In this issue - January 2026

Program Updates
• Preparing for your Upcoming Fridge Inspection
• Vaccination Services for Students Receiving a Letter from Public Health
• Youth-VAST Dependence Program Closure
• Pharmacological Options for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Announcements
• Respiratory Surveillance
• Niagara Health: Know Your Options and Respiratory Illness Season

Educational Opportunities
• HIV PrEP Virtual Training Opportunity

Public Health Alerts
• Memo - Suspension Orders and Reminder Notices

As we embark on a new year, we are pleased to share updates and resources to help support your practice. This issue brings together timely topics to support your clinical practice and help you stay ahead of emerging needs in our community.

Our Vaccine Preventable Disease team has included an overview on preparing for upcoming vaccine fridge inspections, along with recommendations on how to support patients seeking vaccination services to comply with the Immunization of School Pupils Act as record review continues.

As many people refocus on healthier habits in the new year, this issue also includes information on alcohol use disorder treatment, along with details on the closure of the Youth-VAST dependence program.

Rounding out the issue, we focus on respiratory illness season with a surveillance update and key reminders from our partners at Niagara Health on how best to direct patients during this time.

Thank you for your continued commitment and leadership to protecting and promoting the health of our region. We hope this month’s updates support your work and spark meaningful conversations within your teams.

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

Prepare for your Upcoming Fridge Inspection

Health care professionals storing publicly funded vaccine must have an annual vaccine fridge inspection with Public Health. To prepare,

Refer to our Cold Chain Requirements or the Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines for information on how to manage cold chain
Review your previous year’s inspection report

Issues, suggestions and questions will be addressed at the time of your inspection:

Your completed Ministry of Health’s Vaccine Cold Chain Maintenance Inspection Report will be faxed to your office following your site visit
Ensure you review the entire report for cold chain management standards, recommendations, and strategies to put in place, if any

As a reminder, all vaccine fridges must be inspected before storage of any publicly funded vaccine. Notify Public Health if your office plans to replace your existing vaccine fridge.

More Information

Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

Vaccination Services for Students Receiving a Letter from Public Health

All suspension orders (students 7 to 17 years old) and second reminders (students 4 to 6 years old) are being mailed in batches.

How to Support Students Seeking Vaccination Services

Use The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA): Guide for Health Care Providers as a quick reference when assessing what is needed for ISPA compliance. Order this 2-page resource (Vaccines and Immunizations drop down).
Patients 7 to 17 years of age:
- Secondary students may attend the vaccination clinic held at their school. Annual Student Immunization Record Review includes schedules for Public Health Vaccination Clinics.
- Remind them that receiving a suspension order does not mean immediate suspension. If the student’s record is still not up to date by March 23, 2026, that’s when they may be suspended from school starting March 24.
- If you are unable to see patients before March 23, book an appointment with them as soon as possible and tell them they must call Public Health to let us know their appointment is booked
Patients 4 to 6 years of age:
- Although students 4 to 6 years of age will not face suspension for the 2025-2026 immunization record review, it is just as important for them to stay-up-to-date with their immunizations
Remind patients that they are responsible for reporting their vaccines directly to Public Health

More Information

January 12 Memo: Orders and Reminder Notices
Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

Youth-VAST Dependence Program Closure

In 2025, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health launched the Youth-VAST Dependence Program, and with your help, has delivered needed support to youth in Ontario who are struggling with addiction (vaping/nicotine, alcohol, substance, technology).

Due to lack of funding, the Youth-VAST Dependence Program and operations are coming to a close. Important dates related to the closure of these services:

January 26, 2026 is the last new patient enrollment date
Beginning January 27, 2026, the Program will no longer admit new patients
Patients will continue to receive care through the program until March 31, 2026

Other available services to refer patients to, depending on their needs and eligibility:

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) - integrated youth services initiative connecting youth aged 12 to 25 with integrated mental health, substance use, and social services
ConnexOntario - free, confidential service providing support via phone, chat, text, and email for Ontarians, offering information on mental health, gambling, and addiction services
Quash App - personalized education and quit support for youth who want to quit smoking or vaping

Pharmacological Options for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

In Canada, nearly 17% of people aged 15 or older will meet the clinical criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) during their lifetime. In Niagara, approximately one in three adults drink at levels that place them at moderate to high risk, based on Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health.

As many people re-evaluate their alcohol use in the new year, discussing a full range of evidence-based AUD treatments can support early intervention and reduce alcohol-related harms. For patients with moderate to severe AUD who aim to reduce or stop drinking, first-line medications can help reduce cravings and decrease the pleasurable effects of alcohol.

In Ontario, Naltrexone and Acamprosate are the most common prescribed medications for AUD. Both are covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit program with a Limited Use code yet remain underutilized.

Health Care Provider Actions

Provide education and consider the following to improve adherence and treatment success:

Medication use
Supporting side effect management
Refer patients to addiction and community based treatment programs
Help identify a supportive network of family, friends, or caseworkers

More Information

Respiratory Surveillance

Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates activity for influenza is moderate
Provincially, Influenza is the most commonly circulating virus (based on percent positivity)
In Niagara, there have been 1,487 cases of influenza this season; 32,224 across Ontario

Niagara reports flu activity surveillance information weekly on Fridays.

For more details on the 2025 to 2026 respiratory season, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool.

Niagara Health: Know Your Options and Respiratory Illness Season

As many of you are seeing firsthand, Niagara is well into winter surge season. Respiratory illness is circulating widely in the community, and hospitals across the region, including Niagara Health, are experiencing sustained pressure and longer wait times in Emergency Departments.

You can help by guiding residents to the right care, at the right time.

Emergency Departments are always the right place for serious or life-threatening concerns such as chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, severe injuries, or mental health crises. In these situations, residents should call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest ED without hesitation.

For non-urgent concerns, encourage residents to consider other care options that may be faster and more appropriate:

Family doctors, walk-in clinics and nurse practitioner clinics
The Niagara North Family Health Team operates After Hours Cough, Cold and Flu Care Clinics. Clinics are running through to Monday, March 30, 2026 at the following locations from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:
- Mondays and Wednesdays – 101 Garrison Village Drive, Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Thursdays – 145 Carlton Street, Unit 7, St. Catharines
- Fridays – 1338 Fourth Avenue, Suite S100, St. Catharines
- Patients can call 289-267-2879 to book an appointment on clinic days with phone lines opening at 1:00 p.m. Appointments are first-come, first served until spots are filled.
Pharmacists, who can prescribe for a range of minor ailments
Virtual Urgent Care for same-day, non-emergency concerns. Visit UrgentCareOntario.ca.
Urgent Care Centres for issues that can’t wait for an appointment but aren’t emergencies. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in Port Colborne and Fort Erie. Make sure to check the Niagara Health website before visiting as hours are subject to change.

As a reminder, respiratory illness season runs until April. You can support the community by reminding residents that vaccination remains the best defence against severe illness. It’s not too late to get a flu shot, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, or receive the RSV immunization if eligible. Residents can check with their doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacy for vaccine availability.

Along with vaccination, simple prevention measures, such as keeping distance from others when feeling unwell, washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and wearing a mask in public spaces when sick, also help protect the community and ease pressure on healthcare services.

Thanks for your help in sharing this information with your teams, patients and networks during this busy winter period and for your continued partnership.

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

HIV PrEP Virtual Training Opportunity

St. Michaels Hospital is conducting a study to evaluate an online training module designed to support health care providers in effectively discussing HIV PrEP with patients. The training includes strategies to address common barriers to PrEP uptake and to promote open, patient-centered conversations.

What’s involved

Randomization:
- Intervention: self-paced online module (~60–90 min) and receive a summary guide
- Control: curated PrEP resources now; module after study completion (≈3 months)
Brief questionnaires: baseline and 3-month (≤10 min each)
Optional: 30–45 min interview

Time commitment is approximately 2–4 hours total and honoraria will be provided for participating.

You can get started by completing the consent form

If you have any questions, you can reach out to optionslab@unityhealth.to or if you want to know more about who is conducting the study you can visit Options Lab

Medical Advisories and Memos

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MEDICAL ADVISORY: January 26 - Benzanthine Penicillin G (Bicillin® L-A) Shortage
MEMO: January 12 - Suspension Orders and Reminder Notices

Your monthly update from Niagara Region Public Health

Welcome to Public Health Pulse! Formerly known as the Physicians’ Newsletter, the publication was given a fresh name in January 2025 to better reflect our commitment to supporting Niagara’s physicians, primary care providers, and allied health professionals with essential public health updates.

We value your feedback—your insights help us ensure the content remains useful and impactful. If you have suggestions or topics you’d like us to cover, just hit reply and let us know!