Ministry of Health
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN
FEBRUARY 2009
Fifth Revision
1
Preface Influenza A viruses periodically cause worldwide epidemics, or pandemics, with high rates of illness and death. Advanced planning for a large scale and widespread health emergency is required to optimize health care delivery during a pandemic. Unlike other public welfare emergencies, an influenza pandemic will impact on multiple communities across the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago simultaneously. Each local jurisdiction must be prepared to respond in the context of uncertain availability of external resources and support. Therefore, contingency planning is required to mitigate the impact of an influenza pandemic through planning and preparation by the co-ordinated efforts of all orders of government in collaboration with their stakeholders. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, the Ministry of Health, and the whole health sector will play a critical role in the event of an outbreak of Pandemic Influenza.
The Trinidad and Tobago Pandemic Influenza Plan (the Plan) consists of an introduction and a background section, followed by the preparedness, response and recovery sections, which are consistent with the general principals of emergency response. Each section aims to assist and facilitate appropriate planning at all levels of government for the next influenza pandemic. WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan, WHO Checklist for Pandemic Influenza, excerpts from the Canadian and Singapore Pandemic Influenza Plan, and relevant national documents have been consulted in the development of this plan. The Plan and the annexed guidelines, checklists and other documents were developed to assist all jurisdictions with the main components of planning, including surveillance, vaccine programs (if and when available), use of antivirals, health services, emergency services, public health measures and communications....