Immunizations, Vaccines & Cold Chain

UPDATED: October 2, 2024

Immunization Updates & Hot Topics

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Children Previously Immunized with Oral Polio Vaccine

Letter to Primary Care Providers (April 2024)
Q & As for Immunizers (April 2024)

Pentacel

Memo for Health Care Providers (May 2024)

Vaccine Order Forms

Vaccine Ordering and Pick-Up

To ensure your vaccine order is ready, we ask that you:

Use the current vaccine order form(s):
Use the vaccine return form when vaccine is to be returned to PPH
Bring your cooler within the appropriate temperature range of 2°C
Submit your fridge temperatures with your vaccine order
Only maintain a one month supply of vaccine in your fridge

Immunization for Children in Childcare

Children who attend a licensed childcare in Ontario are required to be immunized for the following diseases, as appropriate for their age:

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Polio
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Varicella (chickenpox)
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal disease
Meningococcal disease

PPH works with childcare providers to ensure attendees have up-to-date immunizations and provides notices to parents when an immunization record for a child is not up to date.

Immunization for Children in School

Public health units are responsible for ensuring students who attend elementary or secondary school are immunized according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

Students who are not fully vaccinated can be suspended from school for up to 20 days or until the record is brought up to date. Throughout the school year PPH conducts ISPA enforcement activities. During enforcement, notices are sent to parents indicating which vaccines are overdue (per the record on file) and how to bring the record up to date. Parents will receive a minimum of two notices over a six-week period before a child is suspended.

In addition to suspension notices, PPH also sends targeted ‘Request for Immunization Information’ letters. These letters are a proactive method to update records prior to enforcement.

Letters to parents from public health may generate a high volume of calls, and requests for appointments or immunization records to your office.

School Based (Grade 7) Immunization Program

Each year public health provides the School Based Immunization Program to students in grade 7 (with catch up for students in grade 8). This program includes Hepatitis B, HPV, and Meningococcal vaccines. Detailed information about this program can be found here.

For questions about immunizations for children in childcare or school, speak to a public health nurse at 705-743-1000, ext. 242.

Immunization Exemptions

Parents may seek a medical or non-medical exemption for their child who attends childcare or school. Physicians and nurse practitioners may be asked to complete a medical exemption form if there is a medical reason why a child cannot or should not be immunized.

Influenza

Influenza Information for Health Care Providers (PPH)

COVID-19

Covid-19 vaccine will be available for the highest priority groups beginning in early October and is now available to order from our office.

Vaccination of the general public for Covid-19 will begin October 28, 2024.

The Ontario Ministry of Health provides updated Guidance for Health Care Providers on the use of Covid-19 vaccines this season.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Health Care Providers (PPH)

Participating pharmacies are offering COVID-19 vaccines for most populations.

RSV

Ontario’s High-Risk Older Adult RSV Vaccine Program 2024-2025

Eligibility includes individuals aged 60 years and older and in the following groups:

Long term care and retirement home residents
Hospital ALC patients
Patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
Recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants
Individuals experiencing homelessness
Indigenous individuals, including urban dwelling

Please see sector specific letters below from the CMOH regarding the RSV program.

Infant, High Risk Children, and Pregnant Individuals RSV Vaccine Program

For the 2024 – 2025 RSV season, the RSV prevention program will include all infants born during or outside of the RSV season and children under 2 years of age with high-risk medical conditions. This will involve transitioning from palivizumab (Synagis) to nirsevimab (Beyfortus), a monoclonal antibody that provides effective and sustained protection with a single dose.

Additionally, the RSVpre-F vaccine Abrysvo, will be made available for pregnant individuals to protect newborns from RSV from birth until they are six months old. The infant product Beyfortus is the recommended approach for protection of infants per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), with the vaccine in pregnancy being available on a case-by-case basis.

The Infant and High-risk Children RSV Prevention Program is expected to begin mid-October. At that time vaccine will be available to order.

The Ministry of Health has provided the following reference documents for health care providers to support implementation of this program:

For questions about the RSV Vaccine Program, you can speak to a public health nurse by calling 705-743-1000 ext. 242.

Vaccine Storage and Handling (Cold Chain)

Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines

Vaccines must be kept between 2°C to 8°C to ensure they remain safe and effective. Best practices for vaccine storage and handling can be found in the Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines. A nurse from PPH will conduct an annual inspection of all fridges that store publicly funded vaccines to ensure best practices and minimize vaccine wastage.

Cold Chain Incidents (Adverse Storage Conditions)

When the vaccine refrigerator varies above or below 2°C to 8°C this is known as an adverse storage condition or cold chain incident and must be reported to public health on the date it is discovered.

If your vaccine fridge malfunctions, temporary storage and transportation of vaccines to a contingency site (i.e., another inspected fridge where temperatures are routinely monitored) may be necessary. An insulated cooler with temperature monitor must be used and temperatures must be maintained and recorded hourly during transport. Facilities can use the Vaccine Clinic Temperature Recording Log to document temperatures while transporting vaccine.

Preventing and managing a cold chain incident:

To report a cold chain incident:

Call 705-743-100,0 ext. 242 (M-F 8:30-4:30); or, 705-760-8127 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)
You will be asked to provide the previous 4 weeks of temperature logs and a completed Report of a Cold Chain Incident form