In this issue - August 2026

Program Updates
• Encourage Patients Entering Grade 7 to Attend their School Vaccination Clinic this Fall
• Make Space in Your Vaccine Fridge Before Respiratory Season Arrives
• Use the Current Vaccine Order Form Each Time You Order
• West Nile Virus Activity in Niagara

Educational Opportunities

Public Health Alerts
• Memo: Ontario Meningococcal Immunization Program Update
• Memo: Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Program Changes

As we prepare for the busy fall immunization season, now is the time to ensure your practice and patients are ready for the months ahead. This edition highlights key vaccine preventable disease updates and provides practical guidance to support your immunization efforts.

Thank you for your continued partnership in protecting our communities through immunization. Your efforts play a vital role in preventing disease, reducing the burden of respiratory illness, and supporting the health of patients of all ages.

Dr. Azim Kasmani
Medical Officer of Health
Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services

Encourage Patients Entering Grade 7 to Attend their School Vaccination Clinic this Fall

Public Health will be starting Grade 7 school vaccination clinics in fall 2026. All students entering Grade 7 must have a completed online consent form, including those who will not be receiving vaccines through school clinics.

Health Care Provider Action

When seeing patients that will be entering Grade 7 this fall:

Discuss the importance of receiving the routine Grade 7 vaccines (Hepatitis B, meningococcal ACYW, HPV)
Encourage families to have their child attend the vaccination clinic at their school this fall/spring as applicable
Remind families to complete the online consent form as soon as possible

For more information, contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.

Make Space in Your Vaccine Fridge Before Respiratory Season Arrives

As the 2026–2027 respiratory season approaches, now is a good time to review your vaccine fridge inventory and storage capacity to ensure you have adequate space for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV products. Public Health Units usually distribute seasonal respiratory products early October. Planning ahead for a busy respiratory season will prevent storage challenges and vaccine wastage:

Remove expired vaccines from your fridge and return to Public Health
Keep unexpired Beyfortus® and Abrysvo® in your vaccine fridge, they can be used once the 2026-2027 RSV season begins. Public Health will send a memo once the start date for the season has been determined and provide updated vaccine guidance.
Store no more than a one-month supply of vaccine in your fridge at any time
Only order the amount of vaccines your office plans to use – do not stockpile or over-order vaccine
Consider purchasing a larger or secondary fridge for vaccine storage – reminder that Public Health must inspect all vaccine fridges prior to use
Confirm that your fridge has adequate space for safe vaccine storage (reminder that you cannot store vaccine on the floor of the fridge or in door shelves) to accommodate your initial allotment
Do not schedule or plan any large immunization clinics for the general population until you have received sufficient vaccine supply (beginning of November)

For more information, contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.

Use the Current Vaccine Order Form Each Time You Order

Public Health updates vaccine order forms when there are changes to vaccine products, eligibility criteria, ordering timelines, or documentation requirements identified by the month and year in the footer of each form.

Using an older form may delay processing your order.

Health Care Provider and Office Staff Action

Before placing a vaccine order, open the Order Vaccines webpage at niagararegion.ca and download the appropriate form. The webpage will direct you to the most current version of each vaccine order form.

Current vaccine order forms include:

Vaccines for primary care offices (includes grade 7 vaccines)
High-risk release
Seasonal respiratory products order form (2025-2026 season)
Vaccines for midwives

For more information, contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.

West Nile Virus Activity in Niagara

Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) has identified West Nile virus-positive mosquito pools, indicating local activity. Human cases may occur as mosquito activity continues into late summer and early fall. NRPH has also identified an Asian tiger mosquito in Niagara region which tested negative for mosquito borne viruses. With this type of mosquito being daytime biter prevention methods are recommended throughout the day.

Key Highlights

Most infections are asymptomatic; some patients may develop febrile illness or neuroinvasive disease
Clinical presentations may include fever, headache, myalgia, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms
Severe illness may include meningitis, encephalitis, or other acute neurological symptoms
Older adults, immunocompromised individuals and people with certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness

Guidance for Health Care Providers

Consider West Nile virus in patients with compatible illness and recent mosquito exposure
Order West Nile virus testing through Public Health Ontario's Laboratory when clinically indicated, in accordance with current testing recommendations and specimen collection requirements
Report probable or confirmed West Nile virus illness to NRPH

More Information

Niagara Region Public Health confirms Aedes albopictus mosquito in the region – news release
For reporting guidance or case consultation, contact the Environmental Health Division: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
- Phone - 905-688-8248 ext. 7590 (toll-free: 1-888-505-6074)
- Email - inspect@niagararegion.ca
- Website - West Nile Virus in Niagara - Niagara Region, Ontario

Visit the Professional Development Opportunities page for in-person and online opportunities available to health care professionals in Niagara.

Medical Advisories and Memos

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MEMO: August 27 - Ontario Meningococcal Immunization Program Update
MEMO: August 6 - Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Program Changes

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