Dear Physician Leads and Executive Directors,
The Ministry of Health is assessing the potential for expanded routine vaccine administration in the pharmacy channel. This process includes assessing the potential expansion of routine vaccines via the pharmacy channel, considering access (e.g., connected care) and logistics as part of this work. This is being undertaken as the province looks to connect every person in Ontario to the care they need when they need it.
For the Ministry assessment, vaccines are being looked at as four bundles based on life stages, childhood, school-based, adolescent / adult Tdap and older adult/older adult (Tables 1 and 2 below). Ontario high-risk vaccine programs are not being considered as part of this assessment. The Ministry is seeking stakeholder input and perspectives on the potential expansion of publicly funded vaccine in the pharmacy channel per the bundles of routine vaccines. This assessment is being undertaken as information gathering only at this time, there is no commitment on moving forward with the outcomes of the assessment.
AFHTO is asking that you contribute to this consultation process by responding to the following short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TNS57ZB
The deadline to respond to the survey is Monday, August 14th 2023.
Additional information relevant to the current state of vaccine administration can be found below. Please review this information prior to completing the survey.
We thank you for your participation in this initiative. If you have any questions on this consultation, please reach out to us at info@afhto.ca
Important Background Information: Vaccine Administration Current State (Please Review Prior to Survey Completion)
Publicly Funded Vaccine Administration
- Pharmacists administer 2 publicly funded vaccines (COVID-19 and influenza), but their scope of practice allows them to administer other vaccines outside of the publicly funded channels as per Schedule 3 of the Pharmacy Act.
- Other publicly funded vaccines are administered in either Primary Care Provider (PCP) offices or school-based and other clinics organized by public health units (see below).
Clinical Data & Reporting
- Vaccine reporting is required for vaccines that protect against designated diseases in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). The provincial vaccine registry (i.e., Digital Health Immunization Repository aka (Panorama)) manages personal health information relating to ISPA immunizations. Parents and guardian report vaccines for ISPA compliance.
- Clinicians rely on their electronic medical records (EMRs) for recording vaccine administered in their practice settings, except for COVID-19 vaccines which also are recorded in the provincial COVaxON system.
- Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) are reported by clinicians to the local public health unit (Vaccine Safety | Public Health Ontario).
Publicly Funded Vaccine Bundles for Pharmacy Expansion Consideration
