Pan-canadian public health network council report and policy recommendations on the use of antivirals for prophylaxis during an influenza pandemic

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Annex 1: Ministerial Decisions/Directions regarding Antivirals in the context of pandemic planning

At the Conference of F/P/T Ministers of Health, May 12-13, 2006, the following decisions/directions were agreed to related to the issue of Pandemic Planning in the Health
Sector – State of Preparedness. F/P/T Ministers agreed to:

• accelerate work to complete an MOU on Mutual Assistance to facilitate the sharing of health human resources and supplies across jurisdictions during a Public Health Emergency by fall 2006;

• direct officials to complete a pan-Canadian public health information system and an MOU on timely information sharing in preparing for and responding to a public health emergency through the Public Health Network for consideration by Deputy Ministers of Health in the fall 2006;

• develop a coordinated, pan-Canadian communications strategy to provide Canadians with the information they need to prepare for and respond to a pandemic;

• finalize an MOU to formalize roles and responsibilities, including funding, as outlined in the current federal budget, in pandemic preparedness and response by December 2006;

• seek authority as necessary to increase the joint National Antiviral Stockpile from 16 million to 55 million doses;

• direct officials to continue to review the best scientific evidence, and other developments, and make further recommendations on the appropriate size and use of the National Antiviral Stockpile;

• direct officials to immediately begin a process aimed at the creation of a national policy recommendation on the provision of prophylactic antivirals (prevention) for use during an influenza pandemic;

• direct officials to develop recommendations on a pandemic vaccine strategy with the goal of providing safe and effective protection against pandemic influenza as quickly as possible in the event of a pandemic;

• reaffirm that antivirals from the joint National Antiviral Stockpile, vaccines and essential supplies will be available to First Nations and Aboriginal communities on the same basis as they are provided to other Canadians; and,

• recognize the need for integrated pandemic plans that include First Nations and other Aboriginal communities, and instruct officials to ensure First Nations pandemic planning is integrated into each jurisdiction’s plans.

The federal government recognized its primary role in public health on First Nations’ reserves.

The federal government will continue to work with industry and international partners on the development, testing and licensing of an effective vaccine.

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