Healthcare workers

Healthcare workers — such as general practitioners, nurses and paramedics — will play an essential role during an influenza pandemic. Healthcare workers will:

• provide care and treatment (including antiviral treatment according to the recommended priority list) to patients with pandemic influenza
• vaccinate their patients with the pandemic vaccine as soon as it becomes available, according to a pre-defined recommended immunization priority list
• educate the public about the risks associated with pandemic influenza
• maintain other essential health services.

Healthcare providers will also play an important role in surveillance, and might be the first to identify and report cases of pandemic influenza to public health authorities.