Please direct any questions or concerns you have regarding the provincial influenza vaccine supply to UIIP.MOH@ontario.ca.
2024-2025 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)
The Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) offers influenza vaccine free of charge each year to all individuals 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Ontario.
See below for TBDHU-specific information concerning the 2024-2025 season.
Immunization should be prioritizedand 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 - Starting October 28
Vaccination will be available to the general population starting 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
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.
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).
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.
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.
Report AEFIs using the Ontario AEFI Reporting Form as required under the Health Protection and Promotion Act by physicians, nurses, pharmacists or other persons authorized to administer an immunizing agent.
