PCs announce plans for children's first 3 years, promise free shingles vaccines for seniors

P.E.I.'sProgressive Conservative Party made announcements on Tuesday that would benefit both young children as well as seniors.

The announcements come at the end of the first week of campaigning towards an April 23 election.

The First 1,000 Days Initiative focuses on the first three years of a child's life and would aim to improve the nutritional health, development and well-being of mothers and children.

"Providing this kind of care nutritional, mental, social and cognitive development has a ripple effect on the health and prosperity of our families and our Island communities," said leader Dennis King in a news release.

The First 1,000 Days Initiative would identify gaps in existing programming and encourage a collaborative approach across government departments, the party said.

The news release did not include any details of the cost of the program.

Free shingles vaccines for seniors

The PCs also promised that if elected, people over 60 years old would no longer have to pay for a shingles vaccine.

A news release said the program would be developed in consultation with the medical community,pharmacists and seniors organizations.

"If we can give seniors more tools to manage their health proactively that will help lower their financial burden and save health-care costs down the line," saidKing in the release.

The party said it anticipates the proposal will cost roughly $2 million, which it said will be partly offset by loweracute care costs.

"Left untreated a person can require hospitalization due to shingles, and at $1,200/day for an acute care bed, this modest proactive investment should realize significant financial savings through improved health," said an emailstatement from the party.

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