For Residential Care

Influenza is a significant cause of death in Canada, especially among the elderly and frail. In British Columbia, more than 1,400 people die each year from influenza and pneumonia combined. A person can be infected with the virus and pass it along to others without even knowing it.

The goals of the VCH influenza prevention and control program are to reduce:

• Illness and death associated with influenza, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.
• Predictable and preventable additional pressures on the health care system that occur during influenza season.

Your roles as a health care provider is to:

• Promote the uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine.
• Develop protocols for annual influenza vaccination of residents and staff.
• Develop protocols for preventing, identifying and controlling influenza outbreaks.

Influenza Prevention and Control Program for Facilities

• View the Annual Residential Care Update Influenza 2010-2011 overview presentation.
• Visit the Prevention and Control Guide page.

We have posters available in multiple languages on the Educational Materials page.

Looking for general information about the flu? Visit the Influenza (flu) page.

Looking for information on pandemic preparedness?Visit the Pandemic Response Plans page.