Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

March 17, 2022

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

In this Issue:

  1. HPEPH resuming routine vaccination clinics for children and youth
  2. HPEPH shifting to longer-term COVID-19 vaccination approach
  3. Ordering specimen collection kits
  4. Aggregate primary care vaccination report
  5. Health Canada approves two new vaccines
  6. Update on provincial memos
  7. Case and contact management, and isolation updates
  8. New and updated COVID-19 resources

News & updates

HPEPH resuming routine vaccination clinics for children and youth

Over the past two years, HPEPH has been unable to offer routine vaccination clinics for children and youth, due to pandemic response. HPEPH is pleased to announce that, beginning March 21, 2022, public health school-based vaccination clinics will resume for Grade 7 vaccinations (will also offer vaccines to students in Grade 8 who were unable to receive their vaccine last year). Grade 7 vaccinations include HPV, Hep B and Meningococcal.

Additionally two community clinics are being/have been held for Grade 7 vaccination catch up. Appointments are required.

  • Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre - March 17 from 2:30pm – 7:00pm.

  • North Hastings - March 30 from 9:30-4:15. Book an appointment by calling 613-966-5500 ext 423

HPEPH will also be resuming routine vaccination clinics for children 0-18 years of age, beginning in April. These clinics will be offered weekly, and priority will be given to children without a health care provider. Grade 7 vaccination appointments will also be available for those that missed their school clinics. These clinics will also be available by appointment, and advertised on our Immunizations Clinic page.

IMPORTANT - While HPEPH will gradually resume these services, we continue to rely on local health care providers to help ensure residents remain up-to-date with their vaccinations. As there is a significant backlog of vaccination needs due to pandemic response, HPEPH respectfully requests that health care providers continue to encourage and offer routine vaccinations to patients on their roster whenever possible.

As a reminder, primary care providers can order routine vaccines using the Online Vaccine / STI Supplies Order Form. COVID-19 vaccines can be ordered using COVID-19 Vaccine Order Form.

HPEPH shifting to longer-term COVID-19 vaccination approach

The mass COVID-19 immunization clinics at the Prince Edward Community Centre and the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre will be closing at the end of March 2022. All eligible residents who have not yet received their complete vaccination series and booster (if applicable) are encouraged to take advantage of these clinics while they remain open for the rest of the month.

The last dates clinics will be held at the above-mentioned locations are:

  • Thursday, March 31 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Prince Edward Community Centre

  • Thursday, March 31 from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre (closed 4:30 – 5 pm)

Recurring clinics at these locations are winding down as HPEPH and community partners are transitioning to a longer-term COVID-19 vaccination strategy. This strategy will ensure resources are available to support regular public health programs and services, while continuing to offer COVID-19 vaccinations. Beginning in April 2022, COVID-19 vaccination opportunities will be available:

Ordering specimen collection kits

HPEPH does not supply specimen collection kits or test requisitions to the general public or patients sent to our offices by their health care provider.

Health care providers are encouraged to order specimen collection kits online from Public Health Ontario Laboratory (PHOL) or another local laboratory. For instructions on how to order specimen collection kits from PHOL visit https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Laboratory-Services/Kit-Test-Ordering-Instructions.

PHOL test requisitions can be accessed online at https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Laboratory-Services/Test-Requisitions.

Aggregate primary care vaccination report

Physicians who are part of the Patient Enrolment Model (PEM) can receive a weekly list of rostered patients (aged 5 and over), including unvaccinated patients.

Access your patient information via the Ontario Health eReport portal by using your Ontario Health ONE® ID to login – simply click here and select “ONE ID” to login.

  • Aggregate primary care vaccination reports can identify patients that still need to complete or initiate a COVID-19 vaccine series.

  • If needed, OntarioMD can help with registration for a ONE ID account.

  • Additional information on Reconciling COVID-19 Vaccine Data is available through OntarioMD.

Health Canada approves two new vaccines

  • Novavax Nuvaxovid is a protein-based, two dose COVID-19 vaccine that was approved on February 17, 2022 for those 18 years of age and older.

  • Medicago Covifenz is a plant-based virus-like, two dose COVID-19 vaccine that was approved on February 24, 2022 for those between the ages of 18 and 64.

Please note that we do not have a confirmed timeline to receive these vaccines, and we do not expect to receive them until later in the spring at the earliest. Once they are available, we will order a small supply, and will administer them upon request at HPEPH.

NACI Recommendations:

  1. NACI preferentially recommends that a complete series with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to individuals in the authorized age group without contraindications to the vaccine. (Strong NACI recommendation)

  2. NACI recommends that an authorized recombinant protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax Nuvaxovid) may be offered to individuals in the authorized age group without contraindications to the vaccine who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. (Discretionary NACI recommendation)

  3. NACI recommends that a viral vector COVID-19 vaccine may be offered to individuals in the authorized age group without contraindications to the vaccine only when all other authorized COVID-19 vaccines are contraindicated. Informed consent should include discussion about the risks and symptoms of vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) as well as the need to seek immediate medical care should symptoms develop. (Discretionary NACI recommendation)

Update on provincial and federal memos

  • Statement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health: With continued improvement in trends, Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings on March 21, with the exception of select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings. The technical briefing deck Living with and managing COVID-19 is available online.
  • A reminder that under current federal travel requirements, upon return from international travel, individuals must wear a mask at all times when in public spaces (including schools and child care), maintain a list of all close contacts for their first 14 days in Canada, and monitor themselves for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
  • The Chief Medical Officer of Health also released a memo about revocation of directive #6, regarding COVID-19 vaccination policies and testing policies in health care settings. This change was effective March 14, 2022.
  • A memorandum for all health service providers regarding the use of N95 respirators released on March 9, 2022, states that the Ontario government has secured a long-term supply of N95 respirators and surgical masks from the company 3M. The Ministry of Health recommends having staff fit tested for the 3M 1870+ model, as this is the model most readily available in the province’s pandemic stock.

Case and contact management, and isolation updates

The Province of Ontario announced updated case and contact management, and isolation guidelines on March 9, 2022. The following guidance is now in place:

  • Non-household contacts are not required to self isolate, including non-vaccinated individuals. For 10 days following their exposure, contacts must:

    • wear a mask and avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary,

    • not visit anyone who is at higher risk of illness (i.e. seniors),

    • not visit or attend work in highest risk settings (home and community care settings, Provincial Demonstration Schools, and hospital schools, LTC, RH, shelters, corrections facilities, hospice and elder lodges), unless they have previously tested positive in past 90 days.

  • Household contacts are not required to self isolate if one of the below criteria applies:

    • previously positive in past 90 days

    • over 18 years old fully vaccinated (with a booster dose)

    • under 18 years old and fully vaccinated (no booster required)

Household members who do not meet the criteria above must self-isolate as per current requirements.

Additional COVID-19 questions can be directed to our information line at 613-966-5500 ext. 669, Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

New and updated COVID-19 resources

Vaccine information

COVID-19 guidance

Current information on COVID-19 specifically for health care providers can be found at hpePublicHealth.ca, Ontario Ministry of Health and at publichealthontario.ca.

Back to Summary

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

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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