Public Health Alerts for Health Care Professionals

Limited supply of hepatitis B vaccine and update on use of renal formulation

Posted Friday, January 27, 2023

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, Walk-in Clinics
Date: January 26, 2023
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Limited supply of hepatitis B vaccine and update on use of renal formulation

Dear Colleagues,

This Public Health Alert summarizes updates about the current supply of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine in Ontario. It also includes recommendations on the use of the HB renal formulation vaccine to complete a vaccination series started...

Update on COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters in Ottawa

Posted Friday, January 20, 2023

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, Walk-in Clinics
Date: January 19, 2023
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear colleagues, 

On December 21st, 2022, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster became available for individuals 5 to 11 years of age in Ontario. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) has provided guidance on the use of this vaccine product. 

COVID-19 vaccine booster recommendations  

At...

MPOX (formerly monkeypox) – Updated guidance and reminders

Posted Friday, December 16, 2022

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, and CHCs
Date: December 15, 2022
From: Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health, Acting)

Dear Colleagues:

This Public Health Alert summarizes recent updates related to MPOX (formerly referred to as monkeypox) risk, vaccination, case and contact management, and resources for MPOX virus testing in the community. 

WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease

In line with recommendations...

Resumption of Annual Assessment of Student Immunization Records

Posted Friday, December 09, 2022

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives
Date: December 7th, 2022
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,

Following a temporary pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is resuming the annual process of assessing childhood immunization records for compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). To attend school in Ontario, students need to be immunized against nine vaccine preventable...

Duty to report animal bites and animal contacts

Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2022

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Walk-in Clinics, Travel Clinics, Emergency Departments and CHCs
Date: November 23, 2022
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues:

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) would like to remind you to report all potential rabies exposures to OPH as required by Ontario Regulation 557 (COMMUNICABLE DISEASES — GENERAL)
under the Health Protection and Promotion Act: 

• 2. (1) A physician, registered nurse...