No images? Click here In This Issue - March 2021
Physicians' CornerLarge scale vaccination has now begun in Niagara. With vaccine shipments having increased in the last few weeks, Public Health has begun offering large clinics, and in combination with Niagara Health, we are vaccinating over 2,000 persons most days, and will soon be over 2,500 persons a day. We hope to see an expansion of vaccination to primary care and pharmacies so that we can drive this number even higher. Many thanks to those in primary care who have already played an important role in some of our work thusfar. Ontario recently decided to delay the second dose of vaccine until 4 months. This change will allow us to vaccinate more of our population more quickly with a first dose of vaccine. The experts on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended this change after study of the research and real-world performance of COVID-19 vaccines over the first few months. We see that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are about 92% effective with one dose, and 94% effective with 2 doses. While the second dose is important for long-lasting immunity, one dose seems to provide almost equal protection for the first few months. As well, we know that most vaccines perform better when doses are spaced out farther. In fact, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine does: it is 82% effective if doses are given 12 weeks apart or longer, but only 56% effective if spaced 4-8 weeks apart. With the pace of vaccination that Ontario now hopes to keep, there’s a possibility everyone could have their first dose of vaccine by Canada Day. Of course, the pandemic has surprised us many times, so we should remain cautious: there could be further production delays, we may find the vaccines wane in effectiveness, the vaccines might prove to be less effective against variants (fortunately early data is promising on this front), or many hesitant people may not get vaccinated. And given that vaccine is not 100% effective and that not all of us will be vaccinated for a few months, we do have a few more months of altering our lives to slow the spread of COVID-19 which is unfortunately resurgent. Information changes rapidly - Stay informed! Subscribe to media briefing updates:
Don't forget, up to date information can be found on our FAQs for health care professionals webpage which is updated regularly. Don't see the response to your question? Call our COVID-19 Health Care Professionals information line Monday - Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. at 905-688-8248, press 7 then press 1. UPDATE: April is Oral Health Month!The pandemic has affected dental services and the oral health of all ages. Barriers accessing dental care and changes in oral health habits will likely lead to an increase in dental emergencies and a demand for preventive services. Physicians can reduce the risk of dental disease in children by providing a topical fluoride varnish application. The Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) Dental Program can support your initiatives and provide you with
Please contact your primary care and stakeholder engagement advisor to find out how your office can become a registered provider. Tele-dental Services NRPH dental program now offers tele-dental services. Patients 17 years of age and younger can connect with a dental professional for advice and/or a virtual assessment. Please refer parents with questions about their child’s oral health or questions about how to enroll in Healthy Smiles Ontario to our Dental Health Line at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7399. UPDATE: SARS-CoV-2 Variants of ConcernNiagara Region Public Health is investigating a growing number of cases within Niagara related to COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC). Public Health Ontario and the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) has released an Interim Guidance Document on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern for Health Care Settings. This document provides guidance for how infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices in Ontario health care settings should be modified in light of the emergence of B.1.1.7 in Ontario and the potential for the emergence of other known or yet unknown VOCs.
Additional Information
UPDATE: Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care ProgramNiagara EMS has received funding from the provincial government to implement the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care (CPLTC) program. This program is meant to provide services to individuals who are waiting for placement in a long-term care (LTC) home, or who are soon to be eligible for long-term care. The purpose of the program is to keep these individuals stabilized in their illness trajectory and in their own homes for as long as possible. The program will do this through both preventive and responsive care. Designed with a focus on collaboration, it will be coordinated with existing health services from across the Niagara region, including the HNHB LHIN (home and community care), residential long-term care, emergency care, primary care and other community/social services. The CPLTC program is based on four guiding principles:
Niagara EMS will be expanding the capacity of its Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) approach, which includes Community Paramedics working in collaboration with allied health professionals. MIH is proving to be a promising and cost effective approach to help meet non-urgent, unscheduled health care needs of residents. REVIEW: Respiratory SurveillanceSurveillance Update: Influenza Activity Low
For more detail or the most recent data, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin. REVIEW: A Message from the Vaccine Preventable Disease ProgramReport of Adverse Event Form
Intervals with COVID-19 Immunization(s) and Other Vaccines
Ontario’s Publicly Funded Herpes Zoster Immunization Program
REVIEW: A Message from the Walker Family Cancer CentreStereotactic Body Radiotherapy available at the Walker Family Cancer Centre
We are excited to bring this technology to the Niagara region, and welcome referrals of patients who may previously been deemed palliative, for assessment of eligibility for these treatments. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITYFREE CME EVENT: Embedding Knowledge on Lyme Disease Family physicians, emergency room doctors, and clinical staff are invited to attend this live (virtual -Zoom) event! Wednesday, April 21, 2021 from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. Health professionals should be knowledgeable about clinical manifestations and epidemiological risk factors of Lyme disease. Join Niagara Region Public Health to learn from keynote speakers Dr. Samir Patel and Dr. Eva Piessens on assessing and managing Lyme disease. Learning objectives:
Register online or call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7543. Registration deadline is April 18, 2021. This Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1.5 Mainpro+ credits. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITYFREE TRAINING: Breastfeeding – Making a Difference (Level One) Niagara Region Public Health is once again hosting a 3-day live (virtual) workshop series for healthcare providers in Niagara who currently work with expectant or new parents as well as their families. Keynote Speaker: Kathy O’Grady Venter, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, BFI Assessor for the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, and Educator for Quintessence Foundation will provide this opportunity on This series will take place on May 5, 12 and 19, 2021. Participants must attend all three session dates and may be eligible to receive IBLCE CERPS (Continuing Education Recognition Points). For more information and to register <CLICK HERE> Registration Deadline: April 25, 2021 MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS
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