Item - 2024.HL17.2

 The Board of Health requested the Ministry of Health to:

1. Confirm ongoing sufficient funding support for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) hubs to prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, and other congregate settings such as shelters and group homes.

2. Provide $5.2 million in funding to Toronto Public Health over 24 months to enable Toronto Public Health to promote and support the delivery of the RSV vaccine effectively and equitably.

3. Support local efforts for timely and representative wastewater surveillance for the presence of key respiratory pathogens (such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza).

The Deputy Medical Officer of Health, and the Associate Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Toronto Public Health Preparations for the 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season.

This report provides an overview of Toronto Public Health's (TPH) 2024-2025 respiratory virus season plan for preventing and monitoring cases of respiratory infection in the community and responding to outbreaks in institutions such as long-term care homes and hospitals. There are some updates to this year's plan highlighting where TPH has returned to routine response activities coming out of the pandemic. TPH continues to embed an equity-focused approach throughout its planning and programs.

As is usually seen each year, there is an anticipated increase in the spread of respiratory viruses and illness in the fall and winter season. Recommended protective measures to reduce transmission of these viruses such as masking, hand washing, and staying home when sick can be used in a layered approach. These can be combined with vaccination, which remains the best way to protect yourself from vaccine-preventable viruses.

For the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season, publicly-funded vaccines will be available to protect against COVID-19, influenza (flu), and for select eligible people, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). New this fall, an infant RSV vaccine is publicly-funded to protect vulnerable young children from this illness. An updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available as well. TPH encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccines are available and in keeping with the latest guidance provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

TPH is also monitoring and responding to an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumococcal infections, highlighting the increased importance for population preventative measures such as hand washing, masking, vaccination, and staying home when sick. TPH has initiated communication to the public and health care providers alerting them to this increase and to remind them of the importance of vaccination.