Science Brief

health-equity-social-determinants-of-health, science-brief

| July 16, 2021

Ontario’s Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Remain Unvaccinated Against COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccination rates among community-dwelling Ontarians aged 65 years and older are lowest in neighbourhoods at highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, those that have the highest material deprivation, and those that are most ethnically diverse. Lower rates of vaccination were most pronounced among older adults who had no regular contact with a primary care physician. Between April 26, 2021 and June 7, 2021, Ontarians aged 80 years and older had the lowest increase in first dose vaccination among all eligible older adults in Ontario, suggesting that vaccination rates in this age group may have plateaued. Community-dwelling older adults remain at disproportionately high risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, and efforts should be made to maximize vaccination in this population.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| June 23, 2021

Strategies to Support Ontarians’ Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for COVID-19 Vaccination

As of June 12, 2021, over 7 million (more than 51%) Ontarians have been vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over 1 million (more than 12%) have received two doses.1 Most (76%) Ontarians report wanting to get a COVID-19 vaccine;2 however, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 requires more than motivation alone. A combination of capability, opportunity and motivation (key drivers of behaviour) are needed to ensure everyone who wants to get vaccinated, is able to do so.3 Of note, strategies to support these drivers of behaviour are not always available, or provided equally or consistently across Ontario.4,5 Behavioural science-informed strategies can address capability and opportunity barriers facing people who are already motivated to get vaccinated to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. These strategies will be key to achieving the goal of a maximally vaccinated population. Among those with lower vaccine confidence,2 further addressing known motivation-related barriers can help support Ontarians in reaching the decision that is right for them. This includes leveraging trusted sources (such as health care professionals and community leaders) to address concerns about the speed of vaccine development and potential side effects, implementing supports to increase ease and opportunity for each dose, and employing effective communication (i.e., articulating when, where, and how) around available supports to enable capability and opportunity. This brief is designed to complement and enhance existing vaccination rollout campaigns in Ontario. The intent is to provide behavioural science-informed insights into which strategies and policies can be leveraged to address multifaceted vaccination barriers, enabling Ontarians to get each dose. As vaccine supply continues to increase in the province, this strategy will accelerate Ontario’s race to maximize immunity and support a post-pandemic Ontario.

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 17, 2021

Drugs and COVID-19: Information for Patients and Healthcare Professionals

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 16, 2021

Clinical Practice Guidelines Webinar: Tocilizumab

Webinar hosted by the Ontario COVID-19 Drugs & Biologics Clinical Practice Guidelines Working Group Presenters: Laveena Munshi MD MSc, Stephanie Carlin PharmD, Beth Leung PharmD MsCI Moderator: Brad Langford PharmD Date: Monday, April 26, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST Audience: Clinicians in all hospital settings (acute teaching, large community, small community) Objectives: • Summarize the data on the use of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19 • Describe the recommended populations to receive tocilizumab • Provide advice and considerations regarding secondary infections • Discuss access and use of tocilizumab in the context of a shortage situation

infectious-diseases-clinical-care, science-brief

| June 16, 2021

Clinical Practice Guidelines Webinar: Medications for Outpatients with COVID-19

Webinar hosted by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table's Drugs & Biologics Clinical Practice Guidelines Working Group on June 15, 2021. Presenters: Kate Miller, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Ullanda Niel, MD, CCFP, FCFP, and Sumit Raybardhan BScPhm, ACPR, MPH, BCIDP Moderator: Brad Langford, PharmD Objectives: Provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of medications for managing COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. Address patient questions about the appropriate use of medications for acutely managing COVID-19. Describe tools and resources that can be used to help support prescribing for outpatients with COVID-19.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| June 10, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Projections

health-equity-social-determinants-of-health, science-brief

| June 8, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination for People with Disabilities

Internationally, people with disabilities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, accounting for nearly 60% of COVID-19 deaths in the UK and overall higher mortality rates based on social, clinical, and demographic factors. Ontario has prioritized people with disabilities across the three phases of its COVID-19 vaccination program, but there is a difference between availability and accessibility of vaccination. Ontario’s 34 public health units are responsible for leading the local distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, and their public facing websites serve as entry points for information on the accessibility of vaccination. On average, these websites contain information about 5 of 18 key accessibility features, across three domains: accessible communication, physical accessibility, and accessible social and sensory environments. Ontario needs a multi-pronged strategy to reach all people with disabilities that includes improving information about communication accessibility, physical accessibility, and social and sensory environment accessibility throughout the COVID-19 vaccination journey. Ontario’s progress on vaccinating people with disabilities needs to also be measured through enhanced data monitoring efforts.

public-policy-economic-impact, science-brief

| June 4, 2021

COVID-19 and Education Disruption in Ontario: Emerging Evidence on Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant education disruption in Ontario. This has included mass and localized school closures, multiple models of educational provision and gaps in support for students with disabilities. The unequal distribution of school closures and pandemic-associated hardships, particularly affecting low-income families in which racialized and Indigenous groups, newcomers and people with disabilities are overrepresented, appear to be deepening and accelerating inequities in education outcomes, wherever data have been collected. Further, there are health risks associated with closures including significant physical, mental health and safety harms for students and children. Modelling suggests long-term impacts on students’ lifetime earnings and the national economy. There are substantial data gaps on the impact of closures on Ontario’s children. However, existing information and analysis can inform strategies to minimize further pandemic disruptions to children’s education and development. Identifying or tracking areas where students are facing the greatest challenges in the wake of COVID-19 and implementing systematic supports to address pandemic-associated educational harms are critical to minimizing the overall impact and supporting recovery.

epidemiology-public-health-implementation, science-brief

| May 31, 2021

Lessons Learned from Israel’s Reopening During a Nationwide COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

Israel maintained an overall decrease in SARS-CoV-2 cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths throughout all phases of reopening. Key elements of Israel’s reopening included a high proportion of adults receiving 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, a phased approach prioritizing the reopening of outdoor activities and schools first, and a ‘Green Pass’ or vaccination certificate allowing fully vaccinated or COVID-19 recovered individuals to enter higher SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk settings.

public-policy-economic-impact, science-brief

| May 29, 2021

Response to the Premier of Ontario

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