MEMO: Influenza Vaccine Availability Update

TO: Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program

REFERENCE: Influenza vaccine availability update

DATE: November 2020

Early uptake of the flu shot and continued COVID-19 public health measures including masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing will help to keep cases of flu low this year. We know that this has been a challenging influenza season for you between implementing COVID-19 measures, early and high demand from patients in receiving the flu shot, and the amount of flu vaccine you have received to date. Thank you for persisting to administer the flu shots to your patients.

Local influenza activity surveillance information is updated every Tuesday from September until April. Additional respiratory surveillance updates will be included in Niagara Region Public Health’s (NRPH) monthly Physicians’ Newsletters.

Provincial Influenza Vaccine Supply

The Ministry of Health receives their provincial supply from the manufacturers in batches beginning in September and continues to receive vaccine throughout the month of December. They distribute supply to the public health units and pharmacy distributors in batches.
NRPH has received numerous questions from health care providers and the general public about influenza vaccine supply. The Ministry has requested that all inquiries about the provincial supply of the influenza vaccine be sent to them directly at uiip.moh@ontario.ca.

High-Dose Trivalent (TIV)

The province has received and distributed 100% of their high-dose TIV order
High-dose TIV is no longer available for order from NRPH
If you have depleted your supply of high-dose TIV, please know that the standard-dose quadrivalent (QIV) is also safe and effective for patients 65 years and older
- Both standard-dose QIV and high-dose TIV protect against the flu and the most important thing is for older adults to be vaccinated

Standard-Dose Quadrivalent (QIV)

You can continue to order standard-dose QIV however, orders may be delayed and/or reduced depending on stock levels available at the Ministry of Health or at NRPH

Influenza Vaccine Availability in the Community

NRPH does not distribute the influenza vaccine to area pharmacies
NRPH is unable to tell Niagara residents which health care providers have which vaccines available at any given time. Please advise patients to visit the Getting Your Flu Shot webpage for this information.

For More Information

Visit Public Health’s Seasonal Influenza webpage for health care professionals or call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396