Continuing Medical Education (CME)

• Shelly McNeil, MD, FRCSC
  Medical Specialist
  Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women's College Hospital
  Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
  QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

• Blair W. Seifert, Pharm.D., FCSHP
  Clinical Pharmacist -- Pediatrics, WRHA Regional Pharmacy Services
  Children's Hospital, Health Sciences Centre
  Winnipeg, Manitoba

• Alexandra Henteleff, RN, BN, Med
  Mass Immunization Project Coordinator
  Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
  Population and Public Health Program
  Winnipeg, Manitoba

Reviewed By:

• Sol Stern, MD
  Lead Physician, Argus Medical Centre
  Oakville, Ontario

• Lydia Hatcher, MD, CCFP
  Clinical Associate Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland
  Active Staff, Janeway Child Health Centre
  St. John's, Newfoundland

• Bruce Wheeler, MD, CCFP

• Carl Fournier, MD
  Associate Teacher, University of Montreal
  Associate Member, Notre-Dame Hospital of the CHUM
  Montreal, Quebec

• Phyllis Bedder, MD

• Tom Smiley, BSc.Phm., Pharm.D

• Mike Boivin,, B.Sc.Phm.

• Using the Canadian and Provincial H1N1 vaccine priority lists, identify patients or patient groups in your practice that would most benefit from early/timely/prompt vaccination.
• For the Canadian vaccine, identify the appropriate dose, administration schedule, and monitoring parameters for infants and young children, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.
• Understand the risks and benefits of H1N1 vaccination, interactions with other vaccines, and adverse effects management and reporting.
• Review techniques to effectively communicate about immunization.
• Appreciate best practices in immunization, including immunization technique, record keeping and vaccine storage and handling.

Novel influenza A (H1N1), a new influenza virus of swine origin, first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March-April 2009, and in June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a phase 6 global pandemic alert. As of October 17, 2009, over 414,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1 2009, and > 5000 deaths, have been reported to WHO worldwide. The federal government has ordered 50.4 million doses of pH1N1 vaccine, including about 1.8 million doses of nonadjuvanted vaccine, for the winter flu season.

This program meets the accreditation criteria of The College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been accredited for up to 1.5 MAINPRO-M1 credits.

While this educational activity is not officially endorsed by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), nurses may claim it as a continuous learning (CL) activity toward renewal of the CNA certification credential if it is related to their nursing specialty. Pre-authorization from the CNA Certification Program is not required. Participants are encouraged to retain a confirmation of attendance.

The “A Practical Guide to the H1N1 Vaccine” has been developed in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada

Family Medicine, lung health, pediatrics