Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health-Care Providers

May 14, 2025

From:
Dr. Ethan Toumishey
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
South East Health Unit (formerly Hastings Prince Edward Public Health)

In this Issue:

  1. Oral health care for seniors and children 
  2. Influenza vaccine return process
  3. COVID-19 spring campaign

News & Updates

Free access to oral health care for qualifying seniors and children

Keeping up with regular dental care can prevent and address dental concerns that can have an impact on quality of life and overall health. The cost of dental care can make if difficult for some individuals to access the care and preventative services they need.

If you have a client with dental health concerns who faces financial barriers accessing dental care, public health may be able to offer free dental services to qualifying clients. The South East Health Unit (formerly Hastings Prince Edward Public Health) offers free dental care for eligible seniors through the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) and to children aged 17 and under through Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO).

Dental services for seniors and children are available by appointment at the South East Health Unit (SEHU) office in Belleville. Beginning in May, services will also be available two days per month on the newly launched mobile dental bus at the following locations:

  • Madoc: Central Hastings Park overflow parking space (38 Seymour St. West)
  • Marmora: Dr. Hamilton Crawford Memorial Arena (28 Victoria St.)
  • Picton: Prince Edward Community Centre (375 Main St.)
  • Wellington: Wellington and District Community Centre (111 Belleville St.)

If you have clients who can benefit from these programs and services, direct them to call the Oral Health Team at SEHU at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 680 for more information, or to book an appointment.

Influenza vaccine return process

2024/25 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) participants: Please be aware that publicly funded influenza vaccine that cannot be used should be returned to the health unit. Influenza vaccine should be returned using the vaccine return form.

Please note:

  • Return influenza vaccine that has expired, is no longer usable (e.g., experienced a cold chain incident) or will not be used (but has not yet expired) to the health unit.
  • Punctured/entered influenza vaccine vials with vaccine remaining that cannot be used should not be returned to the health unit but should instead be discarded with your biohazard waste. Wastage from the punctured/entered vials should be noted on the health unit’s vaccine return form.

COVID-19 vaccine that cannot be used should NOT be returned to the health unit, but should be reported as wastage to public health. Please review the General COVID-19: Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidance for additional information regarding disposal of COVID-19 vaccine.

Continue to report all temperature excursions (cold chain incidents) promptly to public health to determine vaccine stability.

COVID-19 spring campaign

The spring COVID-19 campaign will run from April to June 2025. An additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for previously vaccinated individuals who have completed their primary series and are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

  • Individuals 80 years and older should receive an additional dose of vaccine
  • Individuals 65 to 79 years of age may receive an additional dose of vaccine
  • Residents of long-term care homes or other congregate living settings for seniors
  • Individuals six months and older and are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment
  • Individuals 55 years and older and identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis or their non-Indigenous household members aged 55 years and older

Eligible individuals may receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the recommended interval of six months from the previous dose or test-confirmed infection, or at a minimum of three months. The vaccine is free, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. You do not need an Ontario health card to get the vaccine.

It is NOT recommended that Individuals NOT listed to be at increased risk of severe illness start or finish a series or get an additional dose this spring. They should wait for further recommendations closer to fall 2025.

Novavax

The protein subunit vaccine (Novavax) is not available as part of the Ontario spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccine program.

Individuals who are unable to receive an mRNA vaccine should speak with their health-care provider about treatment options, including the use of Paxlovid, to reduce the duration and severity of illness.

For more information go to Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine website.

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349

To report AEFI or DOPHS: Online / Fax: 613-966-1813 or CDCFAX1@hpeph.ca

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people.

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.