Influenza vaccine availability for the 2022/2023 season
Advisory Alert
September 12, 2022
*Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.
To: Local health care providers
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Important information about the 2022/2023 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)
Thank you for your ongoing work to ensure your patients are protected against vaccine preventable diseases. With influenza season approaching, please see key updates and important information about the 2022/2023 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP). This program is always important and arguably now more than ever with the upcoming respiratory season, anticipated surge in infections, and concerns about health care system capacity.
COVID-19 and influenza vaccines
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that for individuals 5 years of age and older, COVID-19 vaccines may be given simultaneously with (i.e., same day) or at any time before or after non-COVID-19 vaccines (including live and non-live vaccines). At this time, Moderna (25 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine, for ages 6 months to 5 years should not be given concurrently (i.e., same day) with other vaccines but rather wait a period of 14 days before or after administration of other vaccines to prevent erroneously connecting an adverse event following immunization to one vaccine over another. Note that information about the recently announced Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for children six months to four years of age is not available at time of writing.
Public Health Unit influenza vaccine allocation process
- Every year, the Ministry of Health allocates limited doses of the influenza vaccine to public health units – mainly based on previous year distribution levels and vaccine wastage information. Full details about the provincial distribution timelines are available at 2022/2023 Universal Influenza Immunization Program.
- Public Health Sudbury & Districts can expect influenza vaccine allocations throughout late September and October. To date, there have been no vaccine supply issues nor delivery delays noted by manufacturers but could change as we approach/enter the flu season. Once the local allocations have been depleted, health units can request additional doses from the ministry of health but there is no guarantee of receipt.
- Additionally, please see Table 1 below for distribution of influenza vaccines in Ontario.
Table 1: Distribution of Influenza Vaccines in Ontario
| When | Distribution Initiated To |
|---|---|
| Early October | Hospitals and Long-term care homes |
| Early-to-mid October | Retirement homes and other settings with vulnerable populations |
| Mid-to-late October | Physicians, pharmacies, and all other providers/organizations |
Immunizing older adults
- High dose quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIV-HD) and adjuvanted trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV-adj) will be available for ordering this year for seniors 65 years of age and older only. See product information below.
- As vaccine protection is of critical importance, do not delay vaccination to wait for a particular product. The QIV, QIV-HD and TIV-adj all protect against the flu. For individual-level decision making, NACI states that when available, high-dose should be used over standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine, given the burden of influenza A(H3N2) disease and good evidence of better protection compared to standard-dose in adults 65 years of age and older.
- However, NACI states that in the absence of a specific product any of the available age-appropriate influenza vaccines should be use. There is no preferential recommendation for the use of QIV-HD versus TIV-adj vaccine for adults aged 65 and older.
Ordering information
- To ensure equitable distribution throughout our catchment area, initial influenza vaccine orders may be limited, with further opportunities to re-order after the program launches and the provincial supply is replenished. While you can begin immunizing as soon as you receive your initial doses, please hold off scheduling any larger clinics until November.
- We will confirm the amounts allocated to your site for your patient population prior to your pickup.
- Secondary orders can be faxed or emailed to: 705.677.9616 or vaccineorder@phsd.ca using our standard vaccine order form.
UIIP product information
A variety of products will be available for ordering/immunization. Please refer to Table 2 below for vaccine product specific details that will be available to health care providers to order.
Table 2: Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2022/2023 Season
| Influenza Vaccine Product | Availability | Eligibility | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluLaval Tetra (Quadrivalent influenza vaccine – QIV) GlaxoSmithKline Inc. | 15 mcg/0.5mL Multi-dose vial format (MDV) | 6 months of age and older | 0.5 mL IM |
| Fluzone® Quadrivalent (Quadrivalent influenza vaccine – QIV) Sanofi Pasteur Limited | 15 mcg/0.5mL MDV and pre-filled syringe (PFS) format | 6 months of age and older | 0.5 mL IM |
| Afluria® Tetra (Quadrivalent influenza vaccine – QIV) Seqirus Limited *Pharmacy only | 15 mcg/0.5 mL MDV and PFS | 5 years of age and older | 0.5 mL IM |
| Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent (Quadrivalent high-dose influenza vaccine- QIV-HD) Sanofi Pasteur Limited | 15 mcg/0.5 mL PFS | 65 years of age or older | 0.7 mL IM |
| Fluad® (Trivalent adjuvanted influenza vaccine – TIV-adj) Seqirus Limited | 15 mcg/0.5 mL PFS | 65 years of age or older | 0.5 mL IM |
UIIP package is attached
Your UIIP package is attached. Within you will find further information on the provincial procurement of influenza vaccine as well as Q&A documents outlining eligibility and indications for the UIIP vaccine products available for immunization in the 2022/2023 season. We will share any additional information regarding the influenza vaccine and roll-out for Ontario as it is shared by the province.
- Health Care Provider Qs & As: Influenza Immunization Information for Individuals 6 months to 64 years of age – English (PDF, 219 KB) French (PDF, 173 KB)
- Health Care Provider Qs & As: Influenza Immunization Information for Individuals ≥65 years of age – English (PDF, 223 KB) French (PDF, 309 KB)
- Chief Medical Office of Health Letter to Health Care Providers – English (PDF, 160 KB) French (PDF, 164 KB)
- Health Care Provider Qs & As: Influenza Immunization Information for the 2022/2023 Influenza Season – English (PDF, 275 KB) French (PDF, 252 KB)
- Memorandum to Medical Officers of Health and Associate Medical officers of Health (PDF, 142 KB)
- Operational Information Sheet for Public Health Units (PHUs) (PDF, 313 KB)
- Temperature Log Submission or Provider Attestation Process for Approved 2022/2023 UIIP Pharmacies (PDF, 136 KB)
- UIIP Violation Report (PDF, 120 KB)
Thank you in advance for your ongoing commitment to protecting the heath and safety of your patients through the administration of influenza vaccines. Should you have any questions, please contact the immunization program at 705.522.9200 ext. 458.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.
This item was last modified on June 3, 2024