Thank you, Madam Chair. Of course, I'm always on the same planet as Dr. Butler-Jones.
Over the last two weeks we've seen that the rate of increase of influenza-like illness in first nations communities is levelling off, as per Canada as a whole. According to FluWatch, since the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic after August 30, aboriginal people represent 4.5% of hospitalizations, 6% of ICU admissions, and 7.8% of all deaths. This is a marked reduction in the level of severity from wave one, when aboriginal people represented 18% of hospitalized cases, compared with 4.5% now; 15% of ICU cases, compared with 6% now; and 12% of all deaths, compared with 7.8% now.
As aboriginal peoples in Canada account for approximately 3.6% of the Canadian population, the data to date certainly suggest an overrepresentation of the population in severe cases in wave two, but this is expected given the high proportion of aboriginal people with risk factors such as underlying chronic conditions, youth, pregnancy, and adverse socio-economic conditions.
First nations make up the bulk of hospitalizations of aboriginal people, 129 out of 152, with Métis and Inuit accounting for smaller numbers. A similar trend was observed for aboriginal cases admitted to ICU. The majority of cases, 29 out of 33, were first nations. Most of the deaths, 7 out of 10, were also first nations. It is important to note that this number includes not only first nations on-reserve, but first nations off-reserve.
Health Canada will continue to track H1N1 activity on-reserve, keeping in close contact with community nursing stations to watch for patterns of patient visits, the number of antiviral prescriptions, vaccine adverse events, and any required medical evacuations. This will allow us to work with first nations community leadership and provincial governments to respond as required to any community-level outbreaks.
In terms of immunization, uptake of H1N1 vaccine in first nations communities remains good, and clinics in first nations communities have been operating smoothly and effectively overall. We're nearly one month into the vaccination rollout; to date, approximately 99% of first nations communities have initiated immunization clinics, and we believe that those that have not have in fact ensured immunization in other communities. Over 193,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been administered on-reserve.
As a result of collaborative efforts, we've confirmed that at least 47% of on-reserve first nations populations have been vaccinated to date. The actual number will be higher once we receive complete up-to-date information.
As I mentioned last week, the virtual summit on H1N1 in first nations communities was held on November 10, and the webcast recording of it is still available for you if you wish to see it, on www.fnh1n1summit.ca, until the end of December. We continue to promote that website.
In addition, we've been taking other steps to implement the joint communications protocol on H1N1 signed with the Assembly of First Nations and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. For example, the AFN is now participating in monthly ADM-level meetings with INAC and Health Canada to ensure timely updates on our joint plans and activities.
We also have been sharing our experiences and approaches more broadly. Yesterday evening, I participated in a call with government officials from Canada, Australia, and the U.S. to discuss international approaches to the management of H1N1 in indigenous populations. Further calls will be held that will be valuable in examining the influence of risk factors on indigenous populations as well as immunization programs. These communications activities build on our already strong collaborative working relationships to ensure that first nations communities receive the health services they need.
Since coming to Health Canada at the end of August, I've been very impressed by the level of collaboration shown between first nations, federal departments, and provincial governments. It has made a significant difference, I believe, in terms of outcomes, whether in terms of the completion and testing of pandemic plans or in the good progress to date in terms of uptake of H1N1 vaccine.
We're actively engaging with provincial colleagues and aboriginal partners at both the national and regional levels, including work under the pandemic coordination committee and the utilization of our formal tripartite planning tables in British Columbia and in Manitoba.
It should be noted that annex B of the Canadian pandemic influenza plan does go back to 2004 but was updated in 2008, a process involving the Public Health Agency, Health Canada, the provinces, and the Assembly of First Nations. I fully expect that this level of collaboration will continue as we move forward and begin to more closely examine the lessons learned from the current pandemic.
Thank you.