Your Weekly News & Updates
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Vaccine consent and information for youth and more updates
There were so many updates in Friday’s situation report from the Ministry, this had to be separate from our COVID-19 section below. Documents include:
Three COVID-19 vaccine documents have been developed for youth and/or parents/legal guardians:
- COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet: For Youth (Age 12-17)
- What Youth Need to Know About their Appointment
- COVID-19 Vaccine Youth (Age 12-17) Consent Form
Two COVID-19 vaccine documents have been updated:
The following documents have been updated and are available on the Ministry’s website:
- Guidance for Home and Community Care Providers
- COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance
- COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance
- Considerations for Privately-Initiated Testing
- Antigen Point-of-Care Testing Guidance
- Appendix 9: Management of Individuals with Point-of-Care Results
- Case Definition
- COVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidance
These documents and links will be updated on our site shortly.
National Physiotherapy Month
Primary care takes care of patients for a lifetime, which is why physiotherapists are an integral part of the team. For National Physiotherapy Month, we’d like to say THANK YOU to the amazing PTs in primary care teams.
Member stories
Northumberland FHT – radio interview on facilitating vaccinations
Rideau FHT – Vaccines on wheels: organizing a drive-through vaccination clinic in your practice

Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030
Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Over 110,000 Ontarians are living with hepatitis C. With a diagnosis that is simple, an effective cure, and proven prevention strategies, eliminating hepatitis C is within our reach. Building upon a 2019 national strategy, multiple stakeholders are coming together to chart the path to elimination in Ontario.
AFHTO is an advisor on this project. To find out more, visit the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap website.
Important information about AstraZeneca second doses and more
Recent updates include:
- Important information about AstraZeneca second doses– AFHTO, May 22, 2021
- COVID-19 vaccine types should remain consistent – National Advisory Committee on Immunization, May 21, 2021
- Update on COVID-19 Projections- EN and FR – Ontario Science Advisory Table, May 20, 2021
- Revocation of Chief Medical Officer of Health Directive #2 and the Resumption of non-urgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures– Office of Chief Medical Officer of Health, May 19, 2021
- Gradual resumption of non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures: Memo #1– Ontario Health, May 19, 2021
- Health Canada authorizes more flexible storage conditions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine– Health Canada, May 19, 2021
- COVID-19 vaccination in Canada: an educational series for primary care professionals– much content updated per Dr. Tara Kiran– University of Toronto, May 2021
- Guidance for Employers Managing Workers with Symptoms within 48 Hours of COVID-19 Immunization– Ministry of Health, May 18, 2021
We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and Ministry situation reports (please note that the Ministry Situation Reports on COVID-19 are posted daily so review them to better understand the provincial response)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Information
- COVID-19 assessment centres in Ontario
- COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public
- Infection control resources and tools for primary care
- Management and operations, human resources and COVID-19
- Mental health and wellness during COVID-19
- Providing Comprehensive Care During COVID-19
- Resources for Re-opening
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
MindWell for Healthcare Workers
MindWell for Healthcare Workers is designed for healthcare workers by healthcare workers to give you the tools you need to feel confident and capable, remain calm amidst chaos and build overall resilience and well-being so you can perform at your best no matter what is happening around you.
Short, simple, and effective lessons are provided in 4 weekly modules designed to give you maximum results in the least amount of time. Sign up today to see positive change.
MindWell for Healthcare Workers is a 4-week self-paced online learning experience accessible from any device. Each week includes approximately 10-15 minutes of learning content plus one 50-minute live session offered several times a week to fit most schedules.
- Event Date: Monday, May 31, 2021
- Register here between May 13-31, 2021

Support reminder- BounceBack
Bounceback’s latest campaign targets different demographic groups and highlights the struggles their coaches and clinicians have been hearing about from program participants during the pandemic. This includes concerns from middle-aged moms, men, parents of young children, people working from home, front-line workers, and students.
If you’re interested, please feel free to share on your social channels and broadly with your networks.
Call for applications for FASD support groups-deadline May 26
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neuro-developmental, permanent disability that affects 4% of the population in Ontario. Support groups for individuals with FASD or their parents/caregivers provide information, support, and reduce isolation and loneliness.
Health Nexus has launched its application process for FASD Support Groups. Apply to receive up to $4,500 to run a virtual support group for individuals with FASD or their caregivers (and in person when COVID-19 permits). Candidates will be able to reapply for projects annually. To learn more, visit their site.
Public Health 2021– call for submissions
The Canadian Public Health Association is now accepting submissions for presentation at Public Health 2021. Submissions will be accepted for oral and poster abstracts, didactic symposiums or interactive workshops that are focused on one of their conference keywords. Deadline June 3, 2021.
DYK- board postings on AFHTO site
You know the AFHTO careers section as the best place to advertise job openings for staff, but did you know you can also post volunteer board positions there as well? Now you do. Feel free to post here. And for any of your partners, as non-members they can post for a nominal fee.
NPAO Patient Choice Award
The NPAO NP Patient Choice Award is presented at the NPAO annual conference in September. Please share with your patients, colleagues and friends. How has your NP made a difference in your life or that of your family or friend? Deadline June 18, 2021.
COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.
The Path to an Effective Vaccine – Lessons Learned in Real Time, June 2, 2021
Free panel by Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Register here.
Virtual wellness workshop series for patients, starting June 1, 2021
New Vision FHT is opening their upcoming Anxiety during COVID and Emotional First Aid virtual workshop series to non-FHT patients and would like to invite you to share this with your team/patients to register. Registration is limited, so please encourage patients to register as soon as they can. Find out more.
Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
This special interest ECHO session series will cover:
- Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
- Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021
For more information, click here.
Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
Find out more here.
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