Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers November 24, 2021 From:
Dr. Ethan Toumishey
Acting Medical Officer of Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health | HPEPH has reopened the doors to public access As of November 8, 2021, individuals can now enter through the front door of any HPEPH location to access our services. All individuals entering the building must wear a mask and pass COVID-19 screening. The health unit locations and their hours of service are listed below. | Belleville (Main Office)
179 North Park St.
Belleville, Ontario, K8P 4P1
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Prince Edward County
Suite 1, 35 Bridge St.
Picton, Ontario, K0K 2T0
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | | North Hastings
1P Manor Lane -Professional Services Building, L1-024
Bancroft, Ontario, K0L 1C0
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Quinte West
West End Plaza, 499 Dundas St. West
Trenton, Ontario, K8V 6C4
Monday – Wednesday
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Friday (By appointment only) | | COVID-19 vaccine news & updates | COVID-19 vaccination for children age 5-11 In response to Health Canada’s approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11, HPEPH will offer immunization clinics for this group. However, we need you to fulfil a critical role in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in our community. As a primary care provider, you are the first and largest point of contact most residents have with the health care system, and as such you can assure parents/guardians of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for their children and offer vaccination to those who may not be comfortable in a mass immunization clinic setting. By committing to this critical role you are helping keep our community safe. In this document you will find all the information you will need regarding the requirements for vaccine storage, administration and to complete the onboarding to begin COVID-19 vaccine administration in your practice. As we move into the next phase of pandemic response, HPEPH sincerely thanks you for your support of the long-term delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in our community. | Eligibility reference chart for third dose of COVID-19 vaccine This chart can be accessed on the HPEPH website on the COVID-19 resources for health care providers page. Eligibility & interval for third dose / booster1 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine | mRNA Vaccine
Third Dose
Use the same vaccine product as second dose,2 if possible 3 | Specific Populations | Interval after final dose Primary Series | | Pfizer (Comirnaty)
0.3 mL – Full dose
Any eligible population
OR
Moderna (SpikeVax)
0.5 mL – Full dose
≥70 yrs of age and eligible immuno-compromised
individuals ≥25 years of age5
OR
Moderna (SpikeVax)
0.25 mL – Half dose
< 70 yrs of age
but eligible immuno-compromised individuals < 70 yrs of age would receive a Full dose of Moderna
| 1. Eligible moderately to severely immunocompromised (eligibility criteria listed below*) | ≥ 2 months / 8 wks
(56 days) – 3rd dose in series | | 2. Residents LTCHs; Seniors (≥ 65 yrs of age) living in other congregate settings who have already received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series, e.g. Retirement Homes, Elder Care Lodges and elderly living in other congregate settings (e.g. assisted-living facilities, chronic care hospitals, naturally occurring congregate retirement settings/congregate senior’s apartment buildings, etc.) | ≥ 6 months4
(168 days) booster
(earlier if operational consideration) | | 3. Additional groups: - ≥70 yrs age (born 1951 or earlier)
- HCWs and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including LTCH & RH staff and designated caregivers);
(see HCW definition pg 3) - Adult First Nation, Inuit & Metis (FNIM) and their non-Indigenous household members6
- Recipients 2 doses AZ or 1 dose Janssen
| ≥ 6 months
(168 days) booster | 1 Third doses are not mandatory; definition of Fully Vaccinated remains the same
2 COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
3 Either mRNA vaccine may be given for 3rd dose regardless of which vaccine was used in the primary series, as per COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations
4 May be a shorter interval if operational considerations, e.g. immunizing entire facility.
5 Moderna not indicated under 25 years of age due to increased incidence rare heart condition in young adults; however, if a client 18 to 24 years of age requests Moderna, it may be given if increased risk is fully explained
6 Age cut-offs determined by FNIM community; booster doses not recommended 12 to 15 at this time *Third dose eligibility for immunocompromised people
At this time a third dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will be offered for the following populations eligible for vaccination with the vaccine product authorized for their age group, to complete the primary COVID-19 vaccine series: - Individuals receiving active treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies.
- Recipients of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
- Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).
- Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
- Individuals with stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- Individuals receiving active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies: anti-B cell therapies (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22), high-dose systemic corticosteroids (refer to the CIG for suggested definition of high dose steroids), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents that are significantly immunosuppressive.
Note: For a list of eligible medications, see COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations - Table 1 – List of Immunosuppressant Medications for Third Doses
- Appendix A - List of Immunosuppressant Medications in Alphabetical Order
| Updated guidance for COVID-19 vaccine third dose recommendations The Ministry of Health updated the guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations on Nov 12, 2021. The major change is a reduced post-vaccination observation period of at least 5 minutes up to 15 minutes may be considered for the administration of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers who are being vaccinated in healthcare settings. | COVID-19 vaccine third dose appointments in HPEC Residents can book a booster/third dose appointment using the provincial booking site. Please note that only appointments that occur on or past your date of eligibility will be visible (for booster doses a minimum of 168 days after your second dose, and third doses for those who are immunocompromised a minimum of 56 days after a second dose). -
Booster doses will be available by appointment only at clinics currently taking place in Belleville. Walk-in appointments will continue to be available for individuals who have yet to receive a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. -
All eligible individuals, including those needing first, second and third/booster doses may walk-in to the Picton clinic on Mondays and Thursdays. -
Walk-in clinics will be held at the Bancroft Legion every Tuesday for the month of November for all eligible individuals (including 3rd/booster doses). Details are available on the Bancroft Community Family Health Team website. -
All eligible individuals can receive their COVID-19 vaccination at participating local pharmacies, by contacting the pharmacy directly. Please visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations for location and registration information. Please note that, in order to ensure the most efficient use of resources, HPEPH clinics will be moving away from the walk-in model in the coming weeks. Please note, this reinforces the need for your support to ensure that COVID-19 vaccinations are as accessible as possible to everyone in the community. The most up to date information about local COVID-19 vaccine clinics can be found on the HPEPH website. | COVID-19 vaccine referral for high risk clients According to NACI’s summary of the updated vaccine statement, people who experienced a severe immediate allergic reaction after a first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can safely receive future doses of the same or another mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after consulting with an allergist, immunologist or another appropriate physician. Clients should have a discussion with their HCP about receiving their second dose in a controlled setting. This group should be observed for 30 minutes, instead of 15 minutes, after administration of the vaccine. High-risk patients can be referred to QHC for their second dose after an allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines, using the referral form on our website. Complete the referral from and fax or email it to the QHC vaccine clinic at vacclinic@qhc.on.ca or fax # 613-902-5861. | COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration for people unable to leave their home A referral form is now available to gather registration information for those who are not able to attend a mass immunization clinic or pharmacy. This registration information is necessary for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in personal residences. HCPs can complete the vaccination referral form for patients in need of a COVID-19 vaccine who are home bound. | COVID-19 Resources & Guidance Document Updates | Updated guidance: COVID-19 Provincial Testing and Clearance Guidance The Ontario Ministry of Health has updated the 'COVID-19 Testing Guidance' document, which is now combined with the previous ‘COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance.’ | New and updated COVID-19 resources | Contact Information: To give us your comments: hart.sara@hpeph.ca To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349 To report AEFI or DOPHS: Online / Fax: 613-966-1813 or CDCFAX1@hpeph.ca You have received this email at from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, please note that this bulletin will be used to provide important updates about infectious and communicable disease. | | | | |
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