MEMO: Vaccine Preventable Disease and Sexual Health Program Updates and Reminders

TO:  Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program (VPD)

REFERENCE: VPD and Sexual Health Program Updates and Reminders

DATE:  October 2020

Product Change: Menactra® is Being Replaced with Nimenrix®   

• The multi-dose packages (5 vials per package) of Menactra® for school program is being replaced with Nimenrix® (10 vials per package) in October
• There is no change to the immunization schedule. Nimenrix® is administered as a single dose. Refer to the product monograph for further information. 
• To order, use the School Program Vaccine Order Form

Sexual Health Program Changes 

Niagara Region Public Health has had to make a very difficult decision to pause or decrease some of our more regular work in order to focus staff capacity on our COVID-19 efforts. This will impact our one remaining Sexual Health Centre left open to the public that has been offering ongoing basic services:

• The centre has limited capacity for service provision and may not be able to accommodate everyone who calls for an appointment
• Treatment for genital warts is no longer being provided
• Public Health will continue to provide medication to treat STIs free of charge to health care provider offices, including azithromycin, ceftriaxone for injection, doxycycline and bicillin
• STI medications and condoms can be ordered online

Reminders  

• Flu vaccine for seniors
  • Seniors are eligible for one publicly funded influenza vaccination per season only
  • Don’t delay vaccination in hopes of receiving a particular product.  Both standard-dose QIV and high-dose TIV protect against the flu, and the most important thing is for older adults to be vaccinated.
• Serology testing for guiding decisions to vaccinate
  • Serology is an unreliable indicator of immunity. Titres may become undetectable over time.  This does not indicate a loss of immunity, as immune memory usually maintains the ability to mount an immune response if challenged. 
  • If a patient has completed a valid vaccination series for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella or hepatitis B, serology is generally not recommended
    • Please refer to the Medical Advisory from Oct. 12, 2016 entitled: “Serology Testing for Guiding Decisions to Vaccinate.” Please contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program if you would like to receive a copy of this Medical Advisory.
  • For detailed information on indications for serology for the diseases listed above, please see the Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4-Active Vaccines (select the disease from the table of contents and then click on “Serologic Testing”)
• Providing immunization services to patients with expired health cards
  • At this time, most expired/ expiring health cards remain valid for OHIP-insured services and individuals are not required to visit Service Ontario to renew
    • To reduce the number of claims rejected, the Ministry of Health encourages health care providers to ask for an individual’s most recent health card and to validate it each time the patient visits
    • Expired cards that pass validation are to be accepted for insured services and claims are to be submitted to OHIP per the usual billing process
  • A card holder whose health card does not pass validation will need to visit Service Ontario to update their card
    • Individuals without a valid health card cannot be redirected to Public Health for immunization
    • Individuals may be directed to a local pharmacy but it is important they call ahead and find out if the pharmacy will provide the flu vaccine without a valid health card

For More Information

Visit Public Health’s immunization and vaccine web page for health care professionals or call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396.