Dear Colleagues,

I have heard from many of you about your frustrations and disappointment with the vaccine rollout. There has been confusion and inconsistencies in the distribution of the vaccines as well as ambiguity about our role as family physicians and when and how we will be vaccinated. We know from our patients that they are frustrated too.

The OCFP continues to advocate strongly on behalf of family physicians, pushing for clear and equitable plans about how and when family doctors will be vaccinated and can partner in the rollout. I also believe our united voice with the Primary Care Vaccination Action Council is making a difference at a provincial level in pressing for more transparency, and underlining our essential role in the vaccination process.

We will continue to share with you what we learn, even if it is tentative. As always, I welcome your feedback to inform our work.

Updates on Vaccination Rollout

• Next COVID-19 Community of Practice is on January 22, 8-9 a.m. ET, where we’ll answer more of your questions about the vaccines and the rollout. Register here. 

Vaccination of Family Physicians

• Based on the Ministry of Health’s vaccination rollout plans (Jan. 13) and healthcare worker prioritization guidance (Jan. 8), family physicians and our in-office staff are a “primary priority” population and thus we should be immunized by the end of February/early March. We know this will depend on available supply.
• The prioritization and vaccination of healthcare workers will now be largely conducted locally by the Public Health Units.

Public Health Unit (PHU) role in vaccination

• Ontario’s 34 PHUs are now leading community vaccination efforts including vaccination of healthcare workers. Each PHU was to submit their distribution and prioritization plan to the Ministry by January 20.
• We are communicating weekly with public health leadership to reinforce the essential partnership between local PHUs and family physicians/primary care in the rollout.

Vaccination in long-term care and retirement homes (LTC/RH)

• LTC/RH residents, caregivers and staff will continue to be prioritized through a combination of mobile teams and in-house staff working together. Note the Ministry’s new LTC/RH immunization guidance.

• You do NOT need to provide consent forms/prescriptions to those vaccinating your patients in LTC/RH – these facilities have the Ministry screening and consent form and can obtain consent from patients/substitute decision makers. You may be consulted about vaccine suitability for your patients (e.g. immunosuppression or other conditions) The OCFP has compiled these vaccination recommendations for special populations and here is the Ministry's guidance for certain groups.

Community vaccination 

• Mobile vaccination teams will likely be deployed for homebound older adults, priority groups in congregate settings and others who have challenges going to a vaccine hub.
• Mass vaccination hubs will be organized in partnership with PHUs and hospitals. Details on these hubs, including staffing, should be released by the PHUs/hospitals in the upcoming weeks.
• Vaccination in individual family practices as well as community pharmacies will likely follow the mass vaccination of priority groups, and with availability of a more portable vaccine (e.g., the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).
• If you are involved in vaccine planning, use this checklist developed by the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council to ensure that your efforts meet the needs of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples living in your community.
• When it's time to vaccinate, this is the current Ministry screening and consent form – it will likely be updated as new vaccines come in. And this is the Public Health Ontario form to capture adverse events.

Survey to support vaccination efforts

• Thanks to those of you who signed up through the earlier survey to support vaccination efforts – we understand the PHUs are in the process of contacting you. If you are interested in helping and did not complete the survey before it closed, please reach out to the office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health at your PHU.
• Separate from the call for vaccinators and maybe of interest to you, I note the Ministry's recent launch of a matching portal for vaccine assistants. We will stay tuned and share more details as they become available.

Vaccine discussions with your patients now

We know you are getting calls from patients about the vaccine – here are a few resources to support you now.

To support discussions with your patients

• As noted, the OCFP has compiled current recommendations for vaccinating special populations, including those with underlying conditions such as diabetes and liver disease.
• For pregnant and breastfeeding populations, this information sheet developed by Unity Health can help guide shared decision making in this population.
• Many of your COVID-19 questions can be answered through this excellent NEJM Q&A, and the CEP has comprehensive info on the science behind the vaccines and in counseling patients on vaccine confidence. 

 For your patients

• See our sample email to your patients answering common questions about COVID-19 vaccines.
• From your peers: these short patient education videos, and these patient-facing resources, including videos, from the OMA address top COVID-19 questions.

Mental health resources for you and your patients

• The pandemic is taking a heavy toll on all of us. Take a look at these OCFP resources, compiled with the UofT Department of Family & Community Medicine, to support you and your patients, .
• Ontario Health is hosting a webinar – Feb. 9, 12 p.m. ET – on how to support patients in primary care who present with anxiety: Register here. A recording is expected to be available post-webinar.

Other OCFP News

It has been a long road for all of us – we need to take time to learn, connect and celebrate our wonderful profession.

Timely CPD – OCFP’s Virtual Family Medicine Summit

• Our first virtual conference, the Family Medicine Summit, gets underway soon – you can learn on your own time over the next six months. Check out OCFPSummit.ca to see the flexible format, browse the agenda, and register.

Celebrating our profession – OCFP Awards

• The OCFP Awards are an important way we shine a light on the incredible work happening every day and across the province in family medicine. Nominate a colleague for a 2021 OCFP Award and help us recognize the many ways family doctors are helping keep their patients and communities healthy. Nominations are due by February 28, 2021.

Share your views

On negotiations – OMA Section on General and Family Practice (SGFP) survey

• Heading into negotiations, the SGFP wants to know your priorities and especially wants to hear from FFS/FHG/Focused practice members.

On supports for primary care – Women’s College Hospital survey

• Tell WCH your beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine and help shape provincial supports for healthcare professionals in primary care.

*****

I remain inspired by all of you and incredibly proud of our profession. Despite the fatigue you feel, all of the uncertainty in this pandemic as well as the personal risks we face being on the frontlines of care, as evidenced in this recent "Doors Open" report, we continue to stay open to care and put our patients first. 

Thank you for all that you are doing across this province.

Liz