Question Period Note: Hepatitis A Outbreak

N.A.

• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working closely with impacted communities and health service providers to provide education on Hepatitis A and to ensure vaccine is available to all.

• ISC is on the ground with Indigenous partners and provincial public health teams supporting the community-led response, including providing additional public health nursing capacity, assisting with vaccination planning and delivery, and coordinating real-time public health guidance to help contain the spread.

• ISC continues to work closely with Indigenous partners to identify and address the infrastructure challenges that may contribute to increased transmission.

We are aware of the outbreak. Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver spread via the fecal-oral route. It can be transmitted a variety of ways, including close contact with infected persons.
Hepatitis A doesn’t have a specific treatment and the best approach is to immunize known contacts.

We have been working with the provincial Medical Officers of Health on the response.
Hepatitis A immunization is not part of the provincial immunization schedule, it is not standard for us to provide it to all community members. However, in response to this outbreak, we will be offering immunization to all community members over the next few weeks.

If pressed on Public Health Care Services

• ISC is committed to ensuring equitable access to public health services and improving health outcomes for Indigenous populations.

• This includes supporting community-led responses to communicable disease outbreaks, and expanding access to services such as immunization.

• Improving health outcomes means addressing the social determinants of health which is why we continue to support First Nations partners to close gaps, strengthen community wellbeing, and advance long-term, sustainable improvements in health outcomes.

• ISC continues to work with community leadership to mitigate the impacts of infrastructure challenges, including those that may affect access to safe water, and remains engaged in assessing needs and coordinating supports as required.