Public Health Alerts

Immunization update: Tdap vaccine is now recommended in every pregnancy (March 5, 2018)

To: Vaccine providers

From: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health

Date: March 5, 2018

In February 2018, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendation on pertussis-containing vaccine in pregnancy.

Updated NACI recommendation:

• Immunization with Tdap vaccine should be provided in every pregnancy, irrespective of previous Tdap immunization history, ideally between 27 and 32 weeks of gestation. 
• However, Tdap immunization may be...

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Memo: Increase in Mumps Cases in Ottawa (February 15, 2018)

In the last week, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has investigated a small cluster of mumps cases. These are the first cases reported to OPH in 2018. The cases were young adults with partial or full immunization, and no history of travel.

OPH is seeking your collaboration to accelerate detection and control of cases of mumps:

• Increase your clinical vigilance for mumps infection
• Order a buccal or throat swab AND a urine sample (mumps virus detection by PCR) for all suspect cases of mumps, as well as...

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Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (Fluzone® Quadrivalent & Flulaval® Tetra) are now publicly-funded in Ontario for adults aged 18 years and older

• Influenza B activity is higher than expected for this time of year.
• The most common strain of influenza B this season is B/Phuket (Yamagata lineage).
• Only the Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (Fluzone® Quadrivalent & Flulaval® Tetra) offer protection against B/Phuket (Yamagata lineage).
• Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (Fluzone® Quadrivalent & Flulaval® Tetra), previously publicly-funded in Ontario for children only, are now publicly-funded for adults aged 18 years and older.

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Influenza season predicted to peak over the winter holidays (late December 2017 to early January 2018)

Influenza season predicted to peak over the winter holidays

• Current influenza surveillance data, combined with experience from past years, indicates that influenza activity will peak over the winter holiday period (late December-early January).
• Peak influenza activity is typically associated with increased demand for healthcare services.

• There are 26 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza so far in Ottawa; 20 (77%) are influenza A (majority A/H3N2) and 6 (23%)...

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