alPHa Position
Safe and effective vaccines are the most cost-effective interventions to decrease preventable mortality and morbidity. The Government of Ontario must fund all vaccines licensed in Canada within 12 months of such licensure and make all vaccines licensed
in Canada available through Boards of Health for administration to the categories of individuals as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. The MOHLTC must amend O. Reg 566 to require all Boards of Health staff to receive annual
influenza vaccine. Furthermore, all health care workers and other service providers in facilities and community settings, who, through their activities, are potentially capable of transmitting influenza, must be immunized.
Please read the alPHa / COMOH Position Paper on childhood immunizations.
Developments on #A19-5:
July 24, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health that introduces its two
2019 resolutions related to immunization in Ontario: A19-5, Public Health Support for including Hepatitis A Vaccine in the School Immunization Program and A19-6, No-Fault Compensation for Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI).
Resolution: A11-7 - Eligibility into Perpetuity for HPV, HBV and Tdap Vaccines
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies urge the Minister of Health and Long-term Care in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health to expand the eligibility of publicly funded HPV, HBV and Adacel vaccination, such
that children who do not receive these vaccines at the provincially-specified grade or age continue to be eligible to receive these vaccines through public funding for the entire age ranges and eligibility criteria recommended by NACI.
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Developments on #A11-7:
January 13 2017
A letter from the COMOH Chair has been sent to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care calling for strengthening the HPV vaccination program by providing the new HPV9 vaccine. It also refers to this resolution in reminding him of our request for an expansion of coverage.
January 15 2016
alPHa has sent a letter of congratulations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
for the release of the Immunization 2020 plan, which includes a call to action on three related alPHa Resolutions (A12-10 - HPV Immunization of All Students, A11-7 - Eligibility into Perpetuity for HPV, HBV and Tdap Vaccines and A01-3, Vaccine Availability).
December 2015
The Government of Ontario has released the "Immunization 2020 - Modernizing Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Program"
report, which contains the following excerpt: "We will look to offer additional vaccines and catch-up immunizations for school-aged children and adolescents through school-based immunization clinics".
November 11 2015
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to remind him of this and two
related resolutions in the wake of Manitoba's recent announcement that it will expand its HPV program to cover males.
November 17 2011
Response to this and four other 2011 Resolutions received from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Please click here to read.
August 17, 2011
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care urging action on this and five other 2011 alPHa Resolutions. Please click here to read.
Developments on #A11-6:
January 24 2014
Letter written to the MOHLTC reminding her of our position on immunization of Health Care Workers in the wake of an ad campaign
by the Ontario Nurses' Association. Also Includes alPHa Resolution A05-2 (mandatory immunization).
November 17 2011
Response to this and four other 2011 Resolutions received from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Please click here to read.
August 17, 2011
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care urging action on this and five other 2011 alPHa Resolutions. Please click here to read.
Resolution: #A05-2, Mandatory Influenza Immunization for Health Care Workers
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THAT alPHa urge the Minister of Health and Long-term Care in consultation with the CMOH and PIDAC to introduce legislation to require mandatory annual vaccination against influenza for all health care workers and other service providers in
facilities and community settings, who, through their activities, are potentially capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk for influenza complications, with allowances for exemptions based on the most current research on
contraindications and precautions as reported from time to time by the NACI.
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Developments on #A05-2:
December 9 2014
The Auditor General's 2014 Report includes a chapter on immunization. One of the recommendations is for the Ministry to examine evidence that might support a mandatory vaccine-or-mask
policy for hospital staff (see P 175).
January 24 2014
Letter written to the MOHLTC reminding her of our position on immunization of Health Care Workers in the wake of an ad campaign
by the Ontario Nurses' Association. Also Includes alPHa Resolution A11-6 (patient safety indicators).
October 4 2012
The Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control (PIDAC-IPC) recommends influenza immunization for health care workers as part of its updated document, Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control Programs in Ontario.
The recommendation is based on the growing body of evidence of reduced incidence of influenza and associated mortality in patients and residents when health care workers are immunized. In this updated best practice document, PIDAC-IPC recommends that:
Annual influenza vaccination should be a condition of continued employment in, or appointment to, health care organizations.
December 15, 2005
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing the Resolutions passed at the 2005 Annual General Meeting for follow-up and action by his Ministry. Please click here to view the letter.
Resolution: #A03-2 - Health Care Renewal And Prevention
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THAT alPHa urge the Governments of Canada and Ontario to honour the First Ministers’ Commitment to Canadians by vigorously pursuing an Ontario Healthy Living Strategy and National Immunization Strategy;AND FURTHER THAT alPHa actively monitors
and shapes health care renewal and prevention in Ontario as outlined above, including the development of position papers and other instruments as and if required
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Developments on #A03-2:
November 26 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health that links a number of points in her mandate letter to
this and four other alPHa resolutions.
April 2005
As promised by the National Immunization Strategy (NIS), the federal government created new immunization programs across Canada to protect children from pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, chicken pox and whooping cough. Since that
time, the provinces and territories have put in place programs that fund one or more of these vaccines. The new vaccines add to the current immunization programs for tetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough, invasive Hib infections, measles, mumps,
rubella and hepatitis B.
2004
Through Budget 2004, the federal government provided $300 million to support the introduction of new and recommended childhood and adolescent vaccines: Pneumococcal, meningoccal, varicella and acellular pertussis vaccines.
2003
The final report of the F/P/T Advisory Committee on Population Health and Health Security has been released. It lays out the vision for a comprehensive national immunization strategy, which includes national goals and objectives; immunization
program planning; vaccine safety; vaccine procurement; and an immunization registry network. It also covers supporting activities, which cut across and support the five strategy components, including immunization research; public and professional
education; approaches to special populations; and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance. Please click here to read.
September 26, 2003
alPHa received a response from the Prime Minister's office to the letter sent September 8th. Click here to view
September 8, 2003
alPHa sent letters to the Prime Minister, Ontario's Premier, the Minister of Health and Long Term Care and Health Canada introducing this Resolution.
February 5, 2003
Prime Minister Chretien, Premiers and Territorial Leaders agreed on 2003 First Ministers Accord on Health Care Renewal. The federal government agreed to provide new funding in support of collaborative work on health living strategies and initiatives.
January 23, 2003
First Ministers released a proposed Accord agreeing on priority areas for new federal investments into health care. These areas included Healthy Living strategies focusing on prevention and wellness.
Resolution: # A01-3, Vaccine Availability
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) petition the Provincial Government to:
1) fund all vaccines licensed in Canada within 12 months of such licensure and 2) make all vaccines licensed in Canada available through
Boards of Health for administration to the categories of individuals as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
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Developments on #A01-3:
January 15 2016
alPHa has sent a letter of congratulations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
for the release of the Immunization 2020 plan, which includes a call to action on three related alPHa Resolutions (A12-10 - HPV Immunization of All Students, A11-7 - Eligibility into Perpetuity for HPV, HBV and Tdap Vaccines and A01-3, Vaccine Availability).
December 2015
The Government of Ontario has released the "Immunization 2020 - Modernizing Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Program"
report, which contains the following excerpt: "We will look to offer additional vaccines and catch-up immunizations for school-aged children and adolescents through school-based immunization clinics".
November 11 2015
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to remind him of this and two
related resolutions in the wake of Manitoba's recent announcement that it will expand its HPV program to cover males.
December 12 2013
alPHa has written to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to remind her of this resolution in the wake of Alberta's recent announcement
that it will expand its HPV program to cover males.
March 22, 2004
The following is an excerpt from the health chapter of the Federal Budget, 2004:
$300 million for a national immunization strategy that would support the introduction of new and recommended childhood and adolescent vaccines (as proposed by the National
Advisory Committee on Immunization). The SARS outbreak reminded Canadians about the importance of immunization to Canada’s public health system. This unexpected event suggested that the Government of Canada needs to do more in this key public health
area. This new funding will build on the $45 million provided in the 2003 budget to improve the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, enhance coordination and efficiency of immunization procurement, and ensure better information on immunization coverage
rates within Canada.
CLOSED RESOLUTIONS
CLOSED Resolution: A19-6 No-Fault Compensation for Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI)
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| THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) call upon the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to institute a program of no-fault compensation for adverse outcomes following
immunization; AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) call upon the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to call upon their counterparts across Canada
as well as their Federal counterparts to institute a National system of nofault compensation for adverse outcomes following immunization; |
Reason for Closure
December 10, 2020
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has announced that it is implementing
a pan-Canadian no-fault vaccine injury support program for all Health Canada approved vaccines
| CLOSED Resolution: A12-10 - HPV Immunization of All Students
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| THAT alPHa urges the Ontario government to expand Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to make Gardasil® available to all students through public health school-based immunization clinics; AND FURTHER that all students who are eligible
for immunization against HPV maintain their eligibility throughout high school, AND FURTHER that alPHa recommends a review to be conducted of the program to enhance uptake in girls including moving the program to grade 7 and implementing
a catch-up program. |
Reason for Closure:
April 21 2016
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has announced that coverage under Ontario's HPV vaccination program
is to be extended to males. alPHa has sent a letter congratulating and thanking the
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for his announcement that coverage under Ontario's HPV vaccination program is to be extended to males.
Reason for Closure:
April 15 2014
The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has announced that pertussis, meningococcal disease and varicella have been added to the list of designated diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
Please click here for more information.
alPHa has written a letter of congratulations following the April 15 announcement.
Please click here to read.
Reason for Closure:
April 26 2013
The alPHa Board has closed this Resolution, on the following rationale:
In August 2007, the provincial government announced a publicly-funded
programme for voluntary immunization of grade 8 girls against HPV.
The resolution remained open only because the age
range specified in the alPHa Resolution (9-26) was broader than what was
provided for in the programme.
In 2011, alPHa passed a new resolution (A11-7 -
Eligibility into Perpetuity for HPV, HBV and Tdap Vaccines) that calls for an
expansion of eligibility for publicly funded HPV, HBV and Adacel vaccination,
such that children who do not receive these vaccines at the provincially-specified
grade or age continue to be eligible to receive these vaccines through public
funding for the entire age ranges and eligibility criteria recommended by NACI.
In 2012, alPHa passed a new resolution (A12-10
HPV Immunization of All Students), which calls for an expansion of the HPV
programme to include all Ontario students.
Please click here for details of the programme.
Please click here for alPHa's press release
| CLOSED Resolution: #A02-7, Influenza Immunization and Reporting |
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)request that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care amend: 1. Regulation 566 (Qualifications of Boards of Health Staff) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to require
that all employees of Boards of Health be required to be immunized annually against influenza unless contraindicated and2. the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines to require Boards of Health to report to the Minister of Health
on the influenza immunization status of employees annually.
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Reason for Closure:
December 11 2006
alPHa Advocacy Committee recommends closure of Resolution A02-7, as it specifically calls for amendments to O. Reg 566 (Qualifications of Board of Health Staff) to require mandatory influenza vaccination for all BOH employees. The argument
is supported by citing the Ambulance Act, which at the time made influenza vaccines mandatory for paramedics. They filed a Charter challenge, arguing that other HCWs were not similarly obligated. The challenge was withdrawn after the province repealed
that section of the Act. alPHa’s more recent resolution on the subject (A05-2) makes a stronger case for the mandatory immunization of all HCWs and service providers in HC facilities and community settings (e.g. health units), subject to an examination
of their risk of transmitting the disease to others at high risk of complications from the disease.
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