News

2019-2020 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)

To: Ottawa ImmunizersFrom: Dr. Sarah Funnell, Associate Medical Officer of HealthDate: October 10, 2019

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is adjusting our influenza vaccine distribution plan based on revised amounts received from the Ministry of Health.

OPH has received some doses of quadrivalent influenza vaccine which we are preparing for distribution to you beginning next week. Based on the amount we have received, you will receive 30 percent of the amount you received last season, to begin...

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Potential measles exposure, Ottawa

To: Physicians and Nurse Practitioners, Emergency departments, Walk in clinicsFrom: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public HealthDate: October 4, 2019

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has been informed of a confirmed case of measles in Montreal with brief travel to Ottawa on September 22, 2019, during the period of communicability. The period for post-exposure prophylactic immunization and immunoglobulin has ended for this exposure. If an individual presents in whom you...

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Cannabis Use Disorder Screening Tools & Referral Resource for Primary Care Providers

These tools can detect substance use and related problems in primary care settings:

• The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) (English only): five-item questionnaire tool used to detect psychological dependence on cannabis.
• The Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Revised (English PDF only): eight-item questionnaire tool used to detect hazardous cannabis use and possible cannabis use disorder.
• The ASSIST Project: Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (English only): detailed...

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New Infant Screening Option: Hearing Loss Risk Factors

What is new with infant hearing screening?

Babies born on or after July 29, 2019 will be eligible for an additional hearing screening test. The Hearing Loss Risk Factor Blood Spot screen does not replace the physiological screen completed by The Ontario Infant Hearing Program, but instead is a complement to the traditional hearing screen offered.

Using the same blood sample collected by hospitals and midwives for Newborn Screening Ontario routine newborn screening and once parental consent is...

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October is Children’s Vision Health Month: Resources and information for Children’s Vision Health

October is Children’s Vision Health Month. Children rarely complain about not seeing well because they think their vision is normal. If not identified early, some eye problems such as amblyopia can permanently reduce a child’s vision.  Treatment for amblyopia is more successful before age 71. Every year in Ontario, 7000 children lose the use of an eye because a vision disorder was not identified and treated. Another 15,000 children have trouble learning to read because they need glasses.2 In...

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