World Tuberculosis Day

Today, March 24, is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day -- a day to raise awareness about this curable and preventable infection. Prior to COVID-19, TB was the world’s leading cause of death from an infectious disease. To learn more about TB, check out our website. Medication to treat both active and latent tuberculosis infections is provided free of charge through the TBDHU’s Infectious Disease program. Call 807-625-8318 for information on how to refer a client.

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COVID-19 Updates

Ontario Science Table COVID-19 Projections | March 17, Ontario Science Table
Omicron Disease Severity – What We Know So Far | Updated March 17, Public Health Ontario
Association between Mask Mandates and Population-level COVID-19 Outcomes – What We Know So Far | March 4, Public Health Ontario

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Masking Requirements in Healthcare Settings

Although the mask mandate was lifted for many settings on March 21, there are various settings that must still ensure mask use in indoor areas. The full list can be found in Section 4 of the Ontario Regulation 213/22. Briefly, the requirement applies to:

Hospitals and psychiatric facilities
Long-term care homes and retirement homes
Home care and community service providers
Clinics that provide health care services:
- Audiology and speech-language pathology
- Chiropody
- Chiropractic, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, kinesiology, massage therapy, respiratory therapy
- Dental hygiene, dental technology, dentistry, denturism
- Dietetics
- Homeopathy, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine
- Medical laboratory/specimen collection centres
- Medical radiation and imaging technology
- Medicine, nursing, midwifery
- Opticianry, optometry
- Pharmacy
- Psychology, psychotherapy
Congregate care/living settings and supportive housing residences

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WEBINAR: COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Date: April 27
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Registration: Register here

About: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new layers of concern for pregnant people, those planning pregnancies and their families. These include grappling with questions about COVID-19 vaccines and the implications of a possible COVID-19 infection among parents and newborns. This webinar will present the latest research on COVID-19 vaccination coverage across Ontario, and safety and efficacy of the vaccine throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period, with a focus on how to support families navigating vaccination decisions. This practice-oriented webinar is designed to support those working with pregnant and expectant families in making informed COVID-19 related decisions throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

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Moderna Approved by Health Canada for Ages 6-11

Health Canada has authorized the use of the Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of age. Provincial guidance on the use of Moderna vaccine in children 6-11 years of age will be shared once available.

Read the March 17 NACI Statement.
Read the Regulatory Decision Summary

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Vaccination Timing Post-COVID-19 Infection

Information on vaccination timing post-COVID-19 infection can be found on page 4 of the COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations.

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NovaVax and Medicago Requests

If you have a patient interested in a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, please reach out to Arun Murali at Arun.Murali@TBDHU.com to discuss vaccination options in the TBDHU catchment area.

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REMINDER: COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Workplaces

Here’s a quick rundown of various resources that we’ve shared in previous alerts that you may want to access.
Remember that if a health care worker begins to feel unwell while at work, they must immediately don a surgical mask and notify their manager and/or occupational health and safety department.

Health Care Workers in Long-term Care Homes:
- Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes And Retirement Homes For Public Health Units
- COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-term Care Homes and Retirement Homes (Updated March 18)
Health Care Workers Returning to Work after Symptoms / Test Results:
- HCWs should check with their employer/OHS department about isolation periods following an exposure / symptoms / testing as each workplace may have different return to work policies.
- See COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge Management of Critical Staffing Shortages in Highest Risk Settings
Guidance documents for specific health care settings:
- COVID-19 Guidance: Home and Community Care Providers
- COVID-19 Guidance: Hospice Care
- COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting
- Guidance for other settings is available here: Public Services Health & Safety Association
COVID-19 Orders, Directives, Memorandums & Other Resources are on the COVID-19 Guidance website.

Have you completed the Survey for Cannabis-Exposed Pregnancies yet?

We are asking for your help to complete the Cannabis-Exposed Pregnancies survey. This survey will only take about 5-10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions about this survey, you can contact Lyne Soramaki, RN, HBScN at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at (807) 625-8823 or lyne.soramaki@tbdhu.com

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Thunder Bay District Health Unit · 999 Balmoral Street · Thunder Bay, On P7B 6E7 · Canada

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