In this issue - February 2026

Program Updates
• Reminder - Vaccine Ordering and Delivery Changes
• Vaccine Delivery Notice Reminder
• World TB Day - Supporting TB Care through TB-UP
• Updated Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Mpox

Announcements
• Respiratory Surveillance

Educational Opportunities

Public Health Alerts
• Vaccine Dates

During the current respiratory illness season, evidence indicates that the 2025–26 influenza vaccine conferred clinically meaningful protection despite antigenic mismatch with the predominant circulating strain. Vaccine effectiveness analyses demonstrated an approximate 40% reduction in influenza A‑associated hospitalizations.

In addition to the monthly respiratory surveillance update, this issue includes important updates from our Vaccine Preventable and Infectious Disease teams on vaccine ordering and delivery, World TB Day and IPAC recommendations for Mpox in your practices.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the health of our region especially during these challenging winter months.

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

Reminder – Vaccine Ordering and Delivery Changes

Vaccine orders need to be submitted 5 full business days (one calendar week) before your new delivery day.

You’ll find the updated vaccine ordering and delivery dates for your location in the 2026 calendars that were sent with your February vaccine delivery.

You can now also access your calendar online using the link below:

Vaccine deliveries on the first and third weeks of each month:
Vaccine deliveries on the second and fourth weeks of each month:

More Information

Vaccine Delivery Schedule - Niagara Region, Ontario
Ordering Vaccinations - Niagara Region, Ontario
Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

Vaccine Delivery Notice Reminder

Note that vaccine delivery staff:

Do not know the contents of each vaccine delivery bag
Do not have access to your order information
Cannot authorize changes to your vaccine delivery schedule and/or any special delivery days
Can take back expired vaccines but are unable to return useable vaccines (i.e. overstock)
Schedules may change. For any clinic closures affecting your delivery, please call Public Health directly.

Please check the packing slip attached to your orders to confirm what you have received. If anything appears missing or incorrect, please call Public Health as soon as possible.

At times, the Ontario Ministry of Health may experience vaccine shortages or stockouts. As a result, orders may be adjusted if supply impacts Niagara.

To contact Public Health, call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.

World TB Day - Supporting TB Care through TB-UP

Each year on March 24, the World Health Organization recognizes World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. World TB Day serves as an opportunity to remind health care professionals of the Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Uninsured Persons Program (TB-UP).

This program aims to facilitate the early diagnosis of TB and onset of treatment (as required) for uninsured individuals living in or visiting Ontario. Patients are covered for OHIP billable TB care if they are not covered (or partially covered) by any public/private health insurance, and one of the following:

An active or potential case of TB (pulmonary or extra-pulmonary)
A contact of an active TB case
At high-risk of developing active TB

How to Submit Claims Forms

Health care providers can submit completed TB-UP forms directly to the Claims Services Branch in Ottawa for processing in one of the following ways:

Mail: Ministry of Health, 347 Preston St, 4th Floor Ottawa ON K1S 3J4
Fax: (613) 237-3246
Email (encrypted/password protected): CSBOttawa@ontario.ca

For registration information, contact the Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 before giving service to eligible patients. The Ministry of Health will not issue retroactive payments. Visit our website for more information.

Updated Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Mpox in Health Care Settings

Public Health Ontario (PHO) continues to actively monitor global Mpox activity and has recently updated its resource, Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Mpox in Health Care Settings. These recommendations support health care providers in reducing the risk of transmission across all clinical environments, including hospitals, primary care, outpatient clinics, sexual health services and vaccine clinics.

Health Care Providers Actions

Review the updated guidance to ensure appropriate precautions, assessment practices, and management strategies are in place when caring for individuals with suspected or confirmed Mpox
Visit PHO’s Mpox webpage

Respiratory Surveillance

Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates activity for influenza is low
Provincially, respiratory syncytial virus is the most commonly circulating virus (based on percent positivity)
In Niagara, there have been 1,555 cases of influenza this season; 34,322 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.

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: February 5 - Vaccine Dates

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.

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