Health Professionals Update – Vol. 19, No. 10

March 27, 2026

From:
Dr. Hetal Patel, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC, Associate Medical Officer of Health

In this issue

RSV prevention program updates
Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) 2025/26 vaccine returns
Respiratory vaccine distribution survey
Provincial COVID-19 services update

Key messages

Continue administering RSV immunizations to eligible infants, children and during pregnancy until communication is shared to mark the end of the 2025/26 program.
The adult RSV vaccine program will continue into spring and summer.
Return all expired or excess influenza vaccines by May 31, 2026, using the steps outlined.
Please complete the respiratory distribution survey by April 8, 2026.
Several provincial COVID‑19 services ended on March 13, 2026.

RSV prevention program updates

Infant and high-risk children

Based on epidemiological data (percent positivity and hospitalizations), community transmission of RSV is ongoing. While RSV percent positivity has peaked among young children in Ontario the week of January 18, overall it remains high, particularly among infants and children.

As a result, the RSV prevention program for infants and high-risk children will extend into April.

Continue to order and administer RSV immunizations (Beyfortus) to eligible infants and children until communication is shared to mark the end of the 2025/26 program.
The decision to administer maternal vaccination (Abrysvo) should take into consideration the timing of administration during pregnancy (i.e. between 32-36 weeks gestation) and the upcoming timing for the end of the season.
Guidance for the 2026/27 program will be provided leading up to the fall and will include recommendations for those infants and children who receive RSV protection late this season.

Order RSV immunizations

Adults

The administration of the RSV vaccine under the Adult RSV Vaccine Program will continue into the spring and summer. Please continue to order and administer to eligible older adults. If a dose of RSV vaccine was previously administered, additional doses are not recommended.

Order RSV vaccines

Find additional information at Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention programs

Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) 2025/26 vaccine returns

Influenza season typically runs from late fall to early spring. Consider maintaining a minimal stock of influenza vaccine (with careful attention to expiry dates) in cold chain to accommodate requests for influenza vaccine for the 2025/26 season.

Please return all expired and excess influenza vaccine(s) to Peel Public Health by May 31, 2026. Do not return any other seasonal respiratory vaccines including RSV products (Beyfortus, Abrysvo) or COVID-19 vaccines.

Please monitor expiry and “must use by” dates carefully and ensure they are not returned before they expire.

Vaccine returns process:

Complete the vaccine wastage report
Place the completed Vaccine Wastage Report along with the returned vaccine(s) in a sealed or stapled bag. Vaccines being returned as unusable or expired DO NOT need to be returned in cold chain.
Return vaccines to any of the listed locations.

Hurontario
7120 Hurontario Street, Mississauga
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fairview
325 Central Parkway West, Unit 21, Mississauga
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Brampton
10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Suite 101, Brampton
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed from 12 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you are part of the vaccine delivery program, vaccines can be returned via the courier.

Respiratory vaccine distribution feedback survey

To help improve future respiratory vaccine distribution processes, we are inviting healthcare providers to complete a brief survey. Your input will help inform and strengthen our approach for upcoming seasons.

The survey takes less than 2 minutes to complete and will remain open until April 8, 2026.

Complete survey

COVID- 19 provincial updates

Several provincial COVID‑19 services ended on March 13, 2026, as centralized supports were phased out.

Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) and online booking services

The Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) booking service and the COVID‑19 online booking portal are no longer available.
Appointments are to be booked directly through individual providers (e.g., primary care, pharmacies).
The PVCC no longer provides COVID‑19 vaccine information.

Enhanced vaccine certificates

Enhanced vaccine certificates (EVC) with QR codes are no longer available.
COVID-19 vaccine records will be available for viewing or downloading in fall 2026 through local public health units’ Immunize Connect Ontario (ICON) online portal.

COVaxON decommissioned

Panorama, the Ministry of Health database that manages publicly funded vaccines, will manage COVID-19 vaccine inventory and documentation starting April 2026.
Data migration from COVaxON to Panorama will occur over several months.
Providers onboarded to order and administer COVID-19 vaccine will now use the Panorama Guided Workflow (PGW), an extension of the Panorama database.

Contact us

The Health Professionals Update (HPU) is distributed to physician offices in Peel region via fax or email. Share this update with other health professionals in your clinic.

More information:

For questions about this update, email healthprofessionals@peelregion.ca.