Health Professionals Update – Vol. 18, No. 8
From:
Monica Hau, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health
In this issue:
- Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) 2024-25 vaccine returns
- Update: Peel Health Professionals Portal
- Measles: Testing reminder, resources and March 27 webinar
Key messages:
- Influenza vaccine: return all expired or excess influenza vaccines by May 31, 2025, using the steps outlined.
- Thank you for your feedback on the Peel Health Professionals Portal, it will be considered for future portal updates.
- Review the measles testing reminder, updated resources and Canadian Pediatric Society webinar information below.
Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) 2024/25 Vaccine Returns
Please return all expired and excess influenza vaccine(s) to Peel Public Health by May 31, 2025. 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. If you have Arexvy inventory expiring on March 31, 2025, you may return this product with your expired and excess influenza vaccines after this date.
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 these 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.
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 2024-25 season. Reminder:Publicly funded vaccines that are expired or deemed unusable (e.g., due to a cold chain failure) should be returned to Peel Public Health as soon as possible.
For additional support, call the Vaccine Order Desk at 905-791-7800 ext. 6404 or email: VMPIOrderRequests@peelregion.ca
Update: Peel Health Professionals Portal
Since its launch in August 2024, over 5,700 vaccine orders have been placed using the Peel Health Professionals Portal. After every order, we ask you to tell us how easy it was to place the order and to provide suggestions on how we can improve. With over 700 ratings and 120 comments received so far, we’re thankful for all your feedback.
Over the next few months, you will see updates made to the order forms in response to your suggestions.
Keep them coming! We read every comment and use them to continuously improve our online services.
Measles: Testing reminder, updated resources and March 27 webinar
Reminder: Collect throat, nasopharyngeal and urine PCR and serology for measles testing, and keep measles testing materials in stock, including:
- Virus respiratory kit for nasopharyngeal PCR
- Virus culture kit for throat PCR
- Sterile urine container for urine PCR
Visit Public Health Ontario’s website for more information on measles PCR and serology testing.
Resources: The following are now published by Public Health Ontario for health care providers:
- Measles: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Contacts
- Summary of Recommendations: Measles Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Individuals Who Are Immunocompromised Due to Disease or Therapy
- Recommendations: Measles Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Individuals Who Are Immunocompromised Due to Disease or Therapy
More information available at: Measles | Public Health Ontario.
Webinar: Canadian Pediatric Society will be delivering an accredited live webinar on measles for healthcare providers at noon on March 27, 2025. You can register for the event here.
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:
- Review past HPUs
- Subscribe to HPU emails
- For questions about this update, email healthprofessionals@peelregion.ca