COVID-19 Information for Health Professionals

York Region Public Health continues to support health professionals related to COVID-19. You may contact York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 77280 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday).

NOTE: Urgent inquiries will be triaged to our after-hours line through our Answering Service. Other non-urgent messages received over the weekend will be responded to on the next business day.

Please update your College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) address and fax number to ensure you receive all York Region Public Health (YRPH) messaging related to COVID-19.

You can also reach out to @email if you continue to experience issues receiving YRPH updates.

Join our York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force!  

The COVID-19 vaccine task force was started in 2021 by York Region Public Health to collaborate with community partners, including health care providers, public health, faith-based organizations, hospitals and community organizations, to ensure the equitable distribution and promotion of COVID-19 vaccines in our community.  Re-launched in 2022 and renamed the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Plus, this group meets monthly in the evenings. 
It has shifted focus to be more strategic - brainstorming how to improve vaccine uptake and accessibility, strategizing how to deal with surges in demand and examining best practices for public promotion and outreach.  Occasionally, we discuss other key public health priorities, such as the recent monkeypox outbreak and routine and school-based immunizations. Your valuable perspective and insight are important!  

For more information or join, please email @email

Join our York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force

For Health Professionals

For important messaging about COVID-19 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), ensure your address and fax number are up to date.

Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) hosts a series of professional development sessions providing relevant information and resources related to COVID-19 and other topics. Further information on Community of Practice and past sessions are available. The University of Toronto – Family & Community Medicine hosts COVID-19 vaccination accredited educational learning series.

Other external resources are available below.
 

COVID-19 Vaccines

For information on approved vaccines, including product monographs, administration information and additional resources, visit Approved COVID-19 Vaccines from the Government of Canada.

Information on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and available clinics in York Region can be found at york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent serious illness from COVID-19.

Asking your patients about their COVID-19 vaccination status and recommending they remain up to date strengthens a person’s decision-making about being immunized.

It is becoming increasingly evident that this is a three-dose vaccine, and booster doses are now available for everyone five years of age or older. Booster doses are especially important for some select groups such as individuals 60 years of age and older, immunocompromised individuals and individuals residing in seniors’ congregate living settings.

While many individuals in our community have received one dose, we are still behind in everyone being adequately protected with two or three doses. 

As trusted community health care providers, we ask for your support to help remind patients about getting vaccinated to obtain full protection.

Pediatric vaccines are now available for children as young as six months of age. These vaccines are safe and are effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19. For support in counselling parents/caregivers about vaccinating children, refer to the decision-making tool for pediatric vaccines.

Key Resources

Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) hosts a series of professional development sessions providing relevant information and resources related to COVID-19 and other topics. Further information on Community of Practice and past sessions are available. The University of Toronto – Family & Community Medicine hosts COVID-19 vaccination accredited educational learning series.

Vaccine Hesitancy

Health care professionals are the most trusted advisors and influencers of vaccination decisions and a recommendation from a health care provider is one of the strongest determinants of vaccine acceptance.

Here are some helpful tips in your discussions with a patient that have been shown to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake:

  • Make a strong recommendation versus a question; this is a presumptive approach. For example, asking when a patient will get their COVID-19 vaccine rather than asking how they feel about getting the vaccine
  • If someone expresses hesitancy, actively listen, acknowledge, and build rapport
  • Start from a place of empathy and understanding. For example, “There are no wrong questions. My goal is to support you and ensure you have all the information you need to decide. Can you tell me more about your concerns?”
  • Proactively explain side effects. Most people say that they feel fine after receiving the vaccine, the most common side effect is a sore arm
  • Talk about specific risks and benefits tailored to them as an individual
  • Frame immunization in terms of positive gains. For example, "A vaccine is 99% safe" is more effective than saying "There is a 1% chance of side effects.”
  • Most people don’t know how robust Canada’s vaccine safety system is. Some key talking points:
    • Before authorization for use in Canada, vaccines are extensively tested and the manufacturer must submit scientific and clinical evidence that demonstrates the safety and efficacy of the vaccine 
    • Health Canada supervises all aspects of vaccine production by manufacturers to ensure safety, efficacy and quality. Vaccine safety continues to be rigorously monitored and evaluated after the vaccine is on the market 
    • Even after a vaccine has been authorized for marketing in Canada, every batch of vaccine is laboratory tested for safety and quality 
    • Canada's comprehensive vaccine safety monitoring system helps alert public health authorities to trends in reported adverse events following immunization or any unusual adverse events not previously reported. Once a vaccine is in use, experts in vaccine safety conduct ongoing quality and safety monitoring and investigate and respond to reports of serious adverse events following immunization. This system detects possible safety concerns associated with a vaccine so that appropriate action can be taken
    • Remember your role is for those that are ambivalent or hesitant; for those that are actively opposed you are unlikely to influence 
  • It’s important to take a culturally safe and trauma-informed approach; this means recognizing that vaccine hesitancy stems from historical injustices resulting in a long-standing valid mistrust of government and health professionals/scientists for some groups  

A useful guide provides talking points for many common vaccine questions asked by patients.

Other evidence-based resources to help coach you through these conversations:

To improve the vaccination experience, consider referring to the CARD (comfort, ask, relax, distract) system learning hub.  

For pediatric vaccine questions, parents/caregivers can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to speak to a health specialist or visit COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids Registered Nurse.

Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI)

Health care providers are required to report all Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) to York Region Public Health. Refer to the fact sheet on AEFI for more information about adverse events to report. To report an AEFI:

  • Complete an adverse event form and fax the completed form to York Region Public Health at 905-898-5213, or
  • Call our Nurses Line at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73452

For more information about AEFI:

Vaccine Safety Signals
Myocarditis/Pericarditis
  • In May 2021, rare international reports of myocarditis/pericarditis following vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines emerged from the United States
  • In Ontario specifically, the crude rate is 24 cases per million doses of mRNA vaccines administered
  • Most cases are mild (with no reported deaths) and respond well to conservative treatment
  • Of note, myocarditis/pericarditis have also been associated with COVID-19 infection
  • Clinical and epidemiological features include:
    • Onset usually within one week of administration
    • Higher frequency in males under age 30
    • Higher frequency with Moderna administration compared to Pfizer
    • Higher frequency following the second dose
    • Mild clinical course and quick recovery
  • As a result, there is a preferential recommendation for Pfizer in those five to 29 years of age
  • The benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks of COVID-19 illness and vaccination is highly recommended for all eligible individuals, including children and youth
  • For those with a history of myocarditis/pericarditis following mRNA vaccine administration the recommendations are as follows:
    • As a precautionary measure, further doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should be deferred among people who experienced myocarditis (with or without pericarditis) within 6 weeks of receiving a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
    • If an individual chooses to receive another dose, they should discuss it with their health care provider and be offered Pfizer over Moderna 
    • Those with a history compatible with pericarditis and who either had no cardiac workup or had normal cardiac investigations can be revaccinated once they are symptom-free and at least 90 days have passed since the vaccination

For more information, refer to Myocarditis and Pericarditis after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines

Sector-Specific Guidance Documents

For up-to-date guidance and requirements for your health sector concerning screening, infection prevention and control measures, personal protective equipment, and other sector-specific needs, visit the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector page.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Recommendations

For the most up-to-date Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) recommendations, please refer to Public Health Ontario’s (PHO) IPAC Recommendations for Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Care of Individuals with Suspect or Confirmed COVID-19.

Public Health Follow-up of COVID-19 Cases and Case and Contact Management 

For eligible individuals, please collect the following information from anyone you believe may meet the COVID-19 case definition to help with an assessment:

  • Signs, symptoms, onset and your clinical assessment
  • Travel details if applicable (dates and exact location(s) of travel and date of return to Canada)
  • Full patient demographics (including phone number)
  • Confirmation of infection prevention and control measures put in place following assessment and testing positive for COVID-19 

For more information, refer to the Ministry of Health’s Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19.

Please refer patients to COVID-19 in Ontario for helpful resources about staying safe during COVID-19, and available in multilingual languages. 

Children and COVID-19

Clinical disease presentation and severity

Parents may request your support in interpreting symptoms based on the Ontario COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care. Consistent with prior data, reports indicate that children have mild disease compared to adults. However, there are reports of severe illness in children. Refer to the acute management of COVID-19 identifying signs and symptoms of illness severity. 

Acute Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

An acute inflammatory illness has been reported in a small number of children worldwide, thought to be associated with COVID-19. Clinical presentations include persistent fever and features suggestive of Kawasaki disease (complete or incomplete), toxic shock-like syndrome, euvolemic shock states and severe gastrointestinal illness. Severe myocardial dysfunction and multiple organ failure have also been reported. While rare, clinicians should be aware of this potential syndrome and maintain a high index of suspicion to identify cases. 

For more information, please go to Pediatric Post-acute COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) – What We Know So Far 

Managing children and youth infected with symptomatic COVID-19

Treatment remains supportive mainly and includes prevention and management of complications. Several Canadian universities, research centres and medical organizations have recommended against the use of off-label, investigational therapies and antivirals.

For more information on the management of a child with COVID-19:

  • Refer to COVID-19 clinical assessments and testing
  • Contact the Pediatrics Department at your local hospital
  • Page Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Hospital for Sick Children
  • And/or send a referral to the Hospital for Sick Children’s virtual COVID clinic (Infectious Diseases rapid access clinic) through EpicCare Link
Past Communications from York Region Public Health
Community Health Care Provider Webinars

From July 2020 to November 2021, York Region Public Health hosted interactive webinars with community-based health care providers to provide updates on COVID-19.

COVID-19 Briefing: November 29, 2021

Hosted by Dr. JoAnne Fernandes and Dr. Cindy Shen, both Associated Medical Officers of Health for York Region.

NOTE: As of December 19, 2021, there have been recent regulatory changes made to the Reopening Ontario Act, due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 transmission related to the Omicron variant. This webinar does not reflect these changes.

COVID-19 Briefing: September 27, 2021

Hosted by Dr. JoAnne Fernandes and Dr. Cindy Shen, both Public Health Physicians of York Region.

COVID-19 Briefing: August 23, 2021

Hosted by Dr. JoAnne Fernandes, Public Health Physician and Dr. Ceinwen Pope, Public Health and Preventive Medicine Resident Physician of York Region.

COVID-19 Briefing: June 9, 2021

Hosted by Dr. Cindy Shen, Public Health Physician and Dr. Azim Kasmani, Public Health and Preventive Medicine Resident Physician of York Region. Also, Dr. Richard Gould, Associate Medical Officer of Health for York Region joined for the Q&A session.

COVID-19 Briefing: May 10, 2021

Hosted by Dr. Cindy Shen, and Dr. Mehvish Mehrani, both York Region Public Health Physician

COVID-19 Briefing: March 29, 2021

Hosted by Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla and Dr. Richard Gould, Associate Medical Officers of Health, York Region Public Health

COVID-19 Briefing: February 26, 2021

Hosted by Dr. Cindy Shen, Public Health Physician and Dr. Mehvish Mehrani, Public Health Physician

COVID-19 Briefing: January 18, 2021

Hosted by Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Mehvish Mehrani, Public Health Physician

COVID-19 Briefing: November 26, 2020

Hosted by Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Andrew Lam, University of Toronto Medical Student

COVID-19 Briefing: October 29, 2020

Hosted by Dr. Shixin (Cindy) Shen, Krista Richards and Kim Bacani-Angus, York Region Public Health

COVID-19 Briefing: September 23, 2020

Hosted by Dr. Alanna Fitzgerald-Husek and Dr. Richard Gould, Associate Medical Officers of Health, York Region Public Health

COVID-19 Briefing: August 19, 2020

Hosted by Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Associate Medical Officer of Health and York Region Public Health and Dr. Rebecca Shalansky, Medical Resident, York Region Public Health

Please note that this webinar was recorded prior to the release of the COVID-19 Guidance: School Outbreak Management document from the Ontario Ministry of Health. If there are any discrepancies between what was said in the video with respect to school outbreak management and the Ministry Guidance document, the Guidance document prevails.

COVID-19 Briefing: July 16, 2020

Hosted by Dr. Fareen Karachiwalla, Associate Medical Officer of Health, York Region Public Health

External Resources for Health Professionals

Access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ontario Health, together with the Ministry of Health, has implemented a new temporary process called Pandemic PPE Transitional Support (PPTS). This new process provides access to a dedicated supply of PPE from the provincial stockpile to all community-based physicians – both primary care providers and community-based specialists – free of charge.

Eligible practitioners can make requests through the Ontario Health Regional Online Remedy Intake Form.

In addition, the Ministry of Health requests that primary care providers and community-based specialists continue to update their PPE inventory levels twice a week. This is an eligibility requirement to receive PPE through PPTS.

For more information, see Transitional PPE Support.