Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

January 27, 2021

From:
Dr. Piotr Oglaza
Medical Officer of Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

In this Issue:

1. Update: Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule
2. Ontario's Adjusted COVID-19 Vacciation Plan
3. Compensation for Physicians Administering the COVID-19 Vaccine
4. New #GetTestedHPE Campaign
5. Gown Recall
6. New and Updated COVID-19 Resources

Update: Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule

Updated versions of the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules have now been posted in both English and French.Highlights include:

• New wording to clarify updated catch-up tables
• Updates to: HPV-9, Rotavirus-5, and Herpes Zoster (Shingrix)
• Removal of references to: Td-IPV, DTaP-IPV, and DTaP-IPVHib (where applicable)
• Larger print for easier referencing or use as posters

Ontario's Adjusted COVID-19 Vacciation Plan

Due to recent shipping delays of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Ministry of Health has released an updated vaccination plan to ensure the province’s most vulnerable populations are vaccinated as soon as possible. For more information, view the full News Release from the Office of the Premier, published on January 25, 2021.

HPEPH is currently on track to offer all HPE LTC Home residents the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by February 5, 2021

Compensation for Physicians Administering the COVID-19 Vaccine

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) sent a communication to it’s members on January 15, 2021 stating:

“All physicians who are scheduled by a hospital or public health unit to administer COVID-19 vaccines in long-term care and retirement homes are eligible to be compensated under the H409/H410 billing codes. Unlike fee-for-service billings, these codes must be billed with an eligible group number that has been assigned to the hospital or public health unit coordinating the services.”

Any physicians who are contacted to assist with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided with the group number to submit along with their billing codes.

For more information, please visit the following links and use your OMA login to access the resources:

• FAQs on billing H409/H410 for LTC and congregate care settings. 
• Ministry’s memo January 15, 2021

New #GetTestedHPE Campaign

As HPEPH continues to conduct contact tracing and case management for the region, evidence is showing that higher rates of positive COVID-19 test results are being identified among individuals who are 20-29 years old and;

• Share a bedroom with a roommate, OR
• Live in a household with five or more people, OR
• Are employed at a workplace where physical distancing is challenging.

HPEPH has launched a targeted public health education campaign aimed at increasing COVID-19 testing and lowering infection rates within this age group. For more information on the testing campaign, visit hpePublicHealth.ca/gettested/

Gown Recall

A recall has been received from Cardinal Health pertaining to 500 Level 1 gowns that were purchased between March 27 and April 15, 2020. This recall is specific to quality issues (potential rips, tears, incomplete and/or open seams). Cardinal Health has ceased contract manufacturing with this supplier.

The specific type of gown affected by this recall is: Yellow XLG Level 1 gown - item code A1101PG

If you have the affected gowns in your practice setting, please contact your PPE supplier.

New and Updated COVID-19 Resources 

Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Health have released new and updated resources, a few of which are featured below. For all new and updated resources and guidance documents, please visit HPEPH’s COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers, Public Health Ontario’s COVID-19 webpage and the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector.

New: COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form (Ministry of Health)
New: Guidance for COVID-19 Immunization In Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes (Ministry of Health)
New: SARS –CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VoC) Screening Information Form (Public Health Ontario)
New: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination (Ministry of Ontario)
New: COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for Special Populations (Ministry of Health)
New: COVID-19 Vaccine Questions and Answers for Healthcare Providers Consult the guide (CanVax)
Updated: Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) Reporting Form (Public Health Ontario)
Updated: COVID-19 Data and Surveillance (Public Health Ontario)

Back to Summary

Contact Information: 

To give us your comments: etubbs@hpeph.ca

To report communicable diseases:613-966-5500 x349

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

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