Announcements and Resources
What's New
Public Health Matters is an e-bulletin sent out every few weeks by York Region Public Health that covers timely and critical topics relevant to today’s health professionals. It offers resources you can use in your practice and highlights programs offered by Public Health that are useful to you and your patients. Complete the subscription form by providing your email address to receive future e-bulletins directly to your inbox.
Subscribe to receive health status and surveillance reports from York Region Public Health’s Infectious Diseases Control Division
Recent Updates
- December 2, 2024 – Reminders for Avian Influenza Testing
- November 19, 2024 – Increased M. pneumoniae activity in Ontario
- September 16, 2024 – Renamed Pharmacy at Southlake Regional Health Centre
- September 6, 2024 – 2024-2025 RSV Prevention Programs
- July 24, 2024 – Updates to Pneumococcal Vaccine Program
- July 11, 2024 - Plant-based Milk Brand Recall Related to Ontario Listeria Outbreak
- June 25, 2024 – Increase in Pertussis Cases Circulating in York Region
- June 21, 2024 – Clinical assessment and encourage vaccination for Mpox
- June 7, 2024 – Availability of free TB medications in York Region
- May 24, 2024 – Important COVID-19 updates on updated clinical recommendations for antiviral therapy, funding for Paxlovid, rapid antigen tests and COVID-19 vaccine campaigns
- April 26, 2024 – Updates to the Provincial Polio Vaccine Recommendations
- April 10, 2024 - COVID-19 Vaccine Spring 2024 Recommendations
- March 11, 2024 - Measles Vaccine Guidance
- February 20, 2024 - Measles Preparedness
- December 20, 2023 - Important updates about iGAS cases, Mpox activity and Influenza Immunizations
- November 22, 2023 – Be Prepared for Students Seeking Routine Immunizations
- September 26, 2023 – 2023/24 Universal Influenza Immunization Program
- September 15, 2023 – Important updates on COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines this fall
- July 11, 2023 - Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
- July 4, 2023 – Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases: Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Powassan Virus
- May 29, 2023 – Increase in Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease (iGAS)
- April 11, 2023 – COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters for Spring
- April 4, 2023 – Multi-drug resistant Gonorrhea
- March 21, 2023 – Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis
- March 15, 2023 – Mpox Update: New Cases Reported in Ontario
- March 10, 2023 - Improved testing protocol changes for early localized Lyme disease
- February 24, 2023 - Measles Preparedness
- February 14, 2023 - Product Monographs Updated for Nimenrix® and Shingrix®
- February 7, 2023 - TB Medications Now Available at Cortellucci Vaughan Outpatient Pharmacy
- November 18, 2022 - In-Home Flu Vaccination for Patients Receiving Homecare
- October 19, 2022 - Monkeypox October Imvamune® Updates
- September 29, 2022 - Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: 6 months to 4 years
- September 20, 2022 - PHO Releases Hep B Vaccine Resource to Aid with Immunizations
Frequently Used Forms and Resources
- Vaccine order and return forms
- Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) form
- Diseases of Public Health Significance and Notification Form
- Support and Resources for Mental Health and Pregnancy and Postpartum
- UPDATED: 2019 Red Flags guide - A quick reference guide for early years and health care professionals in York Region that assists in identifying when children could be at risk of not meeting their expected health outcomes or developmental milestones.
- Child and Family Health Referral Form
- STI Medication Distribution Order Form
For use with patients
- Echat: York Region Public Health now offers expectant and new parents the ability to ask a registered nurse health questions confidentially and anonymously through online chat - york.ca/nursechat
- York Region Public Health’s Perinatal Mental Health Pathway is a tool that enables health care providers to better connect their patients with community supports and resources. The pathway utilizes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) which is a validated tool recommended for the routine screening of individuals for perinatal depression and/or anxiety
- Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) - a home visiting program for new mothers
- Spa Safety guide for infection prevention
Resource Libraries
External Resources and References
- Cannabis
- Cannabasics - Canadian Public Health Association
- Resources for Professionals - Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
- Information for Health Care Professionals - Government of Canada
- Radon
- Radon Continuing Professional Development Course Toolkit (Health Canada)
- Opioids Clinical Primer Course (MacHealth)
- Radon: Is it in your patients’ home? - a free, accredited program
- Alcohol
- Physical Activity Guidelines
