News

Update on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine including expanded eligibility

Public Health Alert

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners

Date: January 25, 2024

From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Subject: Update on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine including expanded eligibility

Dear Colleagues,

This Public Health Alert provides an update on the Ministry of Health’s publicly funded high-risk older adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine program. The Arexvy RSV vaccine was approved for adults aged 60 years and older by Health Canada...

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Novavax Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 containing COVID-19 vaccine

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: January 8, 2024
From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Dear Colleagues, 

The Ontario Ministry of Health has now updated their XBB COVID-19 vaccine guidance to include a recommendation for the use of the Novavax NuvaxovidTM XBB.1.5 containing COVID-19 vaccine:

“For individuals who are not able or willing to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry recommends the Novavax XBB COVID-19 vaccine should be offered. National Advisory...

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Increase in invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) Disease in Ontario

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, Walk-in Clinics, Emergency Departments, and CHCs
Date: December 20, 2023
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health 

Dear Colleagues: 

Please find attached a memo to hospitals and health care providers from Ontario’s Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, to provide an update on trends in invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease in Ontario and information on iGAS and...

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Duty to report animal bites & animal contacts

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, CHCs, and Walk-in Clinics
Date: December 18, 2023
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 in the extended class, veterinarian, police officer or any other person...

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Updated Recommendations: Pneumococcal Immunization in Adults, New Conjugate Vaccines

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in Canada. Infection can result in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when resulting in invasive pneumococcal disease, which includes manifestations such as empyema, bacteremia, and meningitis. The population groups most susceptible to invasive pneumococcal disease include the elderly, newborns and young children, and others with immunocompromising or other underlying medical...

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