Resources

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| August 24, 2021

Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Recommended Drugs and Biologics in Adult Patients with COVID-19

public-policy-economic-impact, science-brief

| July 21, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Certificates: Key Considerations for the Ontario Context

Many jurisdictions are developing and implementing COVID-19 vaccine certificates as falsification-proof, verifiable proof of immunization in secure digital or paper-based formats. Vaccine certificates can be used to regulate entry into discretionary settings that pose a high risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission (e.g., indoor dining, bars, gyms, cultural and sports events). Vaccine certificates can also be used in non-discretionary settings (e.g., schools, universities, congregate settings, and workplaces), especially in settings that require mandatory vaccination. On a short-term basis, vaccine certificates could enable the re-opening of high-risk settings sooner and/or at increased capacity. Vaccine certificates will be of particular importance to maintain economic and societal reopening if public health measures need to be reintroduced. Some jurisdictions are also implementing vaccine certificates with the goal of incentivizing COVID-19 vaccination. On a longer-term basis, vaccine certificates can serve as a verifiable, secure, standardized, accessible and portable records of immunization. There is currently no scientific evidence of the direct impact of COVID-19 vaccine certificates on SARS-CoV-2 transmission or population vaccination rates, and there are important ethical, legal, accessibility, and privacy considerations concerning their development and implementation.

public-policy-economic-impact, science-brief

| July 19, 2021

School Operation for the 2021-2022 Academic Year in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In-person learning is essential for the learning and overall well-being of children and youth. Therefore, barring catastrophic circumstances, schools should remain open for in-person learning. The level of community COVID-19 burden should inform the degree of school-based measures: the provided framework should be implemented at the regional level by public health units, considering local vaccination coverage rate and metrics of COVID-19 disease severity and to a lesser extent, SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate. Permanent measures that support the ongoing operation of schools, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic, include vaccination of all eligible individuals, exclusion of sick students and staff, hand hygiene, adequate ventilation, and environmental cleaning. Temporary measures (e.g., masking, physical distancing, cohorting) implemented in response to changes in COVID-19 disease burden should take into consideration student age, grade, and vaccination status. Re-initiation and maintenance of extracurricular activities (e.g., music, sports, clubs) is an important component of return-to-school plans.

health-equity-social-determinants-of-health, science-brief

| July 16, 2021

Ontario’s Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Remain Unvaccinated Against COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccination rates among community-dwelling Ontarians aged 65 years and older are lowest in neighbourhoods at highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, those that have the highest material deprivation, and those that are most ethnically diverse. Lower rates of vaccination were most pronounced among older adults who had no regular contact with a primary care physician. Between April 26, 2021 and June 7, 2021, Ontarians aged 80 years and older had the lowest increase in first dose vaccination among all eligible older adults in Ontario, suggesting that vaccination rates in this age group may have plateaued. Community-dwelling older adults remain at disproportionately high risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, and efforts should be made to maximize vaccination in this population.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| June 23, 2021

Strategies to Support Ontarians’ Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for COVID-19 Vaccination

As of June 12, 2021, over 7 million (more than 51%) Ontarians have been vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over 1 million (more than 12%) have received two doses.1 Most (76%) Ontarians report wanting to get a COVID-19 vaccine;2 however, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 requires more than motivation alone. A combination of capability, opportunity and motivation (key drivers of behaviour) are needed to ensure everyone who wants to get vaccinated, is able to do so.3 Of note, strategies to support these drivers of behaviour are not always available, or provided equally or consistently across Ontario.4,5 Behavioural science-informed strategies can address capability and opportunity barriers facing people who are already motivated to get vaccinated to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. These strategies will be key to achieving the goal of a maximally vaccinated population. Among those with lower vaccine confidence,2 further addressing known motivation-related barriers can help support Ontarians in reaching the decision that is right for them. This includes leveraging trusted sources (such as health care professionals and community leaders) to address concerns about the speed of vaccine development and potential side effects, implementing supports to increase ease and opportunity for each dose, and employing effective communication (i.e., articulating when, where, and how) around available supports to enable capability and opportunity. This brief is designed to complement and enhance existing vaccination rollout campaigns in Ontario. The intent is to provide behavioural science-informed insights into which strategies and policies can be leveraged to address multifaceted vaccination barriers, enabling Ontarians to get each dose. As vaccine supply continues to increase in the province, this strategy will accelerate Ontario’s race to maximize immunity and support a post-pandemic Ontario.

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 17, 2021

Drugs and COVID-19: Information for Patients and Healthcare Professionals

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 16, 2021

Clinical Practice Guidelines Webinar: Tocilizumab

Webinar hosted by the Ontario COVID-19 Drugs & Biologics Clinical Practice Guidelines Working Group Presenters: Laveena Munshi MD MSc, Stephanie Carlin PharmD, Beth Leung PharmD MsCI Moderator: Brad Langford PharmD Date: Monday, April 26, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST Audience: Clinicians in all hospital settings (acute teaching, large community, small community) Objectives: • Summarize the data on the use of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19 • Describe the recommended populations to receive tocilizumab • Provide advice and considerations regarding secondary infections • Discuss access and use of tocilizumab in the context of a shortage situation

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 16, 2021

Clinical Practice Guidelines Webinar: Medications for Outpatients with COVID-19

Webinar hosted by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table's Drugs & Biologics Clinical Practice Guidelines Working Group on June 15, 2021. Presenters: Kate Miller, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Ullanda Niel, MD, CCFP, FCFP, and Sumit Raybardhan BScPhm, ACPR, MPH, BCIDP Moderator: Brad Langford, PharmD Objectives: Provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of medications for managing COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. Address patient questions about the appropriate use of medications for acutely managing COVID-19. Describe tools and resources that can be used to help support prescribing for outpatients with COVID-19.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| June 10, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

health-equity-social-determinants-of-health, science-brief

| June 8, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Disabilities

Internationally, people with disabilities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, accounting for nearly 60% of COVID-19 deaths in the UK and overall higher mortality rates based on social, clinical, and demographic factors. Ontario has prioritized people with disabilities across the three phases of its COVID-19 vaccination program, but there is a difference between availability and accessibility of vaccination. Ontario’s 34 public health units are responsible for leading the local distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, and their public facing websites serve as entry points for information on the accessibility of vaccination. On average, these websites contain information about 5 of 18 key accessibility features, across three domains: accessible communication, physical accessibility, and accessible social and sensory environments. Ontario needs a multi-pronged strategy to reach all people with disabilities that includes improving information about communication accessibility, physical accessibility, and social and sensory environment accessibility throughout the COVID-19 vaccination journey. Ontario’s progress on vaccinating people with disabilities needs to also be measured through enhanced data monitoring efforts.

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