Back To School & Fall Flu Season Resources

Sep 1

Hi,

As we approach the end of summer, many of us are anxious about back to school and the flu season during this pandemic. Below are some updates and resources to help support you.

Back to School
• Here is an excellent document for patients and families preparing for return to school that was developed by Dr. Dana Abenstein from Markham Family Physicians and her husband Darren: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEEliTDO7M/nJ5f3SdmrDMODZEV9qNMMQ/view?utm_content=DAEEliTDO7M&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer.
• Public health has provided guidance on school outbreak management including an approach to case, contact and cohort management: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-guidance-school-outbreak-management

Influenza Immunization Planning
• Through our local OHT survey (thanks to all who participated) and broader OH central survey, about 96%+ of family practices plan to offer flu shot this year, but due to COVID the majority are expecting a reduced capacity.
• To help with planning, public health has an update including a flu clinic planning checklist: https://www.ermsadvantage.com/attach/9f52d3cc-47fb-4f34-8189-fae88bc1eb52.pdf
• National Advisory Committee on Immunizations has Guidance for influenza vaccine delivery in the presence of COVID-19: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/guidance-influenza-vaccine-delivery-covid-19.html
• If you are looking at doing drive-thru flu shot clinics, Stouffville Medical Centre has been successfully providing drive-thru vaccines since April and will be continuing this model. Dr. Pearl Yang would be happy to consult if you are looking for a similar set up at your clinic. Please email Dr. Yang at pearly.yang@gmail.com.
• Our OHT is exploring flu shots for residents in congregate settings, if you are providing this for your local congregate setting (eg. retirement home, shelter), please let me know by emailing me at emilielam@gmail.com.

COVID Assessment Centre and ARI Clinic
• We have submitted plans for expansion of the assessment centre to include a 10 bay space for full assessment of acute respiratory illness (ARI) with x-ray and bloodwork capabilities within MSH, which will be staffed by emergency department physicians and primary care physicians starting in October - I hope to have more to share including scheduling in the next few weeks.
• If you are interested in working in this ARI Clinic but do not have MSH hospital privileges, please email Dr. Allan Grill (agrill@msh.on.ca) to initiate your application. There are many benefits of hospital affiliation including uptodate access, grand rounds, weekly pandemic townhalls and a secure @msh.on.ca email address.

Other