PHO Webinar: Catch-Up of Routine and School Based Immunization
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the delivery of routine and recommended immunizations, including limited public health capacity to deliver school based immunization programs leaving many children and adolescents under-immunized, susceptible to vaccine preventable diseases and in need of catch-up vaccines. Catch-up immunization schedules are available to address missed and/or delayed vaccines, but can be challenging to apply in practice.
This session will provide an overview of key principles of immunization record assessment and catch-up for school-aged children and adolescents. Through the use of case studies, participants will gain familiarity with applying Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedules (routine, school-based and catch-up programs) and extended eligibility guidance to common scenarios. An overview of strategies and successes for training new health unit staff will be provided.
Intended audience: Public health practitioners (e.g., nurses, public health nurses, physicians, public health managers) who perform and or educate staff on immunization record assessment and catch-up activities.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunizations’ delivery and coverage.
- Identify and know where to access Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedules (routine, school-based) and extended eligibility guidance.
- Understand key immunization principles related to routine immunization scheduling and catch-up.
- Apply key principles to common case studies that assess school-aged clients for recommended immunizations based on immunization history, timing and age.
- Describe a training approach for new public health unit staff on the appropriate delivery of catch up vaccines based on an interpretation of a client’s immunization record.
Presenter(s): Dr. Nisha Thampi, Kelly Yu, Leslie Alderman, Harjit Chung
Dr. Nisha Thampi, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases and IPAC Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a pediatric health and research centre in Ottawa. In 2021, she joined PHO as an IPAC physician providing support to COVID-19 Immunization Surveillance and IPAC sections of PHO’s pandemic Incident Management Response, and most recently providing scientific Secretariat support to the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (OIAC). Dr. Thampi completed her medical training and residencies in pediatrics and infectious diseases at the University of Toronto, and obtained a Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Kelly Yu, RN, BScN, MPH, is a Nurse Consultant in Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (IVPD) at Public Health Ontario (PHO) supporting Immunization Scientific and Technical Support and Knowledge Products, as well as COVID-19 adverse events following immunization (AEFI) consultations for PHO’s pandemic Incident Management Response. Her work encompasses a variety of activities related to the public health surveillance and management of VPDs and immunizations. Kelly is a graduate of the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia and completed her Master of Public Health at the University of Waterloo.
Leslie Alderman, BScN, MN, RN, is a Manager with the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) program at Niagara Region Public Health. With over 17 years of Public Health experience, Leslie works with a multi-disciplinary and public-facing team that is responsible for making an impact on the health of Niagara residents by reducing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases. She is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating services to ensure access to vaccines, consultation and public education. Leslie is a Registered Nurse and a graduate of the University of Toronto, having completed her Master of Nursing degree in Health Systems Leadership and Administration.
Harjit Chung, BScN, RN, is a Supervisor with the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) program at Niagara Region Public Health. Harjit provides program supervision, support and direction to staff to ensure community-wide and site specific public health clinic services are delivered with a focus on service excellence and innovation. She also works with the Manager to continually strategize program improvements and streamline processes, policies and practices. Harjit obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University. Prior to joining the Public Health team, Harjit has experience working in the community with primary care physicians to deliver direct patient care, including immunizations across the lifespan.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.
Accessibility
Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
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