Toronto Public Health’s Physician e-Newsletter August 28, 2026

Dr. Michelle MurtiMedical Officer of HealthToronto Public Health In this issue:SAVE THE DATE: TPH’s Annual CME Event – Vaccine Check-Up – Preparing Primary Care for the 2026-2027 Respiratory SeasonKey Points TPH is hosting it’s annual CME accredited event “Vaccine Check-Up – Preparing Primary Care for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season” – in person AND virtually! Save the date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026! More information. ​ SAVE THE DATE: TPH’s Annual CME Event – Vaccine Check-Up – Preparing Primary Care for the 2026-2027 Respiratory SeasonTPH is once again hosting it’s annual CME event for primary care providers. This year’s event will be a hybrid model, offering […]

NEW OB Care Connect Pilot Launch

We are excited to announce that as of August 12th, 2026, SCOPE users have access to the OB Care Connect pilot program, created in partnership with Etobicoke General Hospital (EGH) and Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH)’s Women’s and Children’s Departments and the Brampton Primary Care Obstetrics Group (PCOG). What is OB Care Connect? OB Care Connect streamlines legacy referral pathways to provide a single entry point for obstetrics (OB) care provider referrals, offering real-time visibility into OB care provider availability and capacity, reducing administrative burden, and standardizing an equitable process for all patients. As this pilot program soft launches, SCOPE users […]

Toronto Public Health Student Immunization Clinics Available for Grade 2 Students

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has begun sending immunization reminder letters to parents and guardians of Grade 2 students (born in 2019) who are not up to date on their required vaccinations under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). As families begin receiving these notices, your patients may contact your office with questions about their child’s immunization status or to arrange any outstanding vaccinations. For families who require access to immunization services, Toronto Public Health is offering student vaccination clinics throughout August, including clinics at Etobicoke Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre, and Scarborough Civic Centre. Patients can book an […]

Welcoming Dr. Ria Oommen as CW OHT’s Older Adults Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Ria Oommen been selected as the new Primary Care Lead for Older Adults, playing a critical role in fostering collaboration amongst community providers for care for older adults, particularly those experiencing frailty. About Dr. Ria Oommen Dr. Ria Oommen is a family physician practicing in Peel and Halton. She completed medical school and family medicine residency training at McMaster University. Her clinical work primarily focuses on providing care for older populations, as a hospitalist at Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH) and attending physician for a Region of […]

 Pool of Mosquitoes in Toronto Test Positive for West Nile Virus

On July 16, 2026, TPH received confirmation that one batch of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in Toronto. In general, the first positive mosquito pool tends to coincide with the first transmissions of WNV to humans. Human Infection with WNV:• Most common in Toronto from July to end of September and can occur outside this time period.• While approximately 75% of human WNV infections are asymptomatic, most symptomatic patients present with a febrile illness characterized by headache, myalgia, arthralgia, gastrointestinal symptoms or a maculopapular rash.• People > 50 years of age and those who are immunocompromised are at increased risk of WNV neuroinvasive […]

PPH: Candida auris colonization: Updated surveillance and reporting

The Ontario Ministry of Health is enhancing provincial surveillance for Candida auris (C. auris). While C. auris infection is already a disease of public health significance, this update expands surveillance to include C. auris colonization. From July 1 to December 31, 2026, public health units are required to report all cases of C. auris colonization to the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario. Health system partners are asked to support this effort by voluntarily reporting newly identified colonization cases to their local public health units. Review the Ministry of Health memo for full details: Reporting requirements Health care providers should report all identified cases of C. auris colonization to […]

PPH: Children’s Oral Health Program: information and support for children and youth (0 to 17 years)

Primary care providers play an important role in promoting oral health, identifying children at risk for dental disease, and connecting families to available services. The Children’s Oral Health Program can provide information and resources to support oral health care access for children and youth. Get more information Primary care physicians who would like additional information about the Children’s Oral Health Program and available supports are invited to complete a brief survey by Monday, July 27, 2026. Complete survey

PPH: Launch of SmartParent for prenatal education

Peel Public Health has partnered with SmartParent to launch a free text messaging prenatal program for all expectant families in Peel. They are one of the first Public Health Units in Ontario to offer this innovative prenatal and parenting education program.  SmartParent was developed by researchers from the University of British Columbia in consultation with pregnant and new parents, nurses, doctors, midwives, and experts in maternal and child health.  It is endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society).  SmartParent is currently offered in Halton and the provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia. How it works This “just in […]

Spotlight:  Women and Children’s Paediatric Healthy Lifestyle Clinic

The Women and Children’s Ambulatory Clinics at Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness (PMC) would like to spotlight the Paediatric Healthy Lifestyle’s Clinic: “Rising rates of obesity are a significant public health concern in Canada and across the world. In Canada, almost two in three adults and one in three children and youth are overweight or living with obesity with even higher rates in marginalized and equity-seeking populations. Obesity greatly increases the risk for several chronic diseases such as diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.”  The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P. The Paediatric Lifestyle Clinic offers […]

Welcoming Dr. Justin Kutzko as CW OHT Palliative Care Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Justin Kutzko has been selected as the new Palliative Care Primary Care Lead. About Dr. Justin Kutzko Dr. Kutzko graduated from the University of Queensland Medical School in 2011 and he completed his postgraduate clinical fellowship training in general practice as well as palliative medicine in Australia. After moving to Canada with his family in 2022 he held positions as a Palliative Care Specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital, and then William Osler Health System from 2023 to the present. Dr. Kutzko has a strong interest in health […]

Osler Collaboration Survey

William Osler Health System has asked the CW PCN to share this message with family physicians and NPs who provide comprehensive longitudinal primary care on their behalf: Strengthening Collaboration between Community Physicians and Osler Dear Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your input on how we can create a more seamless, connected system—one that supports you to deliver timely, coordinated and convenient care to your patients in partnership with William Osler Health System (Osler). At Osler, the health and wellbeing of our community guide everything we do Strong and integrated connections between our hospital and […]

Peel Public Health Respiratory Illness Season Updates [March 8 – March 14]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of March 8 to March 14. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Welcoming Dr. David Borts as CW OHT Primary Care Specialist

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. David Borts has been selected as the new Primary Care Specialist representative for the CW OHT Primary Care Council (PCC), following an election at the October Central West Primary Care Network (CW PCN) Annual General Meeting. About Dr. David Borts Dr. Borts graduated from McGill Medical School in 1980 and completed residency training in both internal medicine (1984) and cardiology (1986). He has been a clinical cardiologist serving the community of Brampton for 36 years. In 2007, he completed an MBA at the Schulich School of […]

PPH: Respiratory Illness Season Updates [October 26 to November 1]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of October 26 to November 1. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) at Osler

The following is being shared on behalf of William Osler Health System: William Osler Health System (Osler) launched the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) in March 2025. For the past 13 years, Osler has been providing life-saving lung cancer screening services through the High-Risk Lung (HRL) program. We are in the process of transitioning eligible HRL  patients into the OLSP resulting in several key advantages, including: Once a patient is referred and deemed eligible to participate in the OLSP, all recalls and diagnostic follow-up are managed by OLSP radiologists and staff at Osler. Osler is able to further grow and […]

New Hepatology Consult Clinic at Etobicoke General

Dr. Hamant Shah is opened a new Hepatology Consult Clinic at Etobicoke General. The clinic runs on most Wednesday mornings (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) in the Outpatient Medicine Clinic Area on the Lower Level. Dr. Shah’s primary clinical interest is viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV), though he will also see patients with other hepatology concerns, such as abnormal liver tests, fatty liver disease (MASLD), and Cirrhosis. The clinic is designed for consultation with short-term follow-up. The aim is to provide timely access to hepatology input, establish diagnosis or management plans, and then transition patients back to their primary care […]

Essential Role of Primary Care in RSV Vaccine Administration

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization is available to the following groups for the 2025/2026 respiratory season:  Primary care plays an especially important role in administering the RSV vaccine this season, particularly for the following groups who will have limited access to the vaccine from other settings:  Billing for RSV Immunization  More Information: 

Ministry of Health Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Program for 2025/26 Season

The Ontario Ministry of Health has updated the details of the COVID-19 Vaccine Program for the 2025/2026 season.  The COVID-19 vaccines available this season are: LP. 8.1 COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccine Platform Age for use in Ontario Moderna Spikevax messenger RNA 6 months to 11 years Moderna Spikevax messenger RNA 12 years + Pfizer COMIRNATY messenger RNA 5 to 11 years Pfizer COMIRNATY messenger RNA 12 years + For detailed vaccine information see the Ministry of Health – Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Vaccine. TPH Recommends Health Care Providers:  *Providers interested in enrolling should follow the steps listed on TPH’s Vaccine Ordering from Toronto […]

TPH Respiratory Vaccine Clinic for Children Under 3 Years of Age

To support early childhood immunization and reduce the burden of respiratory illness in this vulnerable population, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is launching a new Infant and Toddler Respiratory Vaccine Clinic at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, operating from October 27, 2025, to the end of March 2026. Note: A health card is not required. Children aged 36 months and under will be eligible to receive: Vaccine/Immunization Eligibility Covid-19 vaccine Children 6 to 36 months of age Influenza vaccine Children 6 to 36 months of age RSV monoclonal antibody Infants 8 months of age or younger Children up to 24 months of […]

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