Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

July 16, 2021

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

In this Issue:

  1. Youth COVID-19 Vaccination Resources for Primary Care Professionals
  2. Accessing Patient COVID-19 Vaccination Information – Update
  3. Guidance Updates for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
  4. New and Updated COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine News & Updates

Youth COVID-19 Vaccination Resources for Primary Care Professionals

As a common touchpoint between youth and Ontario’s medical services, primary care providers have a unique opportunity to connect with youth patients, providing them with education and support to make informed health-related decisions. To facilitate these efforts, a COVID-19 vaccine resource guide specific to youth has been developed for primary care providers that includes guidance on vaccine safety, best practices, fear and anxiety related to needles, and FAQs for caregivers and healthcare providers.

“Vaccinating youth is integral to Ontario’s overall vaccine strategy as it not only provides greater protection to the broader community, but also serves as an important step in getting children back to the activities that are fundamental to their growth and development – namely in-person learning, extra-curriculars, and time with their friends and family.” (Ministry of Health, 2021)

Resources:

Accessing Patient COVID-19 Vaccination Information – Update

Beginning July 15, 2021, primary care providers have access to curated lists of their patients that have received COVID-19 vaccinations. The OntarioMD presentation slides provide and overview of how primary care providers can access vaccinated patient lists. For questions and support, please contact support@ontariomd.com.

With this enhanced access to patient vaccination status, we encourage our primary care partners to consider onboarding to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in their practice.

Local health care providers interested in onboarding to begin COVID-19 vaccine administration can indicate interest by:

  1. Reviewing and completing the COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness Checklist.
  2. Submitting the completed checklist, indicating interest in administering COVID-19 vaccinations, to VPDCalendar@hpeph.ca.
  3. Completing HPEPH’s vaccine order form (once authorized as a COVID-19 vaccination site) as needed to support vaccine delivery in the practice setting.

HPEPH recognizes that practices may face challenges in administering all doses in to a multi-dose vial within the specified timeframe. To maximize utilization of multidose vials and eliminate wastage, HPE supports the use of multidose vials of COVID 19 vaccine to be shared amongst primary care providers within the same location (ie. shared office, shared building).

Guidance Updates for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes

On July 14, 2021, Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 was updated with the following changes:

  • Daily symptom screening of residents – is required at least once daily for both LTCH and RH residents (compared with twice daily previously)
  • Eye protection - is required for all staff and essential visitors providing care within 2 m of a resident who is on Droplet/Contact Precautions and/or in an outbreak setting. In all other circumstances the requirement for wearing eye protection will be based on a Point of Care Risk Assessment.
  • Admissions and Transfers - Fully immunized residents (who are asymptomatic and have not had contact with a known COVID-19 case) are no longer required to be tested or quarantined on admission or transfer.
  • Requirements on testing and quarantine are being moved to the Ministry of Health's Guidance document for LTCH/RH (forthcoming).
  • Absences - Residents returning from a temporary absence must follow the same testing and quarantine protocols under the Admissions and Transfers section.
  • Details on Masking, Physical Distancing, Absences, Visitors - Details, including definitions, have been moved to MLTC and MSAA guidance documents.
  • Effective July 16, 2021, Ontario will be removing the requirement that fully-immunized and asymptomatic staff, caregivers and visitors be tested before entering long-term care homes.

(Ministry of Health, 2021)

New and Updated COVID-19 Resources

HPEPH is offering services by appointment only. We remain dedicated to protecting our community by providing local HCPs and community members with new information as it becomes available. 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

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