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.

We value your feedback—your insights help us ensure the content remains useful and impactful. If you have suggestions or topics you’d like us to cover, just hit reply and let us know!

As we move into the fall season, we are pleased to share timely updates and resources to support you in your clinical and community practice.

In this issue, we highlight information on Grade 7 vaccines, key insights from the Protecting Tomorrow immunization report, and Ontario’s latest Hepatitis C elimination plan. We also share news regarding the permanent Director of Emergency Services / EMS Chief at Niagara Region.

Lastly, we include updates from our partners on CT scan wait times, new CT and MRI requisition forms, and a call to support REACH Niagara’s Shelter Health initiatives.

Thank you for your continued commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities.

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

In this issue - August 2025

Program Updates
• Grade 7 Vaccines
• Protecting Tomorrow: The Future of Immunization in Ontario
• Hepatitis C Update: Roadmap and Treatment Access
• New Niagara Region EMS Chief/Director of Emergency Services
• Acknowledgement of Extended Appointment Timelines for CT Scans
• Ontario Health (OH) West CT and MRI requisition forms
• Your Skills Can Change Lives — Join Shelter Health Today

Educational Opportunities
• CME-Accredited Hepatitis C Fundamentals Course

Medical Advisories and Memos
• Ontario's 2025-2026 RSV Prevention Programs
• Ontario's 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccine Program and UIIP
• Pfizer COVID-19 KP.2 Vaccine Market Withdrawal
• Ontario's Seasonal Pathogen Guide

Grade 7 Vaccines

School-based clinics are being held by Public Health for students in participating schools. However, there will be students that:

Miss their school immunization clinic, or
Prefer to be immunized in another setting, or
Need to catch up (grades 8 to 12B)

Health Care Provider Actions

If your patient is still eligible for grade 7 immunization(s), take this opportunity to provide any outstanding dose(s)
When administering grade 7 vaccines including combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine (Twinrix® or Twinrix Jr.®), remind parents/guardians to report their child’s vaccines directly to Public Health

Office Staff Actions

Use the School Program Vaccine Order Form to order grade 7 vaccines
Order the notification tear-off pads with QR code (select Vaccines and Immunization) and remind parents/guardians to report their child’s vaccine(s) to Public Health

More Information

School Vaccinations for Grade 7 Students
Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

Protecting Tomorrow: The Future of Immunization in Ontario

Immunization remains a key tool in preventing disease and protecting public health. In his 2024 Annual Report, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario Dr. Kieran Moore highlights Ontario’s recent progress and outlines steps to strengthen the system.

Access has improved through more vaccination providers, including pharmacists, midwives, and primary care. New digital tools also help patients track their immunization records.

However, challenges persist. Some communities still face access barriers, vaccine misinformation is widespread, and Ontario lacks a centralized system to track coverage.

The report calls for a stronger, more coordinated provincial strategy and supports community-led efforts to build trust and improve vaccine confidence.

For More Information

Read the full report to learn more about Ontario’s immunization progress and future priorities along with more detailed recommendations and next steps starting on page 66

Hepatitis C Update: Roadmap, Treatment Access

The Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap is guiding policy and practice action to end hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health threat by 2030. This roadmap outlines how Ontario can take action to increase the number of people tested for and diagnosed with HCV, expand treatment options to improve access and advance prevention strategies, including those at highest risk.

Treatment Coverage in Ontario

HCV treatment is accessible through multiple reimbursement channels:

People with OHIP: Coverage available via Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Trillium Drug Program, and private insurance.
Incarcerated individuals: Treatment is covered during incarceration by provincial or federal institutions. Upon release, coverage continues via community programs.
Newcomers and immigrants: Coverage varies by immigration status. Refugee applicants may qualify under the Interim Federal Health Program. Compassionate access programs are available for those without coverage.

Resources

Contact Niagara Region Public Health Infectious Disease Program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7330 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Ontario’s HCV teams are an option for treatment and work with priority populations. For patients in Niagara, please contact the Hepatitis C Care Clinic. Health care providers can refer patients to this program, or they can self-refer.

New Niagara Region EMS Chief/Director of Emergency Services

We are excited to share that Karen Lutz-Graul has been appointed as the permanent Director of Emergency Services / EMS Chief at Niagara Region. Karen is a familiar face around the Region and has been serving as Acting Chief at Niagara EMS for the past two months. Prior to that, she held the role of Deputy Chief of EMS Operations since 2020. A valued member of Niagara EMS since 1991, she began her career with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Ambulance Service as a Primary Care Paramedic. With 35 years of EMS experience, she has a proven track record of strong leadership and operational excellence.

In her role as permanent Director of Emergency Services / EMS Chief, Karen will be responsible for delivering Emergency Services including Niagara Emergency Medical Services (Paramedic and Communications Services) and Emergency Management.

Acknowledgement of Extended Appointment Timelines for CT Scans

A message from Dr. Julian Dobranowski, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging and Janice Feather, Director, Diagnostic Imaging

At this time, Niagara Health is experiencing extended appointment timelines for outpatient CT scans due to an increase in referral volumes for imaging.

Please see the memo from July 22, 2025 on our Resources for Primary Care Providers webpage outlining our current CT Scanner Upgrade Project.

If your patient is able and willing to travel, we encourage you to explore alternative referral options, including outside of Niagara, where CT wait times are currently lower. If this is in the best interest of your patient, please let the team know to discard the requisition or cancel the future patient booking by contacting the booking office via fax or phone with the original fax requisition date. This is to prevent duplication of services.

If the patient is unable to travel, we will book your patient in the next available CT appointment within Niagara Health.

Thank you for your patience and continued support during this time.

Ontario Health West CT and MRI requisition forms

A message from the OH West Diagnostic Imaging Central Intake Team

Starting Wednesday, October 1, 2025, all hospitals across Ontario Health (OH) West will only be accepting the OH West CT and MRI requisition forms, and legacy forms will no longer be accepted. To support you through this transition period, the OH West diagnostic team would like to remind teams of the following important information:

Key Dates

June 25, 2025: Requisition forms and supporting materials available for download on the WE-CARE 2 IMAGE website (https://www.wecare2image.ca). Clinicians were to review the forms with their teams (e.g., radiologists, technologists, administrative and booking teams) and begin incorporating the new forms into existing processes and workflows.
As of July 23, 2025: In partnership with OH, EMR compatible forms were developed for Accuro and Telus PS Suite platforms here: https://www.swpca.ca/EMRResource/
Starting October 1, 2025, all referring clinicians must submit requisitions using the new forms, as legacy forms will no longer be accepted

Next Steps

Ensure that the OH West CT and MRI common requisition forms have been shared with your teams
Existing CT and MRI requisition forms should be replaced with the new ones
Download and save the updated OH West Service Catalogue

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to this transformation.

Your Skills Can Change Lives — Join Shelter Health Today

Working with REACH Niagara in the shelter health program allows you to help those who face barriers to healthcare. You’ll have the time, resources, and support to make a real difference in patients’ lives while focusing on what matters most: Caring for those with high needs.

Highlights of working with REACH:

Hourly sessional rate: Allows for longer, more in-depth patient visits.
Meaningful work serving unhoused and marginalized populations.
Administrative support so you can focus on care, not paperwork.
Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team dedicated to accessible healthcare. Specialty supports include: psychiatry, internal medicine, dermatology and substance use.
Regularly scheduled clinics - generally a commitment of 3 hours/week fitting into your schedule
No negation

“Working with REACH has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. I am part of a team that supports our patients and each other. It is truly healthcare that meets patients where they are in their life journey.” - Dr. Kim Bender, Medical Director

If you are interested to learn, please contact Dr. Kim Bender at benderk@reachniagara.com

Visit the Professional Development Opportunities page for in-person and online opportunities available to health care professionals in Niagara.

CME-Accredited Hepatitis C Fundamentals Course

Primary care providers can now access a self-paced, online course designed to build confidence and competence in HCV care. The course includes:

4 comprehensive modules covering testing, diagnosis, and treatment strategies
2 Mainpro+ CME/CPD credits (2-hour duration)
Optional Enhanced Learning Module (1 credit) focused on reflective practice
Optional Mentorship Program (15 credits) offering 6 months of personalized guidance from experienced HCV providers

Sign up and learn more at endhepc.ca

Medical advisories and memos

Don't miss important communications from Public Health! Sign up to receive health care professional alerts and urgent notices.

MEMO: September 23 - Ontario’s 2025-2026 RSV Prevention Programs
MEMO: September 23 - Ontario’s 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine program and UIIP
MEMO: September 3 - Pfizer COVID-19 KP.2 Vaccine Market Withdrawal
MEMO: September 2 - Ontario’s Seasonal Pathogen Guide