In This Issue - April 2023

UPDATE:
- Record Review - Order of Suspensions
- Closed COVID-19 Vaccination Services
- Celebrating Doctors and Nurses
REVIEW:
- Compassionate Programs for Birth Control and HPV Vaccine
- Rabies Risk & Reporting within the Niagara Region
- Mental Health Week 2023
- Final Respiratory Surveillance Update of 2022-2023 Season
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
- FREE WEBINAR: TEACH Educational Rounds - When Contact Saves Lives: Strategies for Suicide Prevention in Primary Care

UPDATE: Record Review - Order of Suspensions

Niagara Region Public Health has sent 566 individualized Orders of Suspension to students 17 years of age (born in 2005) with incomplete immunization records.

Please ensure your practice has enough vaccine supply to manage the increased demand in getting these students caught-up on missed routine vaccines:

Please provide immunization records to families who request for them so they can accurately report to Public Health.

Read our memo for more information, including Medical Exemptions.

UPDATE: Closed COVID-19 Vaccination Services

As of April 1, 2023 the SickKids’ COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service and the GO-VAXX buses and mobile vaccine clinics are now closed.

Patients looking to speak one-to-one on the phone with a doctor about COVID-19 vaccines, childhood vaccines, influenza vaccines, mpox (Monkeypox) and preventative health counselling can book an appointment with the VaxFacts+ Clinic.

If your practice does not administer COVID-19 vaccinations, please refer your patients to our website for information on where they can get vaccinated.

UPDATE: Celebrating Doctors and Nurses

May 1 is recognized as Doctors Day in Ontario, and May 8 - 14 is National Nurses Week. These dates were chosen to mark the birthday of one of Canada’s first female physicians, Dr. Emily Stowe, and the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

The past few years have been incredibly challenging for all. As we continue to move forward, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedicated and compassionate care that physicians and nurses provide. Whether it be in a hospital, a clinic, a long-term care home, or a patients home, every day in Ontario, nurses and physicians treat hundreds of thousands of patients.

Thank you for your leadership and advocacy to promote and provide high quality care for patients in our community.

REVIEW: Compassionate Programs for Birth Control and HPV Vaccine

Some pharmaceutical companies offer medications or vaccines for free for low-income patients. These programs are known as compassionate programs. The Sexual Health Program would like to inform physicians and nurse practitioners of three compassionate programs available for low-income patients.

Mirena™ IUS - Visit Health Loyalty to register for an account and complete the enrollment form
Nexplanon® - Email Organon Aspire to be sent a copy of the enrollment form
Gardasil®9 - Email Merck Care to be sent a copy of the enrollment form.

Public Health’s Sexual Health Centres

Niagara Region Public Health’s Sexual Health Centres are open by appointment only
You clients can benefit from birth control and emergency contraception at a reduced price
Please continue to see your patients for STI testing and treatment. For more information on STI testing and screening visit our website
- If you would like to order STI medication for your office visit our health care professional’s page

REVIEW: Rabies Risk & Reporting within the Niagara Region

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals often transmitted through the bite or scratch of a rabid animal, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs, and cats. We continue to identify confirmed cases of rabies in Niagara Region, with 2 positive skunks already identified in 2023.

Reporting Animal Bites or Scratches

Health care professionals are to report any animal bites or scratches immediately to public health whether the animal is suspected to be rabid or not, as required under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 557 - Communicable Diseases-General.

To report an animal bite to public health:

Step 1: Complete the report online or print the form.

Step 2: Fax the completed form back to Public Health at 905-641-4994.

Step 3: Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7590 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) to ensure a proper risk assessment is completed. *After hours and on weekends, call 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579.

Public Health investigates all animal exposures and will follow-up with the patient to assess the appropriate response. If the animal can be located, a public health inspector will confine the animal to check for symptoms. Healthy animals will not be removed from their owner.

For more information visit our rabies webpage.

REVIEW: Mental Health Week 2023

Mental Health Week is from May 1-7. It is a time that encourages Canadians to learn and talk with others about mental health issues. According to the 2021 National Physician Health Survey, 53% of physicians report high levels of burn out. This week and beyond, take time to remember how important it is to take care of your own mental health.

Here are some great mental health and self-care resources to help support you as health care professionals.

REVIEW: Final Respiratory Surveillance Update of 2022-2023 Season

Surveillance Update: Influenza activity is low

Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates activity for both influenza A and influenza B is low
Provincially, Enterovirus/Rhinovirus is the most commonly-circulating virus
In Niagara, there are 1027 cases of influenza so far this season; 20,422 across Ontario

2022-2023 Respiratory Season

Data source: Public Health Ontario’s Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin, data as of April 21, 2023. 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: TEACH Educational Rounds - When Contact Saves Lives: Strategies for Suicide Prevention in Primary Care

When: Thursday, May 4 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST

Where: Live Webinar (Zoom)

Registration Deadline: May 3, 2023

Learning Objectives:

Explain the importance of suicide screening in primary care
Describe how to assess suicide risk
Apply interventions to support clients who identify suicidal thoughts, intent, or are in crisis

Click here to register

MEDICAL ADVISORIES AND MEMOS

April 4 MEMO: Upcoming Suspension Orders for Students Not Compliant with ISPA
April 3 MEMO: Changes to Lyme Disease Testing, Updated Resources and Reporting Tools

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