Ministry of Health
Welcome to the Provincial Health Officer's H1N1 Site for the Physicians of B.C.
Site Last Updated: April 28, 2010
At the request of B.C.’s physicians, this web resource has been established to provide a centralised and ongoing source of current information about the emerging issues surrounding the novel H1N1 flu virus.
Throughout the influenza season we will update and revise this information as necessary and also provide access to provincial- and health authority-specific information, including:
- Clinical Information
- Epidemiology
- Clinical impacts (hospitalizations, service changes)
- Pertinent information from the Medical Services Commission
You are encouraged to sign up to receive notification when significant updates or additions are available.
Message from the Provincial Health Officer (PDF 47K)
Message from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (PDF 82K)
Message from the BCMA (PDF 34K)
Sincerely,
|
P.R.W. Kendall |
Eric R. Young, MD |
New or Updated Information:
- PHO Letter to Physicians RE: Availability of pandemic H1N1 vaccine between now and the fall (April 28, 2010) (PDF 41K) *NEW*
PHO and Related Correspondence
- PHO Letter to Physicians RE: Availability of pandemic H1N1 vaccine between now and the fall (April 28, 2010) (PDF 41K ) *NEW*
- PHO Letter to Physicians RE: Cancellation of Temporary Fee Item PG13700 - GP Office Visit for H1N1 Virus (December 7, 2009)
- Message from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (November 6, 2009) (PDF101K)
RE: pH1N1 Vaccine Prioritization and use in a Time of Limited Supply - Letter to Health Professionals (October 23, 2009) (PDF 67K)
RE: Appropriate Antiviral Use for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza in British Columbia - Clarification: The above letter states that “Oseltamivir is available at no charge to any patient with a prescription who meets” the criteria for treatment. PLEASE NOTE: The drug cost is fully covered along with $8.60 of the dispensing fee. Dispensing fees vary somewhat from pharmacy to pharmacy.
- PHO Letter to Physicians re H1N1 Visit Fee (October 20, 2009) (PDF
128K
)
RE: New PG13700 - GP Office Visit for H1N1 After Hours Coverage H1N1 Testing for Clinical Management Subscribe Function - H1N1 Physician Website
Epidemiology: novel H1N1 (2009) in BC
Please Note: Confirmed cases will be updated weekly on Tuesdays. More detailed BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletins can also be access through this link.
Preparing your office, staff and patients
- H1N1 Physician Fee Codes (PDF 67K)
- Frequently Asked Questions - H1N1 Physician Fee Items (January 5, 2010)
- Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza-related Office Management and Infection Control for Private Physicians (October 30, 2009) (PDF 968K)
- Appendix A - Clinic Pandemic Preparedness Checklist (PDF 89K)
- Appendix B - Possible Signage at reception (PDF 239K)
- Appendix C - Basic Personal measures and Cough Etiquette (PDF 125K)
- Appendix D - Waiting Room Configuration (PDF 121K)
- Appendix E - Hand Hygiene (PDF 233K)
- Appendix F - Surgical Masks (PDF 124K)
- Appendix G - N95 Respirators (PDF 171K)
- Appendix H - Facial (eye) Protection (PDF 134K)
- Appendix I - Sequence for Putting on / Taking off PPE for Exposure to Body Fluids (PDF 173K)
- Appendix J - General Cleaning Instructions (PDF 75K)
- Appendix K - Disinfectants (PDF 73K)
- Appendix L - Example of a General Telephone Welcome Message on Automated Attendant System (PDF 70K)
- Appendix M - Estimates of Private Physician Office Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (October 23, 2009) (PDF 101K)
- Information and resources useful to Medical Office Assistants (October 8, 2009) (PDF 54K)
- Suggested Letter Template for patients at high risk of Influenza complications and their caregivers (October 23, 2009) (PDF 20K)
- Medical Office Assistant Telephone Script: Pre-visit Influenza Screening (PDF 99K)
This Telephone Script is intended to be a tool to help identify influenza-like illness (ILI) among patients, prior to their visit to the physician's office. By identifying patients with influenza-like symptoms over the phone, the MOA has the opportunity to provide direction to patients at that time, which helps to minimize transmission of influenza to others during a visit to the physician's office.
Immunization
- Pandemic H1N1 Immunization Programs and Priority Groups
- Information to Physicians and Pharmacists re pH1N1 Adjuvanted Vaccine - Arepanrix (April 9, 2010)
- Pandemic H1N1 Immunization Programs (December 9, 2009) (PDF 101K)
- Weekly pH1N1 Vaccine Sequencing Schedule (November 19, 2009) (PDF 62K)
- PHAC H1N1 Flu Vaccine Dosing Recommendations (November 13, 2009) (PDF 114K)
- Updated Adjuvanted pH1N1 Vaccine Dosing Recommendations for children ages 6 months to 9 years (inclusive) (November 12, 2009) (PDF 43K)
- Co-administration of Pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Vaccine and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (November 10, 2009) (PDF 40K)
- Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Pandemic Monovalent Vaccine (Without Adjuvant) Product Information Leaflet – A link to the UnAdjuvanted H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Product Information Leaflet from GlaxoSmithKline (November 13, 2009) (PDF 127K)
- Quick Reference Product Leaflet – Arepanrix (November 30, 3009) (PDF 102K)
- Arepanrix H1N1 Product Information Leaflet – A link to the AS03 Adjuvanted H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Product Information Leaflet from GlaxoSmithKline (November 6, 2009) (PDF 246K)
- Message from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC – pH1N1 Vaccine Prioritization and Use in a Time of Limited Supply (November 6, 2009) (PDF 101K)
- Public Health Agency of Canada Recommendations for pH1N1 Vaccine in Pregnancy (October 30, 2009)
- Q and A for Health Care Providers – Seasonal and Pandemic Vaccines (December 4, 2009) (PDF 195K)
- Training H1N1 Vaccine Slideshow for Immunizers (December 10, 2009) (PDF 810K)
- Administration of H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine to Egg Allergic Individuals (October 28, 2009) – A statement from The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology for physicians of patients with a diagnosed egg allergy who are candidates for the influenza vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal). (PDF 42K)
- Seasonal Influenza Immunization Program
- Seasonal Influenza Immunization Program (November 6, 2009) (PDF 82K)
- Q and A for Health Care Providers – Seasonal and Pandemic Vaccines (December 4, 2009)
- The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement on Seasonal Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (TIV) for 2009 – 2010 (November 6, 2009)
- Pneumococcal Immunization Program
- Pneumococcal Immunization Programs (November 10, 2009) (PDF 96K)
Clinical Care
- Diagnosis and management
- Pandemic Resources for Critical Care (November 27, 2009)
NOTE: This website link is provided for physicians for information. The material posted on this website is not reviewed by the BC Pandemic Influenza Clinical Care Working Group - Testing Guidelines (October 23, 2009) (PDF 140K) – Clarification on testing priorities.
- Treatment Guidelines (September 25, 2009) (PDF 126K)
- Antibiotic Therapy Guidance: Antibiotics for Secondary Pneumonia in Community and Acute Care Settings (October 20, 2009) (PDF 186K)
- Health Canada Advisory – Potential Medication Errors with Liquid Tamiflu (October 8, 2009)
- Considerations for specific populations:
- The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
SOGC President’s letter to members regarding H1N1 (September 2, 2009) - First Nations Communities
Patient Information Resources
- The HealthLink BC Files on the H1N1 Flu Virus and the H1N1 Vaccine.
- Province of B.C.’s public H1N1 site: www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1
- HealthLink BC provides non-emergency health information, self-care assistance and telephone triage 24/7 at www.HealthLinkBC.ca or toll-free at 8-1-1. Translation services are available through 8-1-1 on request in over 130 languages.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Antiviral Medication – Information for patients from the Ministry of Health (October 8, 2009)
- Questions & Answers – H1N1 Vaccine Information (November 23, 2009)
Influenza Immunization Clinic Schedules by Health Authority
For information pertaining to H1N1 and seasonal influenza immunization schedules refer to the links below.
BC Flu Clinic Locator – Ministry of Health flu clinic locator. Enter your postal code or city/town to find the flu clinics scheduled near you.
Fraser Health Authority
Northern Health Authority
Interior Health Authority
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Additional Considerations
- An Ethical Framework for Decision- Making: Supporting British Columbia’s Pandemic Influenza Planning and Response (October 23, 2009)
Public Health Measures
- Public Health Measure Summary (October 23, 2009)
- Technical Document to follow.
Advisory Resources
- The PHO’s Pandemic influenza Clinical Care Advisory Group (PDF 13K)
- The PHO’s Pandemic Influenza Public Health Advisory Group (PDF 11K)
- Medical Health Officers of BC Contacts (PDF 27K)
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