First Nations need to be identified as a priority for H1N1 vaccine by government
AFN Press Release
AFN calls for the need to prioritize First Nations for H1N1 vaccines
OTTAWA, July 17 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, who holds the health portfolio at the AFN, called on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to ensure that First Nations are identified as a priority for the new H1N1 vaccine.
"This is justified when you consider that H1N1 infection rates are 20 times higher among First Nations in Manitoba than the general population. We are seeing an alarming trend of a greater severity of disease among First Nations, especially in remote communities, largely because of pre-existing health conditions and poor living conditions. Some doctors suspect biological factors may also play a role," said Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. "Canada is in the process of prioritizing high-risk groups to receive the vaccine and we strongly believe that a number of our communities should be prioritized."
The Regional Chief's comments came after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that an H1N1 vaccine could be delayed or in short supply this fall, when H1N1 is expected to return in a more virulent form.
"It is very important to have a transparent process for prioritizing vaccines. Otherwise, people will lose trust in the system. First Nations organizations, both nationally and regionally, are working with federal, provincial and territorial governments to understand how the factors contributing to the severity of H1N1 among First Nations are being considered as governments prioritizes groups for the vaccine," the Regional Chief stated.
Regional Chief Angus Toulouse noted the critical importance of communities reviewing and testing their pandemic plans. He is also calling for the sharing of data and evidence that can assist communities in informing their response to a possible H1N1 pandemic.
He added that in Ontario, First Nations are equal partners in the Provincial Pandemic Plan that outlines roles and responsibilities for federal, provincial and First Nations governments. Chapter 20 of this Plan calls for the daily sharing of information among all parties to promptly respond to the urgent needs of First Nations communities.
"This is a model to which all First Nations regions should have access," he said. "Part of the overall work here is to establish a more public and transparent process for sharing data that protects both individual and community privacy while getting First Nations the information they need in a timely and effective manner."
Information that has been made public about the rates of H1N1 among Manitoba First Nations show that the rates of infection among Manitoba First Nations are 20 times higher than the general population or 135 per 100,000 compared to 6.1 per 100,000 for the general population in Manitoba.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
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/For further information: Karyn Pugliese, Health Communications at (613) 292-1877 or kpugliese@afn.ca/