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Update on COVID Resources and Vaccines

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Dear Members,

Your Primary Care Collaborative* (PCC) would like to update you on a few resources and supports for members with the ongoing pandemic and vaccine rollout. However, before providing any updates, we want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception. We are committed to working with our partners and allies to listen, learn, grow, and do better at creating a more equitable and safer country for all. You can read AFHTO’s statement here.

A Quick Update on Vaccination Efforts
While COVID cases have decreased over the last few weeks, the briefing by the Ontario Science Table yesterday is clear that the only way to avoid a fourth wave is to ensure first and second doses are prioritized in high-risk communities, vaccine clinics are tailored to community needs, and that there is strong testing and case and contact tracing.

We were pleased to see yesterday’s announcement that Ontario is accelerating second doses in Delta hot spots (Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and York public health units) and continue to seek clarity on the role primary care providers are to play with the vaccine efforts in their communities.

Materials from Webinar with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, AMOH and Nicole Blackman, IHPCC
On June 9th Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, provided updates on vaccine efficacy, breakthrough cases, Variants of Concern, vaccinations for youth, as well as a number of other questions raised by attendees. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council also spoke about why it was crucial that Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Here are some of the resources you may find helpful that were discussed during the webinar:

Upcoming Education Sessions and Webinars

  • OCFP Community of Practice
    • Getting to herd immunity: addressing children, confidence and complacency with Dr. Jeff Kwong (Epidemiologist, Family Physician, Toronto Western Family Health Team) and Dr. Nisha Thampi (Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician, IPAC Medical Director, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario). Register here.
  • Public Health Agency of Canada
    • NACI Recommendations on COVID-19 Vaccine Interchangeability – this moderated and live webinar includes a presentation and discussion on the NACI Recommendations on COVID-19 Vaccine Interchangeability with live Q&A to inform health care and vaccine providers. Register here for the June 16th (English) session or here for the June 18th (French) session.
  • COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
    • Medications for Outpatients with COVID-19 on Tuesday, June 15 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
  • AFHTO, OCFP, Alliance for Healthier Communities, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics Association
    • Cancer Screening During the Pandemic and Onwards – a collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on Monday, June 21, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Register here.

 
Oxygen Saturation Monitors continue to be available
Oxygen saturation monitors are still available free of charge for primary care providers. Please be sure to order yours before the end of June! Every primary care provider can benefit from having these in their practice and for distribution to patients you may be monitoring with COVID, but also for other conditions (e.g., COPD).  These monitors will then belong to your practice – you do not need to return them to the Ministry of Health. Link to ordering survey HERE. Monitors usually arrive within 2-3 days after requesting. For questions, please contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca. For a link to the one-pager with all the resource you need for monitoring COVID patients visit HERE.
 
Additional Resources you may find helpful:  

Updated PHAC and Ministry Guidance Documents:

We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy and hopefully a path forward to recovery. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

Yours in good health,
The AFHTO Team

*Primary Care Collaborative partners

  • Alliance for Healthier Communities
  • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
  • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
  • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association
  • Ontario College of Family Physicians
  • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice

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