HOT TOPICS IN FAMILY MEDICINE

COVID-19 Vaccination Priority and Family Physicians:

The COVID-19 vaccine supply in London is currently limited and the MLHU plans to get as many LTC residents who want the vaccine vaccinated first before resuming the vaccination of health care workers. This is necessary because the majority of deaths due to COVID-19 are occurring in LTC residents and several homes are in outbreak.

Phase 1 of the provincial plan for vaccination included LTC residents and staff, physicians in LTC, emergency departments, intensive care units, COVID outbreak units and other high-risk disciplines. Three priority considerations were being applied:

1. Risk of exposure to COVID based on role/responsibility.
2. Risk of severe disease/outcome from COVID-19 among the patient population serviced.
3. Risk to critical healthcare resource.

The vaccination of health care workers has now been put on hold pending completion of the LTC cohort and more vaccine supply. The vaccination of health care workers will resume at the Agriplex Centre as part of Phase 1 within the next few weeks.

Family physicians in the Citywide Department of Family Medicine and in the broader population of family physicians can expect to be vaccinated as part of Phase 1 and into Phase 2.

Using the Guideline COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination and the feedback received from family physicians about prioritization the following priority plan for family physicians in the Citywide Department of Family Medicine and family medicine residents was created. Click here to view the plan.

Medical Affairs at LHSC and SJHC will incorporate these priorities, as listed in the linked PDF, into the broader hospital-based health care worker priorities, established using an Ethical Framework, and everyone will be called and vaccinated in due course at the Agriplex.  Many family physicians and family medicine residents in priority group 1 have already received their first dose of vaccine.

I am aware of the potential distress that you may feel about the waiting time and about whether you have been forgotten as you learn about others being vaccinated ahead of you.

Please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. And, please know that you are all on the list to be vaccinated and your turn will come. There is nothing more we can do but wait for the Province and the Health Unit to re-establish the health care workers vaccination schedule. For now you can feel safe, relying on public health measures, avoiding crowds, hand washing, masking, physical distancing and the judicious use of PPE, which is in good supply.

Influenza Vaccination and Hospital Appointment Re-application:

Family Medicine is significantly lagging behind other clinical departments in Influenza Vaccination documentation. For now Medical Affairs will accept your word that the Flu shot was done and the approximate date and location. So, please notify us about your flu shot! Just email Sheena Blasing  sheena.blasing@sjhc.london.on.ca with this information ASAP. If you did not receive the shot we need the attestation form. Failure to provide either the form or confirm your Flu shot will put your hospital privilege re-application in jeopardy.