Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Online Bulletin for Health Care Providers

April 13, 2021

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

In this Issue:

1. HPEPH’S Local COVID-19 Context
2. More Populations Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination
3. Three Pharmacies in HPE Now Offering COVID-19 Vaccination
4. COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Intervals for Individuals with Specific Chronic Conditions
5. AstraZeneca Vaccine Update

HPEPH’S Local COVID-19 Context

If the provincial re-opening framework were in effect, Hastings and Prince Edward counties would be in the Red (or Control) zone due to the recent increase in cases. According to our local data (that can be accessed on our public-facing COVID-19 dashboard), 149 cases in HPEC have been infected with a COVID-19 Variant of Concern to date, and the majority of case transmission is attributable to close contact, social gatherings and outbreak-related cases.

HPEPH is also committed to sharing more in-depth information with local health care professionals by providing access to the internal HPEPH dashboard that displays statistics related to provincial COVID-19 indicators. Health care professionals can access the COVID-19 Indicators Dashboard here, password: dashboard (lower case).

At this time, the COVID-19 Indicators Dashboard shows that our current infection rates are more than double that of our previous local record high in December 2020.

More Populations Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination

Beginning April 7, 2021, the provincial COVID-19 vaccine booking system has opened appointments to people ages 60 and over in all public health units currently using the province's online booking portal. Individuals can schedule their appointment by visiting https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/.

Other groups currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination are:

• Indigenous people
• Staff and essential caregivers of individuals in LTCHs and RHs
• Highest, Very High and High Priority healthcare workers
• Adult chronic recipients of home care

For more information, please visit https://hpepublichealth.ca/covid-19-vaccines/.

Three Pharmacies in HPE Now Offering COVID-19 Vaccination

The Ontario government is steadily increasing capacity in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout with the addition of over 350 additional pharmacies and more primary care settings across the province. All of these locations will be offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to individuals aged 55 and older.

Pharmacies participating in delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine within Hastings Prince Edward Include:

• Kelly’s Guardian Drug Store, 411 Bridge Street East, Bellevile, ON, https://kellysdrugstore.com/
• Pharma Plus, 97 Main Street, Picton, ON, www.rexall.ca/covid-19/vaccines
• Shoppers Drug Mart, 118 Hastings Street North, Bancroft, ON, www.shoppersdrugmart.ca

Local residents wishing to be vaccinated at one of these locations can visit the applicable pharmacy’s website to book an appointment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Intervals for Individuals with Specific Chronic Conditions

On March 26, 2021, the Ministry of Health Released the Vaccine Clinical Advisory Group (VCAG) Recommendations on Exceptions to Extended Dose Intervals for COVID-19 vaccines which stipulates that individuals with the following conditions qualify for the regular 21/28 day dose interval (whichever is stated on the product monograph):

• Stable, active treatment for malignant hematologic disorders and nonhematologic malignant solid tumor
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
• Organ transplant recipients

Patients eligible for the 21/28 dose interval are asked to fill out HPEPH's data collection tool.

AstraZeneca Vaccine Update

The Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet has been updated to indicate the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)’s recommendation to immediately pause in the use of AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine in all individuals less than 55 years of age at this time.

Also, on March 26, 2021, The Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory For Ontario published a Science Brief for health care professionals about a rare adverse event following the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) Following AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccination

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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