Distributed by e-mail on September 19, 2013

In this update, please find information about:

1. Influenza Vaccine Distribution Plans
2. West Nile Virus Activity Still Being Reported
3. Promoting the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
4. Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice Document
5. Infection Prevention and Control Workshop

Influenza Vaccine Distribution Plans

We are expecting to begin distribution of this year’s influenza vaccine towards the end of September. You will receive an automatic amount of vaccine of about 20% of your last year’s usage. Please pick this vaccine up from the Health Unit as soon as possible after you receive a call from us. This initial shipment is intended mainly for high risk individuals. After receiving the initial shipment, you can order additional vaccine (for both high risk and low risk individuals) by faxing your request using the usual vaccine order form to 519-663-9581.

The vaccines being distributed are Fluviral and Vaxigrip with a small supply of Agriflu. Long term care facilities will receive Fluad (adjuvanted influenza vaccine) for residents 65 years of age and over. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s annual influenza statement provides additional details about the vaccines (see pages 15 and 16). Shortly, our web site will contain our Community Influenza Immunization Clinic Schedule and our updated Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet for 2013-2014, which we use to obtain informed consent; we will also email an electronic copy of the Information Sheet.

West Nile Virus Still Being Reported

West Nile Virus activity continues to be reported. A second human case was reported this week and additional positive mosquito pools were reported last week; a total of four positive mosquito pools have been detected this season. West Nile transmission remains a risk until the first hard frost that kills off the mosquitoes. Precautions to prevent mosquito bites should be promoted until that time.

Promoting the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Uptake of publicly-funded Gardasil for Grade 8 girls in Middlesex-London remains sub-optimal at less than 60% completion of three doses. This is unfortunate as it means that many eligible girls and women are not taking advantage of free vaccine that has been shown to be very safe (over 56 million doses administered in the United States alone, with no unexpected adverse events associated with the vaccine) and effective (with evidence of prevention of genital warts; cervical, anal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers; and abnormal Pap smears).

Materials about the Gardasil vaccination program have been sent home with Grade 8 students; these materials are also posted on our web site. Along with Grade 8 girls, the vaccine also remains publicly funded for any adolescent girl in high school who has not started or completed their Gardasil vaccination series.

Grade 8 girls will be offered the vaccine at school. Young women in high school can be vaccinated at the Health Unit’s office-based Immunization Clinic. You can also order up to 10 doses of Gardasil vaccine at a time for your office using the following process:

1. Use the usual order form to order no more than 10 doses of Gardasil vaccine and fax to 519-663-9581;
2. On the attached form, record the required information for each patient who receives a dose of Gardasil® vaccine;
3. Fax the form back to the Health Unit at 519-663-9581 when re-ordering up to 10 additional doses of vaccine.

Infection Prevention and Control for Office Practice Document

The Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) has released a guidance document on Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice. This document was developed in collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). It provides those working in clinical office-based practices with information, signage, checklists and tools to support the implementation of best practices in infection prevention and control. Topics covered include hand hygiene; personal protective equipment for various types of exposures; vaccination of health care providers; how to manage vaccines and other injectables; sterilization of office equipment; single use medical devices; cleaning of the office environment and much more.

Infection Prevention and Control Workshop

Attached is the registration information for the Health Unit’s Infection Prevention and Control Workshop to be held on Wednesday October 3, 2013 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Hellenic Community Centre. The workshop will cover topics such as influenza and MERS-CoV and issues relevant to infection prevention and control in long term care facilities. The deadline for registration is September 26, 2013.