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In This Issue - October 2022
- PCAL Survey
- UPDATE:
2022/2023 Influenza Immunization Program
Your Health Space
Opioid and Safer Supply Resources
Primary Care Advisory & Liaison (PCAL) Group
- REVIEW:
#MyReality - Early Psychosis Intervention
Antiviral Medication for the 2022-2023 Respiratory Season
Rabies Risk in Niagara
Respiratory Surveillance
- EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
FREE WEBINAR: Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation
- MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS
Primary Care Advisory & Liaison Group Survey
The Primary Care Advisory and Liaison (PCAL) group is re-evaluating efforts and continues to explore how best to engage and unite the voices of all family physicians and nurse practitioners in Niagara on Public Health-related issues.
The team is setting goals and priorities for 2023 and we want to ensure that the issues you are experiencing, as they relate to Public Health, can be addressed. To support this, the group has created a brief survey and are asking all family physicians and nurse practitioners who practice in Niagara to complete it.
The survey will only take 5 minutes to complete. To ensure your voice is heard, please take a few minutes to provide your feedback!
Start the survey - click here.
UPDATE: 2022/2023 Influenza Immunization Program
The Ministry of Health has updated the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) website with information on product availability, distribution and vaccine supply.
Please note the following vaccine information:
- Influenza vaccination for the general public can begin October 31
- All persons 6 months of age or older are recommended to receive influenza vaccine by the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations
- Influenza vaccines can be provided before, after, or at the same time as other vaccines (including COVID-19 vaccine)
- Please advise patients to not delay vaccination to wait for a particular product
NRPH will be distributing both High-Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV-HD) and Adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV-adj) for clients 65 years of age and older. This is based on vaccine availability.
Of note, NRPH does not supply vaccine to pharmacies; they are supplied directly by the Ministry of Health.
For More Information:
- Visit our website or call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.
- NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-23
- Health Care Provider Q&As – Influenza immunization information
UPDATE: Your Health Space
Your mental health matters as much as the patients you are helping.
The Canadian Mental Health Association has developed Your Health Space: a free program to support health care providers and allied health professionals working in hospitals, long-term care, as well as home and community settings. Through interactive live workshops, and/or self-directed modules, you will learn effective strategies to address chronic workplace stress and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace.
For additional mental health resources, visit Public Health's Mental Health and Self-Care Resources for Health Care Professionals.
UPDATE: Opioid and Safer Supply Resources
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario recognizes that providing pharmaceutical-grade alternatives to the toxic street supply, both in the context of a comprehensive treatment plan or as a standalone harm reduction strategy, can enable physicians to support patients with opioid use disorder and reduce their risk of overdose and death. See their advice to the profession about prescribing drugs.
Visit the NEW Opioid and Safer Supply Resources webpage for
- Links to safer supply peer support, resources, and Niagara-specific opioid use statistics
- Videos about the need for safer supply and prescribing
Find information on how to join the National Safer Supply Community of Practice to receive prescriber mentoring, access to newsletters, webinars and discussion forums.
UPDATE: Primary Care Advisory & Liaison (PCAL) Group
The PCAL group continues to meet bi-monthly to discuss various topics related to Public Health & primary care. At each meeting, Public Health leadership presents on local issues and topics that support an understanding of Public Health programs and how primary care can better access or be more involved in these areas. In October, the group received a presentation from Niagara EMS on the integration with health care services. Interested in learning more? Contact your catchment area lead (identified on the PCAL webpage).
Action: Watch past presentations here and bookmark the PCAL webpage!
If you have a few hours available each month and would like to get involved, email HCP Engagement for information on open positions for 2023!
REVIEW: #MyReality - Early Psychosis Intervention
This October, Niagara Region Mental Health launched an Early Psychosis campaign entitled “#MyReality”. “#MyReality” aims to increase understanding among youth and parents/caregivers of the risk factors and symptoms associated with psychosis as well as when and where to seek treatment. The campaign also seeks to educate mental health professionals and other health care providers on how to assess for psychosis and when to refer to the Early Psychosis Intervention service.
Order campaign post cards for your practice or visit the website for content and videos.
To qualify for the Early Psychosis Intervention service, a person must
- Be 14 to 35 years of age
- Suspect they're newly experiencing symptoms of psychosis, or have been diagnosed with a first episode of psychosis
- Less than six months of antipsychotic medications OR no prior use of antipsychotics
Referrals:
REVIEW: Antiviral Medication for the 2022-2023 Respiratory Season
Antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment are recommended for individuals who are at a higher risk of severe illness from influenza and COVID-19 infection.
Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis works best if started as early as possible to prevent illness using Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for influenza and Evusheld for COVID-19. See Evusheld’s new expanded eligibility here.
Treatment
Antiviral treatment for influenza using Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) should be started within 24 hours of symptoms. Laboratory confirmation is not required to initiate antiviral treatment and may be discontinued if testing identifies an alternate pathogen.
Treatment for COVID-19 must be administered early in the course of illness; Paxlovid must begin within five days of symptom onset, and Remdesivir within seven days of symptom onset. See the recommended drugs in adult patients with COVID-19 guide for how to properly assess disease progress and recommend treatment.
More Information
REVIEW: Rabies Risk in Niagara
There has been an increase in the number of rabid skunks and racoons found in Niagara Region with twenty animals testing positive reported since April 2022. Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals often transmitted through the bite or scratch of a rabid animal, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, dogs, and cats.
Reporting Animal Bites or Scratches
Report any animal bites or scratches immediately whether the animal is suspected to be rabid or not. This is required under Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 557 - Communicable Diseases-General.
- Complete the report online or print and fax the completed form back to Public Health at 905-641-4994.
- Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7590 (Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.). After hours and on weekends, call at 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579.
Niagara Region Public Health investigates all animal exposures and will perform a risk assessment to determine if rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (rPEP) is needed.
If the animal can be located, a public health inspector will confine the animal to check for symptoms. We will not remove a healthy animal from the owner.
For more information visit our rabies webpage.
REVIEW: Respiratory Surveillance
Surveillance Update: Influenza activity low, but increasing
- Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates influenza A and B activity remain low, but the number of cases each week are increasing
- Provincially, rhinovirus/enterovirus is the most commonly-circulating virus
- In Niagara, there are 21 cases of influenza so far this season; 344 across Ontario
Data source: Public Health Ontario’s Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin, data as of October 15, 2022. Please note: Coronavirus refers to non-pandemic human coronaviruses, not the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Niagara reports flu activity surveillance information weekly on Fridays
For more detail on the 2022 to 2023 respiratory season, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin.
FREE WEBINAR: Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation
Hamilton Family Health Team’s Green Initiative presents Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation a free 1-hour, interactive, evidence-based, and practical educational webinar with Dr. Meghan Davis, Regional Primary Care Lead (Cancer Screening).
Participants will learn strategies to promote health through cancer screening and smoking cessation with practical tips and tools.
Cancer screening and smoking cessation efforts
- Reduce the risks of disease and disability
- Lower both the cost and carbon footprint of healthcare
- Reduce the carbon footprint of tobacco production and distribution
This webinar is accredited for 3 MainPro + credits for participants through the CFPC.
When: Wednesday, November 2, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM OR Thursday, November 10, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Register online or contact green.team@hamiltonfht.ca with any questions.
MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS
- October 18: Medical Advisory - COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine for 12+
- September 28: Medical Advisory - Niagara’s First Confirmed Case of Influenza
