COVID-19 Services and Information

Updated: May 7th, 2024

Ontario's COVID-19 Spring Campaign is currently underway. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is recommending that the following individuals receive an additional dose this spring:

• Adults 65 years of age and older

• Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors

• Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment)

•  Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis and their non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years and older

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Spring 2024 is particularly important for individuals at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who did not receive a dose during the Fall 2023 program. 

All other individuals are not currently recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose in Spring 2024 and should wait until further MOH recommendations. This includes individuals who are not at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who did not receive an XBB COVID19 vaccine in Fall 2023, unless they are specifically recommended to receive a dose by their health care provider.

Please refer to the public COVID-19 website  and the COVID 19 Vaccine Program website for health care providers for more information.

Click here for the most recent (updated April 8, 2024) COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance which includes information specific to the Ontario Spring COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

• Ministry of Health Guidance on PPE for Health Care Workers

• Management of COVID-19 Cases and Contacts

• Masks4Canada Advanced Mask Purchase List and Tip Sheet

• Primary Care Tools for Identifying High-Risk Patients Eligible for Paxlovid

• Symptomatic Triage Decision Tree from OCC Health

• Risk depending on vaccine status and exposure type - colour equals risk

• Need to provide a Return to Work Letter after COVID-19?

• Click here for a template.

• COVID Reference Document for Symptoms from MOH

• Rapid antigen tests are available for free through this MOH program

COVID 19-VACCINE Information

Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Booster Recommendations (Expanded eligibility for second booster doses to Ontarians aged 18 and over)

Eligibility for 5th COVID-19 Dose

• Take a look at the EasT-FPN’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccine webpage that includes clinical resources, COVID-19 dose information, and ongoing vaccination drives. Check it out to see how you can participate today!

• COVID-19 School Information for Parents and Caregivers from TPH

PPE: DROPLET PRECAUTIONS Recommended for ALL Routine Care:

• Emergency Care including CPR modified during COVID; CPR is an aerosol generating procedure; requires full airborne precautions, call EMS: Defibrillator/NO bag/valve/mask unless proper filter.

• Want to preserve PPE? Video on how to preserve PPE and take it off safely. Note: This video was developed for the hospital but these techniques are applicable to community practice. An Info-graphic for your office on how to dispose of your surgical mask safely in English and French.

• Signage on how to put on and take off your PPE. Watch a VIDEO on how to properly sequence your PPE.

Sanitizing your phone and office space

• Public Health Ontario synopsis regarding routes of transmission

• Ministry of Health - Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations

• See here on suggested cleaning and disinfectants for clinic settings

• The CPSO has released some FAQs to help answer questions physicians may have

• OCFP - PPE and Infection Control for In-office Assessments and FAQ on IPAC, PPE and In-office visits

• Cold Standard Toolkit - useful information on managing respiratory tract infections in the context of COVID-19 and virtual care

Information on Virtual Care:

• OntarioMD info on Virtual Care options in EMRs.

Communicate with your Family Practice Colleagues and with Specialists at MGH through Hypercare.

Workflow suggestions - OCFP

• Information on when Virtual care may not be enough

• COVID 19 Resources for Family Physicians

• Balancing In-Person and Virtual Care

• New guidance to help you with balancing the current multiple clinical demands

For additional resources visit the following websites:

• Public Health Ontario

• Ministry of Health

• Ontario College of Family Practice (OCFP)

• City of Toronto (COVID-19)

NEW: Our vision to build a better system in order to assist our patients begins with helping our community. The EasT-FPN, its membership and directors have been actively involved in participating within the community and are actively engaged in voluntary community work outside of their primary care practice. Take a look at EasT-FPN’s current initiatives and register here to be notified and/or participate in the initiatives.

• We created a Shared Clinical Resource Library and would welcome you to create folders and add relevant clinical information for your colleagues to access.

Information for your patients that can be posted in your practice or shared electronically.

• Patient COVID-19 self-assessment tool

• TPH - COVID-19: Symptoms, Illness, Exposure & Testing

• A poster with key tips on how to wear and dispose of masks.

• Download a free workbook to help manage stress and anxiety from COVID-19

• COVID-19 School Information for Parents and Caregivers from TPH

• Ontario Health’s new tools for low back pain, osteoarthritis and anxiety disorders

A link you can provide your patients: www.eastfpn.org/patient-portal