Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

April 5, 2024

From:
Dr. Ethan Toumishey
Medical Officer of Health and CEO
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

In this Issue:

  1. iGAS
  2. SHINGRIX vaccine update 
  3. COVID-19 Guidance
  4. SickKids Survey

News & Updates

Invasive Group A Streptococcal infections

Public Health Ontario (PHO) reports a continued increase in confirmed cases of Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infections for the province, with a total of 1,008 confirmed iGAS cases reported between Oct. 1, 2023 and Feb. 29, 2024, compared to 562 in the previous season (Oct. 1, 2022 to Feb. 28, 2023). While an overall decrease in the number of iGAS cases reported in February 2024 compared to January 2024 suggests the peak in iGAS activity may have passed, our region had one of the highest rates in the province. The PHO Advanced Epidemiological Summary for iGAS reports Hastings Prince Edward Public Health amongst the top three Ontario health units with highest rates of confirmed iGAS cases in February 2024.

Other key trends identified in the epidemiological summary for iGAS:

  • Individuals aged 65 years and older reported the highest incidence rate (11 cases per 100,000 population), followed by individuals aged 5-9 (8.2 cases per 100,000).
  • The largest rate increases in 2023-24 compared to the previous season were seen in those aged 5-9 years (355.6% increase) and 1-4 years (94.3% increase).
  • The overall proportion of iGAS cases requiring hospitalization this season to date is slightly higher than the corresponding proportion for previous season (78.8% vs. 74.2%).
  • As of Feb. 29, 2024, 8.1% of iGAS cases under 18 years of age have had fatal outcome reported, compared to 1.9% in previous season
  • So far this season, the most commonly reported emm types are emm1, emm12 and emm80.

Learn more about iGAS activity in Ontario in the Enhanced Epidemiological Summary for Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) Disease in Ontario.

SHINGRIX vaccine update

Please be aware that SHINGRIX vaccine is on backorder at the Ontario Government Pharmacy, and HPEPH has a limited supply until the end of April.

We will be assessing orders and providing what we can; however, please limit your appointments for this vaccine as we may not be able to supply. Once we have a regular supply again, we will let you know.

Updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance

The Ministry of Health has released updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance. The summary of changes is as follows:

  • Simplification of the not previously vaccinated and previously vaccinated definitions (page 4)
  • Revision of the Vaccine Recommendations section to outline provincial recommendations for:
    - Spring 2024 for those at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (page 6)
    - Novavax use based on latest NACI recommendations (page 5-6)
  • Revision of the Recommendations for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised Individuals section to be reflected in the Vaccine Recommendations section (page 4-6)
  • Addition of the Vaccine Interchangeability Section (page 6-7)
  • Revision of COVID-19 Vaccine Contraindications, Precautions and PopulationSpecific Considerations (page 10 - 11)
  • Revision to recording of Out of Province and Out of Country vaccines (page 13-14) • COVID-19 Errors and Deviations from CIG updated for XBB formulation (page 14)
  • Revision of Appendix A to reflect current available products (page 17-18)
  • Removal of Appendix C with bivalent vaccine guidance
  • Schedule recommendations moved to Appendix B (mRNA vaccines) and Appendix C (Novavax vaccine) (page 19-24)

Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion survey

If you are a physician or a nurse in Canada who sees families with children less than three years old in your practice, please consider participating in a five-minute, anonymous, bilingual survey.

This survey was developed by Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The main objective of this survey is to inform the development of resources for you and your colleagues which may:

  • Better support infant and early mental health in their practice, thus increasing children’s chances of lifelong optimal outcomes.
  • Recognize when a young child may be at risk for less-than-optimal early mental health outcomes.
  • Provide interventions or referrals to interventions that respond to any risk an infant, toddler or preschooler may show for poor mental health outcomes.

We encourage you to:

  • click the survey link to learn more
  • fill the survey if you are eligible
  • forward this message to all relevant practitioners in your network

If you have any concerns or anticipate/experience any issues with the survey, please contact the study coordinator at magali.bouhours@sickkids.ca.

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.

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