Epidemiology, Public Health & Implementation

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| March 23, 2021

Routine Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Screen Testing of Ontario Long-Term Care Staff After COVID-19 Vaccination

SARS-CoV-2 screen testing is routine serial testing of asymptomatic individuals outside of outbreak or known exposure settings to identify staff infectious with SARS-CoV-2 and exclude them from work. Routine asymptomatic screen testing of staff has been proposed as a potential mitigating strategy to reduce SARS-CoV-2 introduction and transmission in long-term care (LTC) homes. A rapid review of the literature found no real-world evidence to either support or refute screen testing in preventing LTC home COVID-19 outbreaks. There are several direct harms associated with screen testing, as well as opportunity costs, including exacerbating LTC staffing shortages. SARS-CoV-2 screen testing is routine serial testing of asymptomatic individuals outside of outbreak or known exposure settings to identify staff infectious with SARS-CoV-2 and exclude them from work. Routine asymptomatic screen testing of staff has been proposed as a potential mitigating strategy to reduce SARS-CoV-2 introduction and transmission in long-term care (LTC) homes. A rapid review of the literature found no real-world evidence to either support or refute screen testing in preventing LTC home COVID-19 outbreaks. There are several direct harms associated with screen testing, as well as opportunity costs, including exacerbating LTC staffing shortages. On the basis of the evidence reviewed, and given the high rates of protection of COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, the potential harms and costs of screen testing among vaccinated LTC home staff likely outweigh the benefits.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| March 11, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| March 8, 2021

Early Impact of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout on Long-Term Care Home Residents and Health Care Workers

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) homes has substantially reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections, COVID-19 hospitalizations, and COVID-19 deaths among LTC residents and health care workers. Completing and maximizing the uptake of the full COVID-19 vaccine series according to recommended schedules will maximize the safety and well-being of Ontario’s LTC residents and staff.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| March 5, 2021

Behavioural Science Principles for Supporting COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Among Ontario Health Care Workers

Health Care Workers (HCWs) are the backbone of Ontario’s COVID-19 pandemic response and are a key vaccination priority group. About 80% of Ontario HCWs intend to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Challenges include the logistics of delivering the vaccine to this mobile and diverse group and improving vaccine confidence in the remaining 20%. These challenges can be overcome by allaying safety concerns and highlighting personal benefits; tailoring messages to factors associated with lower intention (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity and work setting); employing trusted leaders to set the tone and peers to build social norms; and leveraging public health organizations and health institutions as existing channels of influence.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| February 25, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| February 11, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| February 1, 2021

Lessons Learned from Israel’s Vaccine Rollout

As Ontario expands access to the COVID-19 vaccine beyond the Phase 1 priority populations, strategic planning and execution of mass vaccine rollout will have a significant impact on the health and safety of Ontario’s 14.5 million residents. There are six key elements of Israel’s successful COVID-19 vaccine campaign that can be readily applied to Ontario to expedite and expand the province’s vaccine rollout strategy: a simple vaccine prioritization process; modification to the transport, storage, and distribution of the vaccines; effective communication to promote vaccine confidence; decentralization of vaccination sites; centralized organization through Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) using a fully integrated information technology (IT) system in a universal health care system; and the engagement of community-based personnel, infrastructure, and resources.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| January 28, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| January 27, 2021

Statement on Science Table Declarations of Interest

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| January 21, 2021

The Impact of the Speed of Vaccine Rollout on COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes

Accelerating the rollout of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine such that all LTC residents receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the of January 31, 2021 would prevent a projected 600 COVID-19 cases and 115 deaths by March 31, 2021 when compared with the province’s current plan to vaccinate all LTC residents by February 15, 2021. Projections indicate that further acceleration of the rollout would prevent even more COVID-19 cases and deaths. If vaccine supply is limited, the early provision of first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to LTC home residents is likely to be more beneficial than the on-schedule provision of second doses to health care workers outside of LTC homes. All LTC residents should receive the second dose according to approved vaccination schedules.

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