This year's Influenza Vaccine Program is expect to begin the third week of October. To help care providers prepare, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness has released the following documents: a Special Bulletin from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang, key messages to stakeholders in Q & A format, and information for health care providers entitled "Publicly Funded Seasonal Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Information for Health Care Providers" which can also be found at https://novascotia.ca/dhw/CDPC/documents/Publicly-Funded-Seasonal-Inactivated-Influenza-Vaccine-Information.pdf
Notable changes:
- Inactivated high dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4-HD) will be offered to nursing home residents, residential care facilities and patients in hospital in Nova Scotia designated as alternate level of care awaiting LTC placement. The prefilled syringe dosage is .7 ml.
- New ordering system for influenza vaccine from Public Health using Shopify – faxed vaccine order forms will no longer be accepted for influenza vaccine
- Pointers on entering influenza vaccine into EMR – page 4
- Providers will electronically report vaccine usage, inventory and wastage to Public Health using Smart Sheets
- Coadministration of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has advised that COVID-19 may be given simultaneously with, or at any time before or after any other inactivated vaccines. Individuals can receive COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine (including Flu Mist) at the same time. Pneumococcal vaccine can also be given according to the Nova Scotia vaccine schedule at the same time as COVID-19 and Influenza. For more information see: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/recommendations-use-covid-19-vaccines/summary-updates-september-28-2021.html
- Recommendations on the Duration of the Post-vaccination Observation Period for Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fifteen minute monitoring of clients post-immunization continues to be a best practice recommendation. A shorter post-vaccination observation period, between 5 to 15 minutes after influenza immunization may be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic, but only during specific conditions which are outlined in the NACI’s Recommendations on the Duration of Post-vaccination Observation Period for Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Please disregard the previous version of the Publicly Funded Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Information 2020-2021 version and distribute the updated version 2021-22 version as appropriate.
