H1N1 – Positive Media Coverage

Happy New Year to you and to everyone in your organization who contributed to New Brunswick’s response to the recent H1N1 pandemic.  I hope all of you were able to have some time off with family and friends after what was truly a team effort, as we collaborated to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Brunswickers during the pandemic.

Over the holidays and in more recent days, there has been a good deal of very positive media coverage on New Brunswick’s response to H1N1.  In some cases New Brunswick is being cited as either a Canadian or world leader in that response.  Thank you for the leadership role that you and others in your organization contributed to that effort. 

The Daily Gleaner named “the health-care workers and other professionals who responded to the H1N1 virus as Newsmakers of the Year” in recognition of “their efforts to protect the public.”  Please take some time to read some of the following news items – which are just a sample of all of the positive coverage – and to share them with others.

“Grippe A(H1N1): un bilan beaucoup moins lourd que prévu,” L’Acadie Nouvelle, 29 Dec. 09.
 
“People helping people…to get vaccinated,” The Daily Gleaner, 30 Dec. 09.

“H1N1 garnered lots of attention in N.B. this year,” Times & Transcript, 01 Jan. 10.

“Keeping our heads during the H1N1 pandemic,” The Daily Gleaner, 04 Jan. 10.


Over the course of New Brunswick’s pandemic H1N1 immunization campaign, the vaccine has been administered to more than 500,000 people province-wide.  You and others in your organization have contributed to the largest public health response ever seen in our province or in Canada.

Soon after the immunization campaign began, we saw concrete results: fewer H1N1-related hospital admissions, fewer outbreaks in schools and nursing homes, fewer tests being needed in the provincial pandemic laboratory, and fewer cases.  The exceptional vaccination rate in New Brunswick has put our province in an enormously strong position should the virus return. 

Together, we have earned the respect and confidence of New Brunswickers in all regions of our province.

Mary Schryer

Minister of Health