Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

September 6, 2022

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

In this Issue:

  1. ALERT: Aconitine Poisoning

  2. COVID-19 Updates

    • NEW: Isolation Guidance

    • NEW: First COVID-19 Booster Doses for Children 5-11 (Pfizer-BioNTech)

    • Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility & Recommendations

    • Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

  3. Educational Opportunities

  4. New and Updated Resources

News & Updates

ALERT: Aconitine Poisoning

The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring a situation involving Aconitine poisoning in Ontario. On August 28, 2022, 11 individuals required emergency care, and 5 were admitted to the ICU, following consumption of a shared meal at a York Region restaurant. The chicken meal was found to be seasoned with a sand ginger product contaminated with aconite.

Health care providers are urged to be on alert for patients presenting with symptoms consistent with aconitine poisoning. Symptom onset may be quick (within minutes to hours) and include numbness in the face and extremities, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and possible complications of arrythmia. 

Please review the CMOH Memo for more information on this alert including patient management and testing.

COVID-19 Updates

NEW: Isolation Guidance

On August 31, the Ministry of Health released COVID-19 Guidance Updates and 5-11 Boosters. This document outlines the specific changes and new guidance, including public messaging around COVID isolation and steps the ministry is taking to support Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open 2.0.

UPDATED: Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario, August 31, 2022, Version 15.

Case and contact management updates for highest risk settings such as long-term care, retirement homes, other congregate living settings and international agriculture workers will be released at a later date.

Key general public updates include:

  • Stay home when sick, changed from 5-day isolation
  • Removed isolation recommendations for asymptomatic cases
  • Removed quarantine recommendations for unvaccinated close contacts
  • Removed quarantine recommendations for close contacts who work in the highest risk settings

NEW: First COVID-19 Booster Doses for Children 5-11 (Pfizer-BioNTech)

The Ministry of Health has updated COVID-19 Vaccine Administration (Version 7.0, August 31, 2022) and COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations (Version 9.0 August 31, 2022) to reflect the expanded eligibility for first COVID-19 booster doses to include children 5-11 years of age. This is in alignment with the NACI recommendation that all 5 to 11 year olds get a booster dose when there is increased COVID-19 activity, as we are currently experiencing.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility & Recommendations

  • All individuals in Ontario aged 5-11 are eligible to receive a first booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.
  • Children, 5-11 years with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe outcomes and are recommended to receive a booster dose. This may include children who are medically fragile and/or have medical complexities, have more than one comorbidity or have immunocompromising conditions.

Reminder: Pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech (10 mcg) is the only authorized vaccine for children 5-11 years of age.

Recommended First Booster Dose Intervals

  • Individuals in Ontario aged 5-17 years of age are recommended to receive a first booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ≥6 months (168 days) after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.
    • This interval may be associated with a lower risk of myocarditis with or without pericarditis. With informed consent, individuals 5-17 years of age may receive a first booster dose at a minimum of 3 months (84 days) after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.
  • This interval differs from the recommended interval for adults:
    • Individuals in Ontario aged 18 years of age and older are recommended to receive a first booster dose of an mRNA vaccine ≥5 months (140 days), and at a minimum of three months (84 days), after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series.

Suggested Interval Between Infection and First Booster Dose

  • Individuals who are infected with COVID-19 after completing their primary series, but before their first booster dose, should wait 3 months after symptom onset or positive test (if asymptomatic) to receive their first booster.
  • NOTE: If they are 5 to 17 years old, as per the above stated interval for the booster doses, at least 6 months (168 days) should have passed after completing the primary series before receiving their booster doses.

Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

  • Belleville Parkdale Community Centre – Every Wednesday in September
    • Sep 7 and 14 from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
    • Sep 18 and 21 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Bloomfield Town Hall – Sep 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Rotary Hall, Picton – Sep 20 from 3:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Educational Opportunities

COVID-19 Vaccine for Ages 6 Months to 5 Years: Canadian Pediatric Society Webinar for HCPs

Participants will be able to inform their patients and parents about the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations on:

  • COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years of age
  • COVID-19 boosters for children and adolescents
  • The new bivalent original strain/omicron booster

Date: Thursday September 8, 2022

Time: 12:00 Eastern Time

Register Online

Addressing a Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in Canadians

Across Canada, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In persons who do smoke, the risks of developing lung cancer when exposed to radon are further compounded. Talking to your patients about having their homes tested for the level of radon gas can keep them and their families healthy.

As a health care professional, you can play a critical role in the risk management of developing lung cancer. Learn how and why you should speak to your patients about radon in this free and certified online program.

New and Updated Resources

COVID-19

MONKEYPOX

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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