from work due to upper respiratory
illness,
and 44 per cent fewer visits to doctors' offices for upper respiratory
illness.
As well, a cost benefit study published in the Canadian Journal of
Infectious Diseases found that after all costs of administering vaccines to
employees at one large Canadian hospital were considered, the hospital had
a
net benefit of $39.23 per vaccinated employee. The study also suggested
that
the net cost benefit would have been increased by a more active promotion
of
the vaccination program.
What are the risks from the flu vaccine?
The side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and may include soreness
where the shot was given. Some people report a fever and muscle ache within
1
or 2 days. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm is extremely small.
Almost all people who get the flu vaccine have no adverse reaction. The
viruses in the vaccine are killed, so people cannot get the flu from the
vaccine.
Who should not get influenza vaccine?
- Anyone with a serious allergy to eggs should not get influenza
vaccine
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of the vaccine
What are hospitals doing to immunize their workers?
The Minister of Health and Long Term Care has issued an Influenza
Surveillance Protocol for Ontario Hospitals. This Protocol was developed
jointly by the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and the Ontario Medical
Association (OMA) to meet the requirements of the Public Hospitals Act,
1990,
Regulation 965.
The Protocol applies to all persons who carry out activities in the
hospital. This includes employees, students, medical house staff,
physicians,
volunteers and contract workers. The Protocol does not apply to patients or
residents of the facility, or to visitors.
Under the Protocol, all hospitals should recommend influenza vaccine
annually in the fall to all persons carrying out activities in patient care
areas of the hospital, ensure that vaccination clinics are accessible to
the
health care workers (HCWs), and document each HCW's immunization case.
The influenza immunization is not "mandatory" in that the hospital
cannot
force health care workers to be immunized. However, if there is an outbreak
of
influenza in the hospital, the Protocol states that the hospital should not
allow unvaccinated HCWs, who refuse to take appropriate antiviral
medication
to prevent influenza, to provide patient care or carry out activities where
they have a potential to acquire or transmit influenza.
What is the government doing to relieve pressure on emergency rooms?
In December 1999, the government implemented a ten-point action plan to
improve patient access to emergency care during busy times of the year.
This
announcement builds on the more than $300 million that the government has
provided to Ontario emergency rooms over the past two years.
A $23 million plan was developed to ease seasonal pressures on hospital
emergency rooms in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Substantial
progress
has been made to improve access to hospital emergency departments during
periods of high demand. For example:
- Hospital commitments to date have resulted in 250 flex beds opening
in
the Toronto area
- All of the 20 participating hospitals now have Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) Medical Directors in place to co-ordinate intensive care and
emergency care for critically ill patients
- And all 20 hospitals also now have discharge planners in place to
work
with Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) to transfer patients from
hospital into appropriate long-term care community-care services
The government has identified 65 new and expanded emergency-room
construction projects across the province, including 21 in the Toronto/GTA
region. As well, more than half of the 21 hospitals have received advance
government funding to accelerate ER renovations and expansions. As a result
of
these initiatives, hospitals will have a greater ability to respond quickly
to
emergency room pressures.
Version francaise disponible
-0- 07/25/2000
For further information: Derek Tupling, (416) 326-3985, Minister's Office;
Anne Matthews, (416) 327-4382, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; This
news release is available on our website at: http://www.gov.on.ca/health
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