Peel Public Health releases pandemic flu plan

Peel Public Health has released the plan that outlines the steps that health-care organizations and services should take to prepare for and respond to a pandemic. The Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector in Peel 2007 is a guide for local pandemic planning and includes roles and responsibilities of healthcare organizations in Peel, surveillance, public health measures, communications and logistics for anti-viral and mass immunization activities.

"Pandemic planning is a dynamic and changing process that reflects current knowledge and best practices in public health," said regional councillor Annette Groves, chair of human services. "This plan is a living document which will be frequently updated to stay current with regional, provincial and federal planning activities and with advancements in science and health care."

The current plan is a new version of the Region's first Peel Public Health Pandemic Influenza Plan developed in 2002. It has been updated and enhanced in accordance with the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan (2006) and the 2006 version of the Ontario Health Pandemic Influenza Plan. To ensure effective planning for pandemic influenza, Peel Public Health has been working collaboratively with many local health partners including hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, multi-faith leaders, longterm care centres and other organizations who contributed to the Pandemic Influenza Plan.

The extensive public health planning for pandemic influenza will benefit the Region of Peel as it develops a co-ordinated regional approach for pandemic planning.

A copy is available at peelregion.ca.