MEMO: VPD program updates

MEMO: VPD Program Updates

TO: Health Care Professionals in the Niagara region

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) program, Niagara Region Public Health

REFERENCE: VPD Program Updates

DATE: May 10, 2022

Since the spring of 2020, many services within the VPD program were suspended due to a primary focus on pandemic response efforts. We are pleased to announce that VPD has resumed some vaccination clinic services and will be starting a modified approach to record review this school year. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has announced extended eligibility for the hepatitis B school-based vaccination series and expansion of the Tdap immunization program.

Vaccination Clinics

School-based Vaccination Clinics

The Grade 7 school-based immunization program restarted in April 2022 to offer Meningococcal ACYW-135 (Nimenrix®), Hepatitis B (Engerix®) and HPV-9 (Gardasil®) vaccines to Grade 7 and 8 students during school hours
Given the time available before the end of this school year, a limited number of schools will be attended
These clinics will not be offering the COVID-19 vaccine
An information package and consent form will be sent to parents/legal guardians through their child’s school if public health is attending

Public Health Vaccination Clinics

Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) has also resumed general and Grade 7 vaccination clinics for eligible cohorts (grades 7 – 10). This includes opening the Niagara Falls and Welland Public Health satellite offices as well as planning other clinics during the summer months.
Clinic information will be posted on our website. Check often for updates.

Ordering School Program Vaccines

Order school program vaccines from NRPH for any eligible students currently in Grades 7 – 10.

View Public Health’s website for information on the typical vaccine series for the school program vaccines
The Ministry of Health mandates Public Health accurately reports vaccine usage. When reordering school program vaccines, health care professionals will need to report the names of clients who were vaccinated. See the School Program Vaccine Order Form for complete details.
Hepatitis B vaccine series (to be completed by the end of grade 12):
- As of the 2022-2023 school year, the eligibility period for the hepatitis B publicly funded school-based (grade 7) immunization program will be expanded until the end of grade 12 to allow students to complete their hepatitis B immunization series
- The hepatitis B vaccination series does not need to be restarted. Refer to the following hepatitis B (i.e., Recombivax® or Engerix®) schedules depending on age of your patient at presentation and previous doses received:

Routine Hep B Series – no doses received

11 years of age to under 16 years of age (Hepatitis B – adult)
- 2 doses (1.0 mL each):
  - Dose 1: Date first dose administered
  - Dose 2: 4 to 6 months after first dose (depending on vaccine product used for first dose, see Table 6 in the Publicly Funded Schedules for Ontario)
16 years of age to under 19 years of age (Hepatitis B – paediatric)
- 3 doses (0.5 mL each):
  - Dose 1: Date first dose administered
  - Dose 2: 1 month after first dose
  - Dose 3: 5 months after second dose

Incomplete series – 1 dose (HB 1.0 mL) received 11 years of age to under 16 years of age AND patient is now 16 years or older

16 years of age to under 19 years of age (Hepatitis B – paediatric)
- 2 additional doses required (0.5 mL each):
  - Dose 2: 1 month after first dose
  - Dose 3: 5 months after second dose

Immunization Records

NRPH routinely provides access to immunization records to ensure health care professionals have the most up-to-date information available for their patients
To help facilitate the school-based grade 7 vaccine catch-up campaign, NRPH can release batch records for those born in 2006 and 2007 by request from the health care professional
- Release of batch records indicates your office has the intent of proactively reaching out to vaccinate these age groups among your patients
- If this is something you require, please contact the VPD program for more information at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

Record Review

There are approximately 4,000 children in Niagara region with missing immunization records. Parents/legal guardians will be notified by mail if their child has no immunization record on file.

Your office may see an influx of calls from parents/legal guardians requesting information on their child’s immunization history
- If you notice the child is missing immunization(s), please take this opportunity to provide any outstanding dose(s)
- If you are unable to administer school-based vaccines, please direct patients to our website for clinic information
Please remind parents/legal guardians of children ages 17 and under that it is their responsibility to report their child’s immunization records to Public Health. COVID-19 or influenza (flu) vaccination details do not need to be reported.
There are several ways to report vaccines to Public Health:
- Online
- Phone: 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425
- Fax the immunization record (such as a yellow card) to 905-688-8225

Tdap Maternal Dose

As of April 2022, Ontario’s Tdap immunization program has expanded to include a dose in every pregnancy
Pregnant individuals are eligible to get a free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine in every pregnancy to help protect the baby after birth
The pertussis vaccine is given as part of the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Tdap vaccine is provided as either Adacel® and/or Boostrix®.

More Information

Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule
NACI: Update on immunization in pregnancy with Tdap vaccine
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine patient fact sheet
Canadian Immunization Guide: Hep B
Guidance for Routine Immunization Services during COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccination in Children and Youth
If you have any questions or concerns, please visit Public Health’s website for health care professionals or call the VPD program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396