SHARED BY Ontario medical association

Shared Dec. 15, 2020

Shining a Light at the End of the Tunnel: Guiding Considerations for a Safe, Accessible and Equitable COVID-19 Vaccination Framework in Ontario

A COVID-19 vaccination strategy needs to include defining and prioritizing populations to ensure the gradually available supply is distributed with transparent criteria that consider protecting those most vulnerable. It must also include plans and guidance for vaccine distribution and administration that consider the specifics of each different vaccine and the different avenues for administration available and/or advisable in different phases of vaccination.Essential infrastructure in this strategy must include surveillance and evaluation to ensure:

• Ontario has the data to understand where vaccination is and is not reaching populations•Individuals are receiving all required doses
• Monitoring and responding to adverse events
• Plans and resources for public education,such as vaccine hesitancy,that reach all segments of the population with clear and culturally appropriate information to ensure that the public feels comfortable receiving the vaccine and understands its benefits as well as its potential limitations.

While current vaccines have been shown to protect those vaccinated from experiencing signs and symptoms of the virus, it is not known if they also prevent its spread. Therefore,protective measures (such as masking, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene) will remain imperative even for those vaccinated to ensure Ontarians are protected as much as possible.This paper lays out considerations for each of these components to support the development of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy based on the insights and expertise of Ontario’s physicians and informed by consultation with key health system stakeholders.These recommendations are intended to begin this important dialogue and will require refinement as more information becomes available.

Return to: COVID-19 Vaccinations

SHARED BY Ontario's ministry of health

Shared Dec. 14, 2020

Summary guidance released on December 14, 2020 by the Ministry of Health includes the following:

• About Vaccines
• COVID-19 Guidance for Health Care Settings
• Information Sheet: Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
• Approval Process and Safety
• Administration of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
• Vaccine Availability and Rollout

Return to: COVID-19 Vaccinations

Shared by the Thames Valley Family Health Team

This 4-part video series was produced by Registered Dietitians with the Thames Valley Family Health Team, with resources from Monash University and the Niagara Health System and in consultation with the Primary Care Dietitians’ Association of Ontario. 

Each video is 4-5 minutes in length:

• IBS and the Low FODMAP Diet
• Starting the Low FODMAP Diet
• Re-introduction: Phase 2 of the Low FODMAP Diet
• Maintenance: Phase 3 of the Low FODMAP Diet

To view the video series, please visit the Thames Valley FHT website here

Shared by Public Health Ontario

Shared on October 20, 2020

Resource includes:

This infection prevention and control (IPAC) checklist for primary care, specialty and walk-in clinics addresses specific items that are pertinent during this COVID-19 pandemic and:

• Can support these settings in examining, evaluating (e.g., self-assessment) and re-evaluating their current IPAC practices using provincial recommendations (e.g., Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario) as required.
• Can help guide public health units (PHUs), regulatory colleges and professional associations in conducting assessments/inspections related to IPAC practices.
• Can support plans and preparation for the resumption of services during this COVID-19 pandemic.
• From this point forward, the term primary care will represent primary care, specialty and walk-in clinics

Contents include:

1. Restart planning and preparation; 2. Reception and waiting area(s); 3. Screening staff, patients and visitors; 4. Positive screening: Providing care; 5.Personal protective equipment (PPE); 6. Hazard controls; 7. Physical capacity/environment; 8. Critical supplies and equipment;  9. Human resources/occupational health and safety; 10. Environmental cleaning; 11. Reprocessing of reusable medical equipment/devices; 12. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

Click here for the Infection Prevention and Control Assessment for Primary Care, Specialty and Walk-in Clinics during COVID-19 Checklist [PDF]

With flu season upon us, below are resources to help teams manage vaccine delivery in the unique circumstances we find ourselves in.

• COVID-19, COLD & FLU/ILI Resources in Toronto Region  | Ontario Health, September 7, 2021
• High Volume Outdoor Vaccine Clinics** | Village FHT & the West Toronto Ontario Health Team, November 23, 2020
• Top 10 Questions about the Flu [PDF] | OCFP, October 23, 2020
• Offsite vaccination delivery - checklist | CDC, August 18, 2020
• How do the viruses compare - infographic
• Guidance for flu vaccine delivery during COVID-19
• Drive-in flu vaccination clinics
• Influenza vaccines for 2020/21 (Public Health Ontario - on high dose, cell based, and influenza strains)
• Offering flu clinics in novel ways (Centre for Effective Practice - see the "vaccination clinics in primary care" section)

Shard by the Ontario Hospital Association

Shared on October 14, 2020

This October, let’s commit to protecting our family, friends and community by taking the pledge to #flattenthecurve and ask others to do the same. It hasn’t been easy. But we made it this far because we always find the strength to do the right thing.

Take the pledge to #StopTheSpread and encourage others by telling them how you’re doing your part:

1. Take the pledge and commit to doing your part to keep everyone safe.
2. SHARE! Tell others how or why you’re stopping the spread of COVID-19, and who you’re doing it for

Communications toolkit is available here [PDF]

Because of COVID-19, there has been a decrease in non-urgent, face-to-face, routine medical visits, including those for routine vaccinations. But unfortunately, postponing or canceling routine vaccinations for children and adults leaves individuals vulnerable to becoming infected with vaccine-preventable diseases and increases the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. One way to ensure that people continue to receive needed vaccines is to set up a curbside or drive-through vaccination clinic.

This is CDC document, updated July 2020, lists Considerations for Planning Curbside/Drive-Through Vaccination Clinics.