Resumption of Annual Assessment of Student Immunization Records

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, MidwivesDate: December 7th, 2022From: 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 diseases or have a medical or...

Duty to report animal bites and animal contacts

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Walk-in Clinics, Travel Clinics, Emergency Departments and CHCsDate: November 23, 2022From: 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 in the extended class, veterinarian,...

Start of Influenza Season Declared in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Travel Clinics, Walk-in Clinics, Emergency Departments and CHCsDate: Thursday, November 10, 2022From: Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health, Acting)

Dear Colleagues: 

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is now declaring the start of the influenza season in Ottawa. Last week (ending November 5), the percent of respiratory laboratory specimens positive for influenza increased to 9.4%. The start to this year’s influenza season is earlier than typical...

Laboratory confirmed influenza cases in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Walk-in Clinics, Travel Clinic, Emergency Departments, IPAC and CHCsDate: Monday October 24, 2022From: Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health, Acting)

Dear Colleagues:

Cases of influenza are now being reported in our community. Reported cases to date in Ottawa are influenza A, but influenza B cases are also being reported in Ontario. An increase in influenza cases has started earlier than is typically seen and the number of confirmed...

Key dates and info. for 2022/2023 Universal Influenza Immunization Program roll-out in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, and other health care clinicsDate: September 20th, 2022From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues,Ottawa Public Health (OPH) expects to receive its first shipment of influenza vaccines from the Provincial Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) in the week of September 26th. The first shipment is automatically assigned by the Province based on a percentage of last year’s orders.

OPH is planning to...