Western Health continues to adjust its internal and external practices and services in an attempt to deal with the increasing pandemic surrounding the H1N1 virus.

Friday, Western Health revised its schedule for mass immunization clinics and put plans in place to begin cutting back and prioritizing certain services such as elective surgeries.

A part of that is due to the fact the hospitals and clinics, like the general public, are dealing with personal sickness and, additionally, there is an increase in staffing demands in other key areas.

“These are the types of things we have to do with business continuity,” Dr. Greg Mercer, medical officer of health for Western Health, said. “We have to make sure the staff, like doctors and nurses and other people within our organization, are able to care for the people who are sickest.
“We had to plan for some of our staff being sick, and indeed they are. We are being impacted and that is precisely why we are prioritizing things like our surgeries.”

The priority for staffing right now lies with services such as the emergency room, flu assessment clinics, doctors offices, and intensive care units — areas Mercer referred to as the battle grounds against H1N1.

The revised schedule for mass immunization clinics starts with those people who are at the highest risk of experiencing complications if they contract the influenza. These groups include:
—    individuals under 65 with chronic health conditions
—    those living in remote and isolated settings or communities
—    children six months to five years of age, including kindergarten students
—    health care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential care services
—    pregnant women
—    household contacts and caregivers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized or may not respond to vaccines, and populations otherwise identified as high risk.

Individuals who fall into one of the categories are encouraged to get their vaccine early at a clinic scheduled in their area.

As of Thursday, approximately 75 per cent of health-care workers in the western region have received the H1N1 vaccine.

Western Health is currently providing the H1N1 vaccination to all children in the region from age six months to five years, including kindergarten students and to parents of newborns up to six months, by appointment. These appointments have been scheduled and are currently taking place at public health offices throughout the region. Also, continuing care nurses are currently providing the H1N1 vaccine, by appointment, to all non-ambulatory clients who are under the age of 65 and are currently receiving nursing services. These residents are also being contacted.

In addition, mass immunization clinics for all residents have been scheduled for Nov. 2-3 for the communities of Ramea, Francois, Grey River and Grand Bruit.

Those who do not fall under one of the high-risk categories listed above are requested to wait until later in the vaccination schedule to receive their vaccine.

Earlier this week, Eastern Health answered to reports that health-care workers were taking family members not scheduled to receive the vaccine to get it. Mercer said he didn’t have first-hand knowledge of that happening locally, but expects it is to a limited degree.

“We have tried to put processes in place to limit that as much as possible, but I think we also have to accept the fact people giving vaccines are also humans and have families and that sort of stuff,” he said.
“I am not condoning or sanctioning those types of actions, but, from what I can understand in terms of where our vaccine has been given, it looks like things are pretty tight overall.
“We have done well. In excess of 2,600 vaccines already this week, probably hundreds more (Friday), but I feel, for the most part, that is being given to those who need it the most.”

With the mass immunization clinics rolling out next week, to be followed by clinics for the rest of the general public, Mercer anticipates a lot of people heading to those particular sites to receive the vaccine.

“We have seen these long lines of people waiting for six or seven hours, that may be an unfortunate reality we will have to face,” he said. “Because people are so anxious to get this vaccine, we are not going to take five or six weeks to get it into the arms of high risk people. Hopefully, that will be done by end of day Wednesday and Thursday of next week.”

The provincial government, working with the regional health authorities, will monitor the mass immunization program as it rolls out and changes may be made to the existing plan.

Residents unable to leave their home due to medical reasons, but are not receiving continuing care nursing services, or for further information call 1-877-632-H1N1(4161).

Weblink: westernhealth.nl.ca