Department of Community Services

Pandemic Preparedness Planning

 
October 2009 Pandemic Preparedness Planning Workshop
A pandemic emergency has the potential to affect the health of Yukon employees and the general public. Potential absenteeism from work may also have an affect on the ability of government and the community to offer goods and services in the same way that we are used to in our day to day lives in Yukon.

The Yukon government has been working over the past year to finalize a Yukon Government Pandemic Coordination Plan [358.57] that will help to ensure that Yukon government is prepared for a coordinated response. In fact, this plan is already in use and the Yukon government is already actively 'managing' the H1N1 flu pandemic that we have all heard about in the news.

The Yukon Government Pandemic Coordination Plan ensures that we are collectively ready for any pandemic emergency by specifically addressing the three most important aspects: public health, continuity of essential government services, and maintenance of critical infrastructure such as food and fuel supplies.

The Yukon Government Pandemic Coordination Plan [358.57] is a flexible “living” document that is meant to enable government to adapt it’s planning and response in order to meet changing needs. The Plan will evlove as time goes on and the situation changes

Purpose
The purpose of this Plan is to facilitate Yukon government pandemic related preparedness, decision-making and actions to achieve the following objectives:

  • The health impact of a pandemic is minimized, people can access the health care they need, and no preventable deaths occur.
  • Critical public services and infrastructure are maintained during a pandemic.
  • Yukon government workplaces are safe and secure for its employees during a pandemic.
  • Yukoners have the information they need to make informed decisions and are confident the Yukon government is effectively managing a pandemic event in Yukon.
  • Pandemic-related disruptions to social and economic activity in Yukon are minimized, to the greatest extent possible.

Scope
Yukon government planning for and response to a pandemic event encompasses three distinct but inter-related areas:

  • The health of Yukoners: The Department of Health & Social Services with the expert advice of the Medical Officer of Health is responsible for the direct management of the disease and treatment of the public, and the care and treatment of individuals who are in the care of the Department. This includes information to the public on health issues, care and treatment advice to clinical care providers, the delivery of antiviral and vaccination programs and the coordination and management of health resources.
  • Prevention is the focus this Fall. Wash your hands frequently, use the hand sanitizers that have been put into all Yukon government buildings, and if you can consider staying home if you have flu like symptoms. Please think about others if you are felling ill this flu season and do what you can to prevent the spread of influenza.
  • Continuity of Yukon government operations: The Yukon government has gone through the exercise of identifying essential and non-essential services in order to ensure that essential services continue to be delivered to Yukon people if a large number of staff are away from work with the flu. The Public Service Commission will help to coordinate with departments human resource requirements for the Yukon government.

  • Yukon community continuity: In a pandemic, private sector absenteeism could result in disruptions in services that are essential to people throughout Yukon. The Yukon government is monitoring the supply chain of critical services related to food, fuel, water, transportation, and telecommunications. In addition, the Yukon government is providing information and advice on business continuity planning to business, First Nation governments, and municipalities.


    A lot of work is going into planning for a influenza pandemic to ensure Yukon government is preapared for any possibilites -- focusing on public health, government continuity, and community continuity. The bottom line is that Yukon government is prepared and has updated emergency plans in place to help manage pandemic emergencies through the Yukon Government Pandemic Coordination Plan.