ANNUAL INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION POLICY

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1 1.0 POLICY The Chief Public Health Office (CPHO), Department of Health and Wellness (HW), will make available influenza vaccine free of charge annually to Islanders over 6 months of age as part of the publicly funded immunization program. The vaccine will be distributed to specific immunizers who agree to provide the vaccine as follows: 1.1 The vaccine must be maintained according to vaccine handling and storage guidelines to ensure adequate cold-chain management. 1.2 All Immunizers must be familiar with the annual National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement as well as relevant vaccine product monographs. 1.3 Individuals who present for publicly funded influenza vaccine at a pharmacy, physician office or clinic, or Health PEI Public Health Nursing Influenza Immunization clinic must not be charged for the cost of the vaccine. In addition, the following members of the public must not be charged an administration fee: those aged 65 and over; children aged 6 months to 59 months; pregnant women and their household contacts; individuals who identify as Aboriginal. 1.4 Vaccine will be provided to Health PEI facilities and programs for the following: patients/residents in facilities, clients of Home Care and other community based programs; residents of private Community Care Facilities (CCF) without nursing staff (for immunization by Public Health Nursing); administration to health care workers and other care providers in facilities and community settings who, through their activities, are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications. 1.5 Vaccine will be provided to private long term care facilities and CCF (with nurses on staff) for residents in care and for the administration to health care workers and other care providers in facilities who, through their activities, are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications.

2 1.6 Vaccine will be provided to First Nations Health Centres for those living on reserve. 1.7 Vaccine will be provided to Provincial Correctional Facilities. 1.8 Immunizers must keep records of all influenza immunizations administered according to the Immunization Regulations of the Prince Edward Island Public Health Act. 1.9 Immunizers must report data electronically to the Chief Public Health Office on all influenza immunization administered according to the Immunization Regulations of the Prince Edward Island Public Health Act. Data elements include the individual s age, sex and postal code All immunizers must monitor the health and safety of the individuals to whom influenza vaccine is administered; Immunizers shall have in place protocols for management of anaphylaxis and influenza vaccine must only be administered in settings where these protocols are in place All unexpected adverse events following administration of influenza vaccine must be reported to the CPHO within 24 hours as soon as observed using the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) form. This requirement is outlined in the Notifiable Diseases and Conditions and Communicable Diseases Regulations under the Public Health Act. 2.0 DEFINITIONS 2.1 Cold Chain Management refers to the process used to maintain optimal conditions during the transport, storage, and handling of vaccines, from the point of manufacture until such time as the vaccine is administered to a client. 2.2 Immunizer means a health professional eligible to administer influenza vaccine under this policy and includes pharmacists, nurses and physicians.

3 2.3 Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by influenza A or B viruses. In Canada it generally occurs each year in the late fall and winter months. Symptoms typically include the sudden onset of headache, chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, myalgia, fatigue, coryza, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur, especially in children. Most people will recover from influenza within a week to ten days, but some, including those 65 years of age and older and adults and children with chronic conditions, are at greater risk of more severe complications, such as pneumonia. (1) 2.4 Publicly funded influenza vaccine means vaccine that is purchased annually by the Chief Public Health Office and distributed to immunizers without charge pursuant to this policy. 3.0 PURPOSE The purpose of the Influenza Immunization Policy is to provide provincial direction to Health PEI immunizers and immunizers in the community who deliver PEI s publicly funded influenza vaccine to Islanders with the goal of reducing the incidence and impact of influenza in the province. Collaboration, coordination and communication across all phases of the immunization process from vaccine distribution to front line immunization strengthens timely delivery of the annual influenza immunization program while minimizing vaccine wastage. 4.0 BACKGROUND 4.1 NACI recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months be immunized against influenza, especially those at high risk of complications of influenza and those who care for them including health care workers. 4.2 The goal of the annual influenza immunization program is to prevent serious illness caused by influenza and its complications, including death. 4.3 Vaccination is the safest, longest-lasting and most effective way to prevent influenza and to minimize complications of influenza.

4 4.4 Each year there is a new vaccine to protect against the expected influenza virus strains of the coming influenza season. Even if the strains have not changed, getting the influenza vaccine every year is necessary to maximize protection as the duration may not span two influenza seasons. 4.5 The Chief Public Health Office participates in a pan-canadian contract to purchase influenza vaccine annually and provides this free of charge to immunizers to administer to the public. 4.6 PEI does not have a universal seasonal influenza immunization program. However the cost of the vaccine is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Wellness and certain high risk groups receive the vaccine with no administration fee. 4.7 The influenza vaccine is received by the Provincial Pharmacare Program (and pharmacy distributors for pharmacy) in the fall and distributed according to orders placed by immunizers. 4.8 In recent years access to the influenza vaccine for the public has improved with Public Influenza Immunization Clinics led by Public Health Nursing, Health PEI and legislation enabling pharmacists to administer certain vaccines including influenza. 4.9 The increased points of access result in increased distribution points for vaccine. This policy is necessary for improved accountability and to minimize vaccine wastage of publicly funded vaccine. 5.0 APPLICATION 5.1. This policy applies to all immunizers who obtain publicly funded vaccine from the CPHO Those who purchase and administer influenza vaccine outside of the publicly funded vaccine supply are nonetheless subject to the recording and reporting requirements under the PEI Public Health Act and Immunization Regulations.

5 5.3. Compliance to this policy will be monitored by the Chief Public Health Office. Those found to be non-compliant will not be eligible to receive further publicly funded vaccine until there is evidence that corrective measures are implemented. 6.0 KEY SEARCH WORDS 6.1. Influenza Immunization Policy; Immunization Regulations; Notifiable Diseases and Conditions and Communicable Disease Regulations. 7.0 CROSS REFERENCE 7.1 PEI Public Health Act; Notifiable Diseases and Conditions and Communicable Disease Regulations; Immunization Regulations.