Event Details

PHO Rounds: An Update on Influenza for the 2022-23 Season

This session is also being offered on September 29th. With the lifting of many of the provincial public health measures implemented during earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increased influenza virus activity in the southern hemisphere, it is important to plan for the possibility of co-circulation of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses in the upcoming 2022-23 season.

This session will describe:

• The epidemiology of the southern hemisphere’s 2022 influenza season and the possible implications for the northern hemisphere.
• The vaccine products available as part of Ontario’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program.
• Influenza treatment and outbreak management in the context of possible co-circulation with other respiratory viruses.
• The respiratory virus testing algorithm for PHO laboratories.

Intended audience: Health care providers (such as physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists), public health staff (such as nurses, inspectors, A/MOHs, epidemiologists), and staff of long-term care homes and other congregate settings (administrators, nurses, infection prevention and control staff). General public.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe historic trends in influenza and respiratory virus activity observed following reopening phases of the pandemic in Ontario, Canada, and internationally.
• Describe influenza vaccine products available as part of Ontario’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program 2022-23.
• Understand the use and benefits of antiviral medications for the treatment and prevention of influenza.
• Understand influenza and other respiratory virus laboratory testing processes for the 2022-23 season.

Presenter(s): Andrea Saunders, Dr Christine Navarro, Dr Jonathan Gubbay

Dr. Christine Navarro, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCP, is a Public Health Physician with the Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Team at Public Health Ontario. Before joining PHO in December 2021, Christine was an Associate Medical Officer of Health at Toronto Public Health, first working in Healthy Environments and then supporting community case and contact management in TPH’s COVID-19 response. Christine has a Masters of Science in Epidemiology and is a Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist.

Dr. Jonathan Gubbay, MBBS, FRCPC, is a Medical Microbiologist at Public Health Ontario’s laboratory, and a paediatric infectious diseases physician. He has been the medical lead of many key programs at PHO’s laboratory, including respiratory viral infections, emerging viruses, respiratory bacteria and gastrointestinal viruses. He is appointed at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Paediatrics at University of Toronto.

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.

Accreditation

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.

PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

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.