Influenza for Healthcare Providers

The following list of resources will assist healthcare providers during the influenza season. Please note: This web page is updated with the latest documents and links on a regular basis.

2022-2023 UIIP Vaccine Chart (PDF)

*High-dose QIV vaccine for seniors is no longer available. TIV-Adj. can still be ordered for individuals 65 years of age and older and standard dose QIV is still readily available. Delaying influenza vaccination to wait for a specific product is not recommended. It is very important that seniors receive their seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as possible.

Public Health Ordering System (PHOS): All healthcare providers who order vaccines must use the online Public Health Ordering System (PHOS). To register for PHOS, please have your organization's primary contact complete the online registration form. Orders placed via fax or email are no longer being processed.

Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

• The Canadian recommendations for Influenza vaccine are stated by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) each year. Provinces take this information into consideration when implementing their own recommendations. 

• National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-2023

Co-Administration of Vaccines with the COVID-19 Vaccines

For individuals 5 years of age and older, NACI recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be administered concomitantly with, or at any time before or after, non-COVID-19 vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted, or unadjuvanted vaccines. For individuals 6 months to under 5 years of age, NACI recommends a wait period of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccine products. Learn more →

2022-2023 Universal Influenza Immunization Program Implementation Package

• General Implementation Package information
• Immunization of High-Risk Groups
• Reimbursement for Vaccine Administration
• Pharmacy Program

Components of 2022-2023 Influenza Vaccine

The World Health Organization recommends which components should be included in influenza vaccines each year. For the 2021-2022 influenza season, in the Northern Hemisphere, these will be:

Egg-based QIVs (FluLaval Tetra, FLUZONE Quadrivalent ®, Afluria Tetra® , FLUZONE High-Dose Quadrivalent®)

• An A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus;
• An A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
• A B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus;
• A B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)- like virus

Egg-based TIVs (Fluad®)

• An A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus;
• An A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
• A B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus;

Influenza Vaccine Product Monographs

• FluLaval Tetra
• FLUZONE® Quadrivalent
• FLUZONE® High-Dose Quadrivalent
• Afluria Tetra®
• Fluad®

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Consent Form 

• 2022-2023 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Consent Form (PDF)

Influenza Immunization Reporting Forms

For the 2021-2022 Universal Influenza Immunization Program, the Ministry of Health no longer requires vaccine utilization reports from facilities that participate.

Reporting Requirements for Health Care Worker Influenza Immunization (Long-Term Care Homes and Public Hospitals)

• Long-term care homes and publicly hospitals are required to report health care worker immunization rates to the Health Unit by mid to late January 2023. Further details regarding collection of health care worker coverage rates, including forms, will be provided when available.

Reporting Requirements for Long-Term Care Home Resident Influenza Immunization

• Long-term care homes are required to report resident immunization rates to the Health Unit by mid to late January 2023. Further details regarding collection of resident coverage rates, including forms, will be provided when available. 

Influenza Outbreak Tools

• Recommendations to the Control of Respiratory Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Homes

Line Lists

• Respiratory Line List for Retirement Homes and Long Term Care Homes
• Respiratory Line List for Hospitals

Specimen Collection and Testing

• Public Health Ontario Labstracts
  Please note: Labstracts provide current and additional information about laboratory testing. For more information, please call the laboratory helpline at: 1-800-640-7221.
• Public Health Ontario Laboratory Materials
  Please note: In this web page, you will find the testing information and the requisition for specimen submission.
• How To Do A Nasopharyngeal Swab

Antivirals

• Recommendations for Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) use for Prevention and Treatment of Residents/Patients during an Influenza Outbreak – 2022 (PDF)
• Oseltamivir unimmunized staff letter for physicians to be distributed to unimmunized staff if influenza outbreak declared in facility - 2022-2023 (PDF)
• Oseltamivir Monograph (PDF)
• Public Health Ontario - Influenza Antiviral Treatment
• Public Health Ontario - Antiviral Medications for Seasonal Influenza: Information for Health Care Providers
• Public Health Ontario - Antiviral Medication Use During an Influenza Outbreak: Congregate Living Settings

Surveillance

Local Surveillance

• Middlesex-London Health Unit Influenza Surveillance Reports
  Please note: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports are issued by the Middlesex-London Health Unit on a weekly basis from November to May.

Provincial Surveillance

• Public Health Ontario Laboratory Pathogen Surveillance Reports
  Please note: This web page provides a summary of patients’ specimens tested at Public Health Ontario Laboratories in Ontario for Influenza and other viral respiratory pathogens.

National Surveillance

• Flu Watch - Public Health Agency of Canada
  Please note: This web page provides a weekly summary of influenza activity in Canada.

Resources

• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care - About the Flu
• Immunize Canada Influenza Resources
• Health Care Provider Q&As: Information for the 2022-2023 Influenza Season
• Health Care Provider Q&As: Information for individuals 6 months to 64 years of age
• Health Care Provider Q&As: Information for individuals 65 years of age and older

COVID-19 Pandemic Considerations

The COVID-19 pandemic creates a series of challenges for the delivery of the seasonal influenza immunization program. The following resources have been developed by NACI to address these challenges in various health care settings. 

• NACI - Guidance for influenza vaccine delivery in the presence of COVID-19
• NACI - Recommendations on the Duration of Post-vaccination Observation Period for Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic 

For additional guidance and setting specific resources, including others on immunization, visit COVID-19 Guidance and Resources for Health Care Providers and Institutions.