Influenza vaccine information for health professionals

Ottawa Public Health

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Immunization is the most effective strategy to reduce the impact of influenza in our community, as it can prevent or attenuate influenza illness, and reduce mortality, hospitalization, and complications, such as pneumonia. Ottawa Public Health will support your efforts to increase vaccine coverage in your facility by providing information and resources, and by having public health staff available for consultation.

The annual National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement for 2012-2013 is posted on the Public Health Agency of Canada web site.

Vaccine ordering and pick up

Vaccine Distribution Room hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. NOTE: November 12 is a statutory holiday and the Vaccine Distribution Room will be closed.

  1. Use the vaccine order form from Ottawa Public Health, not the MOHLTC form
  2. Place your order in doses. Orders will be filled in the order they are received, with priority to high-risk groups
  3. Always reserve a small quantity of vaccine for persons age 65 and over, and persons under 65 with medical conditions that put them at high risk for influenza-related complications
  4. Your facility will be called when your order is ready. Arrange to pick up your order within 48 hours of notification at the Ottawa Public Health Vaccine Program, 100 Constellation Drive, 7th floor West.
  5. Bring your own cooler and ice pack
  6. Vaccine that is not used by your facility cannot be redistributed. To reduce vaccine wastage, only order the quantity that you are sure to use. You can order more vaccine as needed.

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Vaccine strains

During the 2012/2013 season, four different influenza vaccine products will be distributed,

  • AGRIFLU® (Novartis), an unadjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in pre-filled syringes
  • VAXIGRIP® (Sanofi Pasteur), an unadjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in 10-dose vials
  • FLUVIRAL® (GSK, Inc.), an unadjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in 10-dose vials
  • FLUAD® (Novartis), an adjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in pre-filled syringes to be given only to residents of Long-Term Care Homes who are 65 years of age or more; staff and residents under 65 years of age must receive one of the other two vaccines.

All are trivalent, split-virus, inactivated vaccines and contain the following antigens:

  • A/California/7/2009(H1N1)
  • A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)
  • B/Wisconsin/1/2010

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Influenza vaccine contraindications and precaution

Consult the product monograph

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Report of adverse events following immunization (AEFI)

All adverse events following administration of an influenza vaccine must be reported to Ottawa Public Health within 24 hours by fax to 613-580-9660, attention to Riccardo Lucchini using the AEFI form [PDF 200 KB]. If you have any questions related to the reporting of adverse events following immunization, please call Riccardo Lucchini at 613-580-6744, ext. 19241.

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Health care Agencies and workplaces excluding doctors providing influenza vaccine clinics

Immunization is the single most effective means to reduce the impact of influenza, as it can prevent or attenuate influenza illness, reduce complications such as pneumonia, hospitalizations, and mortality.

Ottawa Public Health seeks to support you in your efforts to increase vaccine coverage in your facility by offering information and resources, and by having public health staff available for consultation. For information on the 2012/2013 Seasonal UIIP, please email uiip.moh@ontario.ca.

Ottawa Public Health will not be mailing hard copy information packages to facilities or workplaces this year. Please visit www.ontario.ca/flu to obtain all necessary Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care documents.

Please see below for Ottawa Public Health forms:

Return unused vaccine to the Ottawa Public Health Vaccine Program once your clinics are finished for the season using Ottawa Public Health Vaccine Return Form

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More information

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