Immunizations

The Health Unit works with local health-care providers to:

Supply publicly funded vaccines and obtain immunization records for children 0-17 years.
Provide information related to publicly funded vaccines.
Investigate adverse events following immunization.
Inspect premises where provincially funded vaccines are stored.
Respond to reports of cold chain incidents (failure in proper vaccine storage and handling).

Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules

The Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule for Ontario was updated in June 2022.

The key updates to this version are:

Addition of maternal Tdap dose
Hepatitis B eligibility expansion to Grade 12
Rotavirus change: added Rotarix 2-dose series (removed Rotateq 3-dose series)
Simplified catch up schedules as a result of:

Hep B eligibility to Grade 12, and;
All students now eligible for HPV until the end of Gr.12 (no longer the need to differentiate between M/F for HPV as initial cohort of boys have completed Gr.12)

Addition of more detailed information in Table 1: Vaccine Administration

Brant County Health Unit has updated our Routine Vaccination Summary document which can be used as a quick reference of the current publicly funded schedule.

Order Vaccines

The Health Unit partners with local health care providers to supply publicly funded vaccines.

Orders can be placed using the Vaccine/Supply order form linked below:

Vaccine Supply/Order Form

Both columns of the order form (what the office currently has in stock and what is being requested) need to be completed for each submission and the form needs to be submitted with a copy of the vaccine fridge temperature log sheets demonstrating temperatures maintained between 2-8 degrees. All orders will continue to be packed for pick up at the Brant County Health Unit reception. Pick up is available from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4p.m., Monday to Friday. Please note, a cooler (with min/max thermometer) that is properly packed and maintained between 2-8oC is required for vaccine transport as per MOH Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines (page 17).

Resources

Report Vaccinations

Please report all publicly funded vaccines administered to children 0-17 years to the Health Unit, to assist with ensuring all school aged children are on schedule for routine vaccinations. This can be done by submitting a printout of the vaccines that have been administered or use the following reporting form.

Vaccine Reporting Form

Forms can be faxed to the Health Unit or picked up by Health Unit staff during vaccine delivery.

Adverse Events Following Immunizations (AEFI)

Physicians, nurses and pharmacists must report Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) to their local Medical Officer of Health under Section 38(3) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA).

AEFIs are to be reported to the Health Unit within 7 days of the suspected adverse event, using the Reporting Form. Once complete, please fax it to us at 519-753-2140.

Once a report is received, a Public Health Nurse investigates the adverse event and reports to the Medical Officer of Health.

If you have any questions about reporting an AEFI, please call us at 519-753-4937 ext. 454.

Resources

AEFI Provider Questions and Answers (PDF)

Cold Chain Failure

Report all cold chain failures immediately to the Health Unit.

During regular business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

519-753-4937 ext. 445

After hours:

519-753-4937 (stay on the line to speak to an operator and ask for the on-call public health investigator to be notified)

Public health units are required under the Ontario Public Health Standards, issued under the authority of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, to:

Respond to reports of cold chain incidents.
Inspect premises where provincially funded vaccines are stored

Resources

Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines

Seasonal Influenza

Ontario's Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) provides publicly funded influenza vaccine for all individuals aged 6 months or older.

Licensed and injection-trained pharmacists may only administer publicly funded influenza vaccine to individuals 5 years of age or older.

You can learn more about the UIIP on the Ontario Ministry of Health website.

Resources

Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter in Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2019-2020
Getting Ready to Provide Flu Vaccine

An on-demand webinar training tool for pharmacies looking to provide the season flu vaccine to clients.
Developed by the City of Hamilton and Halton Region.

Reports

Immunizations

Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules

Order Vaccines

Report Vaccinations

Adverse Events Following Immunizations (AEFI)

Cold Chain Failure

Seasonal Influenza

Links and Resources

Reports

​Immunizations

Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules

Order Vaccines

Report Vaccinations

Adverse Events Following Immunizations (AEFI)

Cold Chain Failure

Seasonal Influenza

Links and Resources

Immunizations