In This Issue - March 2022

PHYSICIANS' CORNER
UPDATE:
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Vaccine Preventable Disease Program
REVIEW:
- Dental Programs in Niagara
- Respiratory Surveillance
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
- Free CME: Syphilis
- COVID-19 Vaccination
- Primary Care Support Community of Practice
MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS

Physicians' Corner

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

As more public health measures are lifted Niagara Region Public Health continues to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves for a first, second or third/booster COVID-19 shot. As of March 28, 80.7% have received a complete series (two-doses) and 49.2% have received their booster. You can monitor vaccination coverage in Niagara by visiting our website. Public Health continues to

Ensure clinics are convenient and accessible thorough community outreach (e.g. clinics in apartment buildings, in-home vaccinations and pop-up clinics)
Initiate phone calls to residents with outstanding third doses
Invest in social media ads to remind residents to get their boosters
Make nurses available to answer residents’ questions at COVID-19 clinics. No appointment necessary and no pressure to get vaccinated.

Please encourage your patients who need to complete, or initiate their COVID-19 vaccine series to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Physicians who practice in a Patient Enrolment Model (PEM) can receive a weekly (Monday) Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report which provides a full list of rostered patients (aged 5 and over), including unvaccinated patients. Access your patient information via the Ontario Health eReport portal by using your Ontario Health ONE® ID to login – simply click here and select “ONE ID” to login.

If you are interested in administering COVID-19 vaccine in your office, email HCP Engagement.

Novavax and Medicago Vaccine Options

Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine for adults ages 18 and older. Ontario is expecting to receive its first shipment in the next couple of weeks.
Health Canada has also authorized Medicago’s Covifenz, a developed-in-Canada plant-based option for adults ages 18-64. We will share more details once we have received guidance from NACI and supply details from the federal and provincial governments.

If you have patients asking for either of these vaccine options, please have them call the COVID-19 Info Line (905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074, press 7).

Have you checked out our dedicated COVID-19 Information for Health Care Professionals webpage? Here you will find statistics, vaccine information, testing options and a link to our COVID-19 FAQ page.

Don't see the response to your question on the FAQ page? Call our COVID-19 Health Care Professionals information line Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. at 905-688-8248, press 7 then press 1.

UPDATE: Sexually Transmitted Infections

As Niagara adjusts to a less intense pandemic, it’s important to take this opportunity to refocus on other preventable infections that affect our community. A few weeks ago, we released a medical advisory outlining the rapid increase in syphilis rates that we are seeing in Niagara. Syphilis, as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have continued to spread.

Health care professionals can help by screening, testing and counselling patients on risk reduction. Asking patients about their sexual behaviours is the first step to understanding their risk factors for STIs. We encourage primary care providers to have open conversations with their patients and have a low threshold for testing for any STIs.

Screening recommendations for sexually transmitted infections can be found here:

Free condoms as well as treatment, and treatment guidelines for bacterial STIs are available to order online from the sexual health clinic or by calling 905-688-3817.

UPDATE: Vaccine Preventable Disease Program

Vaccine Eligibility Extensions

The Ministry has released an updated Guidance for Routine Immunization Services during COVID-19 that outlines extended eligibility for certain cohorts.

School-based, Grade 7 Immunizations

Extended until August 31, 2022:

Hepatitis B (Recombivax HB®/Engerix-B®) available for students born in 2006 or 2007
HPV-9 (Gardasil 9®) available for female students born in 2002 or 2003
Refer to page 12 of the Ministry’s guidance for more information

See school program vaccine order form for details and to place an order for vaccine

Public Health Catch-up Clinics

Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) is working with school boards to resume in-school vaccination campaigns for the current grade 7 and 8 cohorts
NRPH is re-opening the Niagara Falls office for school vaccine catch-up clinics
Visit our website regularly for updates on catch-up clinic information

REVIEW: Dental Programs in Niagara

Fluoride Varnish Program

Dental caries are the single most common chronic disease in children and the second most common disease overall after the common cold. Fluoride varnish applied in a primary health care setting has been shown to reduce dental caries in children under the age of five. Primary care providers see children at least eight times before the age of five providing multiple opportunities to assess a child’s oral health status and prevent dental caries.

Niagara Region Public Health’s Dental program offers a Fluoride Varnish Program for Primary Care in Niagara. Health professionals who participate in this program can expect

Training on oral health education and fluoride varnish application
Academic detailing
Free Premier Enamel Pro Varnish 5% Sodium fluoride varnish (0.25mL containers) & oral health kits
Oral health fact sheets, posters, and frequently asked questions

To learn how your practice can participate in this program, please email HCP Engagement.

Green Door Project: Emergency Adult Dental Care

The Niagara Falls Community Health Centre has partnered with the Green Door Project to provide no-cost, emergency dental care to all residents in Niagara.

Patients 18-64 years of age may be eligible for the program if they

Require emergency dental services
Have no form of dental benefits or coverage
Meet income requirements as per Low-Income Cut-Off recommendations. Based on the client’s most recent Notice of Assessment.

To determine program eligibility or to refer, physicians can call the Green Door Project Dental Clinic at 905-356-2288 or the Dental Health Community Worker at 289-969-3900.

REVIEW: Respiratory Surveillance

Surveillance Update: Influenza Activity Low

Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data (March 25, 2022) indicates Influenza A and B activity remain low
Provincially, entero/rhinovirus and non-pandemic human coronaviruses appear to be the most commonly-circulating viruses, while other virus activity remains low
Niagara is reporting < 5 cumulative sporadic influenza infections this season

Please refer to Niagara Region’s Flu Activity page for up-to-date local influenza data, updated every Tuesday.

FREE CME EVENT

Syphilis: The Comeback No One Wanted

Family physicians, Obstetricians/Gynecologists, and all interested health care professionals are invited to attend this virtual event!

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Syphilis rates have seen a precipitous rise in Niagara. In this live, accredited workshop, health care professionals will have the opportunity to explore this increase in rates and learn practical tips to incorporate into their daily clinical care. We welcome keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Woodward, Infectious Disease Specialist at Special Immunology Services Clinic (SIS) and will host a panel of knowledgeable care providers to answer your questions.

Learning objectives:

Recognize sexual risk behaviours and understand the importance of having conversations about sexual risk-taking with all patients
Identify what populations are most at-risk and what behaviours within those populations put people at greater systemic risk for syphilis acquisition
Explain diagnosis and treatment recommendations for syphilis
Accurately order and interpret tests for syphilis screening, staging and diagnosis
Describe post-treatment protocols for long term syphilis follow up

Register online or call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7707. Registration deadline is April 29, 2022.

This one-credit-per-hour 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. This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the SOGC. You may claim a maximum of 1.5 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

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COVID-19 Vaccination

COVID-19 Updated: Expert Q & A with Public Health, Primary Care, Vaccine, Epidemiology and Lab Specialists CME

This online BC public health and primary care CME (1.5 Mainpro+) on April 6, 2022 will give you the skills to provide practical advice to patients regarding COVID-19 based on the emerging evidence, including the use of vaccines.
Submit your questions and register

Vaccine Confidence Webinar Recordings

How to use motivational interviewing in conversations with patients who are vaccine hesitant with Dr. Arnaud Gagneur
Building COVID-19 vaccine confidence before, during and after pregnancy with Dr. Ève Dubé and Dr. Isabelle Boucoiran

To access the CANVax webinar series, visit The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Vaccine Confidence Webinar Series webpage.

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Primary Care Support Community of Practice

Join Ontario Health for their Monthly Series

Second Wednesday every month, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., April to December

Objectives:

Provide updates on new guidance and initiatives affecting primary care
View presentations and ask questions related to COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives within primary care
Learn from and connect with your peers

Register Here

MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS

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