Health Professionals Update - Vol. 19, No. 12
From:
Dr. Hetal Patel, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC, Associate Medical Officer of Health
In this issue
- Ontario spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccine
- Reminder: MainPro+ Certified CME session on April 22 – Newcomer Health
Key messages
- Individuals at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness are recommended to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in spring 2026.
- Health care providers who wish to administer the COVID-19 vaccine can onboard by contacting Peel Public Health.
- Starting April 7, 2026, eligible healthcare providers can contact the COVID-19 Immunization Provider Support Line (CIPSL) to confirm clients’ last COVID-19 immunization date.
Ontario spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccine campaign
Administration of COVID-19 vaccine doses for fall 2025-2026 ended on March 31, 2026.
Ontario’s spring COVID-19 vaccine campaign will be from April to June 2026. Specific populations at high-risk of infection are eligible for a spring dose:
- Adults 65 years of age and older:
- those 80 years and older should receive an additional dose of vaccine.
- those 65 to 79 years of age may receive an additional dose of vaccine.
- Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
- Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).
- Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis and their non-Indigenous household members 55 years and older.
Eligible individuals may receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it has been 3 months since their last dose or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
Individuals who are not part of an increased risk group are not recommended to receive a spring dose and should await further guidance closer to fall 2026.
Spring doses may continue to be given only to severely immunocompromised individuals until August 31. These individuals must be assessed by their healthcare provider to determine if immunization cannot wait until the next annual COVID-19 vaccine program (i.e., 2026 to 2027) and receipt of the updated formulation that will provide optimum protection against the circulating strains can be delayed.
Information for health care providers is available on the Ontario COVID-19 vaccine website.
COVID-19 vaccine availability for spring 2026
Peel Public Health will not be offering the COVID-19 vaccine at its clinics for the spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccine campaign. COVID-19 vaccine remains available through primary care providers and participating pharmacies.
COVID-19 vaccine administration documentation and onboarding
Providers should document doses administered this spring in their local documentation systems as with other vaccines following professional standards, until the Panorama Guided Workflow (PGW) which replaces COVaxON, is live.
Health care providers who wish to administer the COVID-19 vaccine must complete the onboarding process with Peel Public Health. To initiate onboarding or request additional information email vaccinemanagement@peelregion.ca
COVID-19 Immunization Provider Support Line (CIPSL)
As of April 7, 2026, the ministry has launched a temporary support line for health-care providers called the COVID-19 Immunization Provider Support Line (CIPSL). Eligible providers (CNO, CPSO, OCP, CMO) can call to confirm a client’s last COVID-19 immunization date when minimum intervals are unclear.
CIPSL is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 416-849-9998 or 1-888-333-0640.
Providers must supply a valid professional registration number. Agents can search records using client name, date of birth, and health card number (or other identifiers if needed).
Note: CIPSL is for healthcare providers only and not for the public.
Reminder: MainPro+ certified CME session on April 22 – newcomer health
Peel Public Health is pleased to announce our upcoming MainPro+ certified CME session, "Newcomer Health: Essential Updates for Primary Care” on Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This online webinar will offer valuable insights into the knowledge required to support Peel region's diverse newcomer population. As the newcomer landscape continues to evolve, staying updated on clinical guidance, social determinants of health, and local referral pathways is essential for providing high-quality, equitable care.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your practice and earn Mainpro+ credits. Register to join the conversation on improving newcomer health outcomes in Peel.
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.