New report says that changes needed to improve future responses to public health emergencies

Ontario responded well to the H1N1 pandemic but greater coordination and standardization is needed for future health emergencies, according to a new report from Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Dr King’s report found the following elements of the pandemic response worked well:

• Rates of death and hospitalization in Ontario were low relative to overall Canadian rates
• Every person who wanted a vaccine received one
• A high level of collaboration existed amongst all levels of government through good discussions and a willingness to engage with one another
• Close collaboration with First Nations led to timely antiviral and vaccine delivery to remote and isolated communities 
• Schools remained open throughout the height of the pandemic

However, some elements of the pandemic response did not work so well and require improvement:

• Ontario did not receive good information about how much vaccine the province was going to receive from the federal government
• Ontario required greater preparation for the delivery of a mass immunization campaign
• There was no ability to electronically track vaccine delivery and uptake
• Greater coordination between the provincial response and national response was required on vaccine supply and delivery
• There is need for greater powers to ensure more standardization and coordination during a public health emergency to ensure consistent service delivery for all Ontarians

The report recommends that consideration should be given to structural changes in the health care system to improve management and oversight in response to a pandemic, or other emerging infectious diseases.