Infectious Diseases

For HKPR District Health Unit’s New Respiratory Diseases Dashboard click here.

This new consolidated dashboard will provide a high-level assessment of localized respiratory virus activity.

Your cough won’t quit? You’re not alone

Virologist says harsh viral strains contributing to longer respiratory virus season. This video explains why and what to do. 

Important Updates About Covid-19 Treatment and Vaccinations

To book appointments in your community at clinics not operated by NFHT, call 1-833-943-3900, or go online to the Provincial booking system to Book Online.

NEW second Bivalent COVID-19 booster: NACI’s recommendation is anyone in the following categories should get a second bivalent COVID-19 Booster six months or 168 days after the first bivalent booster.
• Adults 80 years of age and older
• Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors or those with complex medical care needs
• Adults 18 years of age and older who are moderate to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment)
• Adults 65 to 79 years of age, particularly if they do not have a known prior history of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Everyone aged 5 years, and over, is eligible to get a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose, if they have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series. It is not recommended at this time to receive a second bivalent booster shot. If you have questions about this, please call 289-252-2139 and ask to speak to our pharmacist. Anyone 18 yrs+ can receive a booster at the recommended interval of 168 days or a minimum of 84 days since their last dose. Individuals can receive the bivalent booster at the recommended interval of at least six months from their previous dose, regardless of how many boosters they have already received.

5-11 yrs booster: are eligible for one booster. If they received a monovalent booster, and are high risk, they can receive a bivalent booster. If you have questions about vaccinating your child, speak with your healthcare provider or contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or 1-888-304-6558 to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids’ Registered Nurse.

Children 6 months to 4 years: are now eligible to receive the approved covid vaccination. You can call 289-252-2139 to book an appointment with us. Or you can contact the provincial booking system. This is a two-shot series vaccination. To find out recommendations for shot interval timing and other FAQs, click here for information from Toronto SickKids Hospital COVID-19 vaccination for ages under five.

Safe and reliable vaccines can help protect you and your family from COVID-19. They will be an important tool to help stop the spread of the virus and allow individuals, families, and workers to safely resume a normal life. Click here to read the interview with Dr. Smith, the COVID-19 Vaccine Physician Lead for NFHT. COVID-19 vaccination will: • work with your immune system to help keep you from getting COVID-19 • be a safe way to help build protection • lower how much of the virus can spread in the population, which will help build herd immunity and stop the pandemic To read the latest announcements from the Province of Ontario about the COVID-19 vaccine click here.

For Northumberland County

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has several web pages about Covid-19 including a Q&A section, information on testing, local case counts, and public restrictions. HKPRDHU is routinely updating its website. The Ontario Health Team Northumberland has information on both Covid-19 testing and vaccination programs click here.  

Booking Appointments: to book an appointment at the Cobourg Community Centre or other mass clinics call 1-833-943-3900.

Pop-up Clinics are being organized by Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, check their Facebook or website for dates.

Paxlovid is a Covid treatment approved for use in Ontario. To find out more about patient eligibility, please click here.

Mixing Vaccines: Every person having received 2 doses of an approved vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, AZ in any combination) is considered fully vaccinated and protected in Ontario.

Receipts of Vaccination: can be obtained by calling 1-833-943-3900 or you can go online using information from your green photo health card (if you have an original red and white card you have to call) click here

Canceling Appointments booked at a mass vaccination clinic through the provincial booking system, including the CCC. You can either call 1-888-999-6488 or click here to cancel. To cancel appointments booked by the HKPR District Health Unit, leave a message at 1- 866-888-4577, extension 5020. Please keep in mind vaccine is thawed for these appointments and can not be frozen again, cancelling stops wastage.

Children 5 years to 11 years can now go to local vaccination clinics. For further information about children and the COVID-19 Vaccine click here for resources including videos, games, and resources designed for special needs children. Further resources are below on this website in the FAQ. information for parents put together through a collaboration spearheaded by Toronto Sick Kids Hospital click here. For answers about Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine for children click here.

Common Questions About Covid-19 and Vaccines

In our resource list below we have webpages, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube links as well where you can find good information. A good summary article with lots of information is here. This extensive webpage has excellent questions and answers from a reliable source. Click here.

If you have specific questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine and would like to speak to a local healthcare provider, you are welcome to book a telephone appointment with the NFHT Pharmacist by calling 289-252-2139 or emailing info@nfht.ca.

I think I have Covid, I’m confused about what to do. When should I get a test, call my doctor, or isolate? confused-about-covid

Guide to Isolating.

Infosheet_VOCs

What are the Health Canada-approved vaccines? What is available in Northumberland County? Currently, the approved vaccines are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen (Johnson&Johnson’s) vaccines. To find out which vaccine is being offered locally, please check with the HKPRDHU as they are continually updating what they are receiving.

Health Canada has approved a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children. More information can be found at the links below:

If you have an allergy that causes an anaphylactic reaction or if you have ever been told by health providers to carry an Epi-pen, it is recommended that you speak to your healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Standards of efficacy and quality have not been compromised to expedite the approval of COVID-19 vaccines.
What you should know about the safety of the approval process (video)

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