Pandemic Preparedness
This site was last updated on December 7, 2009
The Halifax Regional School Board has been monitoring the H1N1 virus since the initial outbreak in the spring of 2009. The board continues to communicate on a regular basis with provincial and local health authorities, as well as the Department of Education, regarding the potential impact to school and board operations. At this time, all school remain open and activities are continuing.
H1N1 Clinics in Schools
Capital Health’s Public Health Services will be holding a number of H1N1 vaccination clinics in the high schools in the coming weeks. In each high school, there will be a daytime clinic for teachers and students from the hosting school, and an evening clinic for students, families and staff from the feeder schools, and the general public. Click here to view the clinic schedule.
Students in Grades 10 to 12 do not require parental consent to receive the vaccine. For students in Grades Primary to 9, Public Health requires either a parent to be present or for written parental consent to be provided for students to receive the vaccine during school hours. Click here to access the required consent form.
Recent Updates
- Youth Questions and Answers about the H1N1 Vaccine - (link) (December 7, 2009)
- H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza: School Administrators Toolkit - (link) (November 24, 2009)
Pandemic Plan
The HRSB has completed a Pandemic Preparedness Plan. Click here to view.
What is H1N1 Influenza?
H1N1 influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a new flu virus. Symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, runny nose, coughing/sore throat, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea.
To protect yourself against H1N1 (Human Swine Influenza), Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection (HPP) advises Nova Scotians to:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water
- Cough and sneeze in your arm or sleeve
- Get your annual flu shot
- Keep doing what you normally do, but stay home if you feel sick
- Talk to a health professional if you experience severe flu-like symptoms
The Public Health Agency of Canada provides the most up-to-date information on H1N1 influenza symptoms, hygiene and treatment at www.fightflu.ca .
Do you have flu symptoms? Need help deciding what to do? The Department of Health Promotion and Protection has produced an Influenza Decision Chart. The chart is a new tool helps Nova Scotians decide what to do if they are sick with flu symptoms. To view the chart, click here.
Information for Parents
All HRSB schools remain open. School staff are encouraging students to wash their hands thoroughly and often, and to not share food or drinks with their classmates. Hand sanitizers have been installed in every school in or near the main entrances for visitors.
A decision has been made to cancel high school exam exemptions. To view the news release, click here. (Announced Nov. 2, 2009)
School boards in Nova Scotia have received an information package from the Department of Health Promotion and Protection. To view the information package, click here .
Health Promotion and Protection has produced an H1N1 Fact Sheet: How to Recognize and Manage Stress in Children During a Pandemic for parents and caregivers. To view the fact sheet, click here .
A joint letter from the Minister of Education and the Chief Public Health Officer of Nova Scotia was shared with schools for distribution to parents during the first week of school. Click here to view the letter.
Will schools be closed?
At this time, there are no plans to close schools because of H1N1. On September 11, the World Health Organization issued a statement outlining various measures that can be undertaken in schools to reduce the impact of the H1N1, including proactive school closure. The provincial Department of Health Promotion and Protection, in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada and health officials from around the country disagree with this measure. They believe that closing schools to slow the spread of H1N1 is unlikely to be effective.
H1N1 is very much a community virus so people can be exposed anywhere - at work, the gym, the library, the grocery store, etc. The WHO indicated that school closure would only be effective if we could limit contact among students not in school. That would be very difficult and would have a significant impact on children and youth, their families, and our province overall.
Any decisions on school closures will be considered on a case by case basis after discussion with health officials and the provincial Department of Education. The foundation in preventing the spread of the virus in the school setting is good basic hygiene. Washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, thorough cleanings and having people stay at home if they are sick. These measures will go a long way in minimizing the spread of H1N1 in schools and in our communities.
Documents
Information
If you are concerned that medical advice or care is needed, contact HealthLink 811.
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