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MEMO: Summer Preparation for the Upcoming Fall Respiratory Season
TO: Health Care Providers who Administer Vaccines
FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, Niagara Region Public Health
REFERENCE: Summer Preparation for the Upcoming Fall Respiratory Season
DATE: August 2, 2023
The 2022 respiratory illness season overwhelmed our hospitals with an early and severe onset. Canada declared a national influenza epidemic, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity was above expected levels. Children were particularly at risk.
Looking ahead to fall 2023, there are a lot of uncertainties:
- Currently, the risk of COVID-19 is the lowest it has been in about 20 months, but the seasonality of COVID-19 is not known
- Influenza is unpredictable; monitoring Australia, 71% of people admitted to the hospital with confirmed influenza have been children under 16 years of age and 5.9% of them were admitted directly to the ICU
- RSV usually increases in the fall/winter during the same time influenza is circulating. While Canada does not have an approved RSV vaccine, there is some exciting research underway to prepare parents/guardians for this .
There is a risk of complacency towards fall 2023 COVID-19 and flu vaccine campaigns between vaccine fatigue and a lack of understanding of how serious these respiratory illnesses can be. As you see patients for other reasons in your practice, please begin to have conversations with them about the fall respiratory season and make a strong recommendation for fall COVID-19 boosters and flu vaccine for eligible patients.
Health Care Provider Action This Summer
1. Ensure patients are aware of the most recent COVID-19 booster dose guidance and emphasize the benefits of receiving a booster dose this fall.
- Effective July 7, 2023, the Ministry of Health announced that those five years of age and older should delay their COVID-19 booster dose until fall 2023. A booster dose prior to fall 2023 may be appropriate for certain individuals based on their unique health status and personal situation (e.g. workplace requirement, travel).
- Discuss the importance of receiving a booster dose in the fall with your patients, highlighting its protective value in:
- Offering better protection against the current dominant variants
- Protecting their loved ones and community against severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection
- Giving their immune system the top-up it needs and helping to prevent long COVID-19
- Reducing the impact of COVID-19 on the health system while other viruses are circulating
2. Identify parents/guardians of young children as well as any pregnant patients in your practice that have delayed some or all COVID-19 vaccines. Let them know that research continues to reinforce that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
- A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis that reviewed COVID-19 vaccination in children two to 18 years reconfirmed that:
- COVID-19 vaccination is safe for children and adolescents
- Their immune system is able to use the vaccine to effectively fight COVID-19 infection, protecting them from severe outcomes
- Parents/legal guardians of children six months to five years of age can also be reassured of the safety of COVID-19 vaccination as per this large US study published in the June 2023 issue of the Pediatrics journal
- A June 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis showed no safety concerns with mRNA vaccines in pregnant persons
3. When you see your patients this summer, encourage them to get their flu shot this fall.
- As patients make appointments for other health issues this summer, let them know that it’s not too soon for them to start thinking about getting a flu shot. Ask them to prioritize getting their flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available this fall. Let them know if your practice will be offering the vaccine or where they can go to receive it.
- In particular, remind parents/guardians how serious influenza can be for their children. Urge parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu to reduce the risk of them being hospitalized.
Administering Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines in Your Practice
- Niagara Region Public Health will reach out to primary care providers towards the end of summer to confirm your intent to participate in the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) to offer influenza vaccine to patients
- All health care providers are strongly encouraged to integrate COVID-19 vaccination with routine vaccination. Email our team to learn more about joining the COVID-19 vaccine administration program.
- If your practice is already set up to administer COVID-19 vaccine, please check your COVax access prior to running any clinics. If COVax was a barrier in the past, please be aware that everything has been simplified. Our COVax team can demonstrate the current state and show you the progress in using the application, and let you know the kinds of support available to your office.
More Information
- The Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Guidance
- Will release recommendations for fall COVID-19 booster doses and flu vaccine closer to fall 2023
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization
- Contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7396 for any questions
