Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

March 10, 2021

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

In this Issue:

1. COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Advice for Patients
2. Vaccine Clinics at QHC for Highest and Very-High Priority Health Care Workers
3. Extended Dose Intervals for COVID-19 Vaccination
4. Provincial Point-of-Care (POC) COVID-19 Antigen Screening Updates
5. Professional Development Opportunities for Primary Care Professionals

COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Advice for Patients

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) has been receiving calls from individuals who are being advised by their health care provider to contact public health to determine suitability for COVID-19 vaccine based on health history. HPEPH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Line agents are unable to provide medical advice to members of the public.

Resources are available to support health care providers in determining if COVID-19 vaccination is appropriate for their patients:

• The Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning Webpage. This webpage includes the following resources:
  • Pre and Post Vaccine Documents
  • Immunization Documents
  • Health Care Provider Education Documents
  • Prioritization Resources
  • Long-Term Care Home / Retirement Homes Resources
• Public Health Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Webpage. This webpage includes information on Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Reporting, How mRNA Vaccines Work, What you Need to Know about COVID-19 Vaccine, and more.
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI): Recommendations on the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines

For more information and updates on COVID-19 Vaccines in HPE, visit hpePublicHealth.ca/covid-19-vaccines/

Vaccine Clinics at QHC for Highest and Very-High Priority Health Care Workers

Quinte Health Care’s online booking system is open for Highest and Very High Priority Health Care Workers to register and schedule an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination. Those who are eligible at this time can book their appointment here: https://www.qhc.on.ca/vaccination-clinic-hcws-only.php

For more information on COVID-19 Vaccines in HPE, please visit https://hpepublichealth.ca/covid-19-vaccines/

Extended Dose Intervals for COVID-19 Vaccination

In line with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recent publication, HPEPH will be extending the time interval between doses of the COVID-19 vaccine up to 16 weeks. Increasing the vaccine interval between doses allows for a greater proportion of our population to develop immunity and protection against the COVID-19 virus as quickly as possible.

“NACI recommends that in the context of limited COVID-19 vaccine supply jurisdictions should maximize the number of individuals benefiting from the first dose of vaccine by extending the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine up to four months after the first,” (NACI, 2021).

Provincial Point-of-Care (POC) COVID-19 Antigen Screening Updates

“As of March 5, 2021, changes to Ministry of Health guidance allow for trained individuals to perform point-of-care antigen testing, in accordance with the product manufacturer’s label. Supervised self-swabbing for point-of-care antigen testing is now also permitted. We (Ontario Health) are in the process of updating our resources” (Ontario Health, 2021)

These changes legally exempt anyone who is properly trained from the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act (LSCCLA), allowing increased opportunity for implementation of POC testing and requires those performing/reading tests to report positive findings to their local Medical Officer of Health.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Ontario Health and Public Health Ontario, has developed publicly available training on POC swabbing: https://www.ontariohealth.ca/COVID-19/Health-System-Response-Resources#panbio, select “Testing”.
 

Provincial guidance documents have been updated to reflect the legislative and operational changes:

• COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance
• COVID-19 Antigen Screening Guidance
• COVID-19 Point-of-Care Test Results

Professional Development Opportunities for Primary Care Professionals

• Practical Clinical Pearls in Addictions and Mental Health A Collaborative Continuing Professional Development Program, April 11, 2021, 0900-1845. This session recommended by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) includes topics of grief related to COVID-19, cannabis addiction, development of anti-racist skills, supporting primary care management of chronic pain, opioid use treatment, elements of psychotherapy, and more.
• Essential Practical issues in Primary Care Mental Health: A Continuing Professional Development Program, April 10, 0900-1830. This session recommended by the OMA includes topics of preventing and managing burnout, medical assistance in dying, maintaining professional boundaries, interpersonal therapy techniques, discussions on systemic racism, and more.

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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