Influenza Vaccines: Health Care Providers

High Priority Groups - Early October

Immunization should be prioritized and vaccination may begin as soon as vaccine is available for the following groups:

• hospitalized individuals, hospital staff, and care providers
• long-term care home (LTCH) residents, staff and care providers
• residents, staff, and care providers in retirement homes and other congregate living settings
• individuals at high-risk for flu related complications or hospitalization; for more information, see section below
• health care workers
• first responders
• individuals with significant exposure to birds or mammals, such as poultry, livestock, slaughterhouse and processing plant workers, wildlife officers/researchers, and veterinarians

General Population - October 28

Vaccination will be available to the general population on October 28. This includes the 2 particularly recommended groups listed below:

1. Individuals capable of transmitting influenza to those listed in the high-risk group above and/or to infants under 6 months of age including:

• care providers in the community
• household contacts (adults and children) of individuals at high risk of influenza related complications
• persons who provide care to children 4 years of age and under
• members of a household expecting a newborn during the influenza season
• those who provide services within a closed or relatively closed setting to persons at high risk of influenza related complications (crew on a ship, for example

2. People who provide essential community services

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) advises that individuals  at a higher risk of influenza-related complications or are more likely to require hospitalization and should receive vaccine as soon as it becomes available:

• residents of congregate living settings (such as chronic care facilities, retirement homes)
• people 65 years of age and over
• all pregnant women
• all children 6 months to 4 years of age
• individuals in or from First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities
• members of racialized and other equity deserving communities
• individuals 6 months of age and older with the following underlying health conditions:
  • cardiac or pulmonary disorders
  • diabetes mellitus or other metabolic disease
  • cancer
  • conditions or medication which compromise the immune system
  • renal disease
  • anemia or hemoglobinopathy
  • neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions
  • morbid obesity (body mass index of 40 or more)
  • children and adolescents (6 months to 18 years) undergoing treatment with acetylsalicylic acid for long periods

• Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: Influenza Immunization Information for the 2024/2025 Influenza Season (PDF) (French)
• Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: Influenza Immunization for individuals 6 months to 64 years of age (PDF) (French)
• Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: Influenza Immunization for individuals > 65 years of age (PDF) (French)

Ordering Vaccines – Primary Care and Clinics

Available vaccine will be distributed to ensure equal access for all ordering health care providers.

• Order what  you require for the week considering fridge capacity. TBDHU recommends not stocking your fridge above 80% capacity to reduce the risk of a cold chain incident.
• Use the form for your location:
  • Thunder Bay Providers form (PDF - Updated September 2024)
  • District Providers form (PDF- Updated September 2024)
• Submit a temperature log book with your order; see the Submitting Temperature Log Books section below for more details. Orders cannot be processed without a copy of the temperature log book. 
• Call with questions; (807) 625-5908 in Thunder Bay or your nearest branch office.

Order and Pick-up Schedule

• Thunder Bay orders
  • Submit: Monday-Tuesday
  • Pick up: Thursday-Friday  from 12:00-4:00pm (email vaccineorders@tbdhu.com if an order is needed sooner than this schedule).
• District orders:
  • Make arrangements with your nearest branch office.

Transporting Vaccines

• Use a hard sided cooler with a thermometer and enough space for your entire order. Consider the dimensions of the product. See the video How to Pack an Insulated Container for Vaccine Transport.
• Ensure coolers are pre-conditioned (2-8°C). 
• Review and familiarize all staff who transport vaccines with Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines.

Picking Up Vaccines

• Thunder Bay providers:
  • Use the TBDHU Main Entrance at 999 Balmoral Street.
  • Let reception staff know that you are here to pick up flu vaccines.
• District providers:
  • Make arrangements with your nearest branch office.
• Ensure temperature log books were submitted at the time of order; they cannot be submitted at the time of pick up.

Submitting Temperature Log Books

All health care providers and pharmacies MUST submit the Ministry of Health fillable PDF temperature log to TBDHU as required by UIIP by using the  . 

• Submit temperature log books by email to VaccineOrders@TBDHU.com or by fax to 807-625-4828. Email is preferred to reduce the risk of lost or unreadable temperature log submissions. 
• Primary Care and Clinics: Submit when placing any flu vaccine orders, showing the temperatures since your last order OR just the last two weeks, if you ordered within the last two weeks.
• Pharmacies: Submit every 2 weeks and include the details of the vaccines online which allows TBDHU to direct people looking for specific vaccines to a pharmacy that may have the product in stock.

• Statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024–2025
  • Summary of statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024–2025
  • Addendum to the statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2024-2025: Transition from quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccines
• Supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination in adults 65 years of age and older
  • Summary of supplemental guidance on influenza vaccination in adults 65 years of age and older