Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

Oct. 11, 2024

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

In this Issue:

  1. COVID-19 vaccine now available to order
  2. Limited supply of Beyfortus available
  3. COVID-19 testing eligibility updates

    4.  

News & Updates

COVID-19 vaccine now available to order

COVID-19 vaccine is now available to order through HPEPH. To receive COVID-19 vaccine, your office must be an approved COVID-19 vaccination site. To become an approved site, please email your interest to VPDcalendar@hpeph.ca. In addition, the following criteria must be met:

  • Providers at your site have obtained a COVaxON ID and reviewed training documents.
  • Your site will provide a copy of your last two weeks of temperature logs with the vaccine order form.
  • All vaccine must be picked up in a thawed state from HPEPH.
  • You have reviewed the storage and handling guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine.

If the requirements above have been met, order forms can be found on our website at hpePublichealth.ca/vaccine-orders-info-healthcare-providers/.

Limited supply of Beyfortus for infants available

HPEPH has received a very limited supply of the Beyfortus vaccine for infants. Healthcare providers can now place orders for Beyfortus. To minimize wastage of this very limited supply and ensure there is availability for other health care providers booking vaccination appointments, please ensure that quantities ordered align with eligibility criteria and upcoming appointments booked at your practice for infant Beyfortus vaccination. We anticipate we will receive additional supply in the coming weeks.

Infants must meet the eligibility criteria set out by the Ministry of Health:

  • born in 2024 prior to the RSV season (the National Advisory Committee on Immunization specifically recommends that infants eight months of age or less be immunized, Ontario Guidance up to 12 months)
  • born during the 2024–25 RSV season
  • children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable from severe RSV disease through their second RSV season, following discussion with a health care provider, including:
    • chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD), including bronchopulmonary dysplasia/chronic lung disease
    • hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD)
    • severe immunodeficiency
    • Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21
    • cystic fibrosis with respiratory involvement and/or growth delay
    • neuromuscular disease
    • severe congenital airway anomalies impairing the clearing of respiratory secretions

For those with limited access to HCP or without a HCP, HPEPH will be holding RSV Beyfortus clinics starting the end of October. Clinics will be posted at hpePublicHealth.ca/clinic/immunization-clinic/.

COVID-19 testing eligibility updates - shifting to a test-to-treat approach

As of Oct. 1, 2024, a test-to-treat approach for COVID-19 has been implemented by the Ministry of Health. In the community and outside of high-risk settings such as long-term care homes, only those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatment will be eligible for publicly funded testing (both PCR and rapid antigen testing).

COVD-19 test eligibility (both rapid antigen tests and PCR testing) will be updated to align with COVID-19 treatment eligibility. Effective immediately, publicly-funded COVID-19 testing should only be available to:

  1. Ontarians eligible for COVID-19 treatment (i.e. symptomatic individuals who are immunocompromised, or 65 years of age or older, or those with high-risk medical conditions).
  2. People in high-risk and some congregate living settings (including long-term care homes) and other specific populations to support outbreak prevention and management.

Patients can access testing through primary care and pharmacies. For more information regarding COVID-19 testing and treatment please visit:ontario.ca/page/covid-19-testing-and-treatment.

In relevant high-risk settings such as long-term care homes, some congregate living settings, and hospitals, eligible patients will continue to have access to COVID-19 testing, including for clinical management and outbreak management, per the current provincial guidance.

Eligible health system partners will continue to be able to order antigen tests through the PPE Supply Portal. For assistance in creating an account or accessing an existing account, or for any questions about orders and shipment, please contact Sco.Supplies@supplyontario.ca.

Please note that public health units will no longer be distributing rapid antigen tests.

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.

You have received this email at from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, please note that this bulletin will be used to provide important updates about infectious and communicable disease.