September 2023 Board of Health Meeting - Minutes

1. Quorum – Confirmed
2. Land Acknowledgement - Read by Board Chair, F. Costante
3. Declaration of Conflict of Interest – No conflicts declared

1. Student Immunization Coverage and Vaccine Opportunities (K. McBeth) (for information)   
   K. McBeth introduced the WECHU Manager of Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Marc Frey, and Manager, Healthy Schools, Joanne Hegazi.  She noted the great work accomplished by both of their  teams in student immunization and the reports included in todays package. Through their efforts, school age individuals in Windsor-Essex are over 90% compliant with Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) and provided the following information through slides:   
   The role of Public Health:   
   •    Public health units are required under the ISPA to review student immunization records for students in their areas to ensure compliance   
   •    Routine immunizations to Grade 7 students in Windsor-Essex (vaccine series Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal Disease)   
   •    The WECHU offers immunization catch-up clinics and strategies for missed vaccination and works with local health care providers to ensure the provision of school aged vaccines and those that are required to attend school    
   •    WECHU in-house catch up clinics were quite full over the summer   
   
   Current School Aged Immunization coverage:   
   •    Immunization coverage for students in Windsor-Essex varies by disease, ranging from 61.5% for HPV to 95.3% for Rubella   
   •    Coverage rates for all diseases (except Rubella) fall below the national target of 95% for childhood vaccines and 90% for adolescent vaccines   
   
   Next Steps:    
   •    Over the next 12 months we will start the first round of grade 7 school based immunization clinics (round 1), once concluded in December we will resume catch up immunization strategies and a full record review for all grades (JK-12).    
   •    Enforcement of the ISPA for both elementary and secondary school students will take place in March (each separate dates) as the start of our maintenance strategy.    
   We will then complete the second round of grade 7 immunizations and during the summer months focus proactively on readiness for  JK/SK students and local daycares.   
   
   Outcomes of Completed Process in 2022-2023 and Opportunities for the Board of Health:   
   •    Improved immunization coverage for school aged individuals is a direct outcome of the completed enforcement process    
   •    Maintenance is the only way to keep up – it is resource intensive but important for public health    
   •    Our commitment needs to be barrier-free access to vaccines to improve protection    
   •    Catch up immunization and timely initiation of childhood vaccines should be a priority for those with missing doses   
   •    The Board of Health can encourage ongoing resource support for public health in the area of school age immunization to maintain and improve coverage rates (WECHU goal is to reach national immunization targets – 90- 95% coverage dependant on disease), as well as advocate for improved access for HPV vaccine coverage under the provincially funded vaccine program   
   
   HPV Vaccination:   
   •    Approximately 61.5% of eligible students in Windsor-Essex are immunized against HPV – this varies by age and coverage is slightly higher in females than in males   
   •    The cost of the HPV vaccination series (3 doses at $215/dose) is covered by the Ontario government for students in Grade 7-12 and the WECHU offers this vaccine to all Grade 7 students annually   
   •    The HPV vaccine is also available to some high priority individuals at no cost (covered by the province) including self identified men who have sex with men, individuals who identify as gay or bisexual and some people who identify as transgender, up to the age of 26.   
   •    For individuals who do not meet these criteria, the vaccine can be purchased with a prescription through a health care provider.    
   •    K. McBeth directed the Board to Section 8.0, Resolution, Recommendation Reports, Item 8.1, HPV Vaccine Coverage in Ontario.   
   
   Moved:        That the above information be received.   
   CARRIED

1. Information Reports (for approval)
   1. Annual Service Plan Q2 2023 Reporting and accompanying Report
   2. 2022- 2025 Strategic Plan Q2 Report and accompanying Report
   3. Monthly SafePoint Site Operations Updates:
      1. July 2023
      2. August 2023
   4. W-E Community Opioid and Substance Use Strategy Update 
   5. Immunization Coverage in 7, 12 and 17 year olds in W-E County
   6. Seasonal Influenza and COVID-19 Season 2023/2024
   7. Q2 2023 Board of Health Feedback Survey Results
   8. Communications Reports
      1. June 2023
      2. July 2023
      3. August 2023   
         Motion:               That the above information be approved.     
         CARRIED        
2. Correspondence
   1. Municipality of Chatham-Kent Public Health - Letter to Hon. Doug Ford, Premier, and Hon. Syvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health - Universal, No-cost coverage for all Prescription Contraceptive Options to all People Living in Ontario - for support 
   2. Windsor-Essex County Health Unit - Federal School Food Policy and Advocacy Letter - Letter to Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Hon. Lawrence MacAuley, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Policy and Procurement - Investing in a Sustainable Federal School Food Policy - for approval   
      
      Motion:    That the Board support the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s letter to The Hon. Premier Doug Ford and The Hon. Sylvia Jones for No-cost coverage for all Prescription Contraception Options for all people living in Ontario   
      CARRIED   
      Motion:    That the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Letter to The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, and various ministers advocating for a Federal School Food Policy be approved.   
      CARRIED

1. HPV Vaccine Coverage in Ontario (K. McBeth) (for approval)   
   K. McBeth spoke of HPV Vaccine Coverage in Ontario in Section 6.1 above, and that Board of Health advocacy is where we may see changes at the provincial level.  WECHU Resolutions are also shared with other public health units for their information and/or support.  The following motion was put forth for the Board’s consideration:   
   Motion:               That the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health recommends that the Province of Ontario extend the coverage for HPV vaccine through the publicly funded vaccine schedule to include all individuals up to the age of 26 (at minimum), and to eligible individuals from all high-risk populations (age limit based on product monograph).    
   
   Further that the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health recommends local health care providers in Windsor and Essex County engage all clients under the age of 45 and parents/guardians of children in grades 6-12 to discuss: HPV vaccine status, review the benefits of HPV vaccination, and discuss options for those eligible and unvaccinated/undervaccinated. 

1. CEO Report (K. Blanchette) (for information)     
   K. Blanchette provided the following CEO updates:      
   •    He attended the Association of Public Health Business Administrators Conference on September 10-12, 2023, continuing to build on relationships with other public health units and one-on-one connections with those in charge of our funding  
   •    Letters of Support were sent to the City of Windsor and County of Essex in support of ProsperUs Advocacy Working Group’s letter regarding increased access to Primary Care Providers in the Windsor-Essex Region  
   •    K. Blanchette has met with the Executive Director of the Childrens’ Aid Society, and continues to build a strong relationship.  
   •    He has been asked to participate in the International Association for Great Lakes Research Annual Conference (IAGLR) in May 2024 “Shared Lakes: One Water, One Health”. The conference will highlight the environment and public health, and they are looking to the Ministry for key note speakers  
   •    The WECHU participated in and supported the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest  
   •    The WECHU participated in a Fall Respiratory Disease Exercise in August  
   •    K. Blanchette provided a brief update on SafePoint, the Consumption and Treatment Services Site, noting that we are still awaiting provincial approval.  At this time we are uncertain of the delay and there has been ongoing and excellent communication with the province.  We have provided what was required and the province continues to stay in touch.  This is a very detailed process but we have not yet been provided a timeline.  The WECHU and Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE) have submitted a joint proposal to the High Priority Community Funding Committee (HPCF) for joint funding, and we recently received a letter from the HPCF Committee that joint funding will be forthcoming for SafePoint.
2. Ministry of Health, Public Health Announcement (K. Blanchette) (for information)   
   K. Blanchette referred to the presentation, 2023 Ministry of Health Funding Approval and noted the following:  
   •    The Ministry of Health’s 1% increase in funding for public health units of 1%, each year for 3 years.  With the funding announcement coming later in the year, our funding was pro-rated for this year at 0.75%.  
   •    We have received the MOH/AMOH compensation initiative of $28,200, which is 100% funded by the Ministry.  
   •    We were awarded $651,400 for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) to assist in staff and resources to reduce wait times.  We are outsourcing as well.  The WECHU’s move to the University of Windsor will increase the size of our dental operatories from 3 to 7, also reducing that impact.  The OSDCP is also 100% funded by the Ministry.  
   •    One-time funding was also discussed and we are participating in conversations with the Ministry around mitigation funding.   
   
   Correspondence from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and the Association of Public Health Business Administrators noting the 1% increase in funding was presented to the Board for information.
   1. Correspondence from Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa)
   2. Correspondence from Association of Ontario Public Health Business Administrators  
      Motion:               That the information be received as presented.  
      CARRIED

Adjournment     
Motion:               That the meeting be adjourned.     
CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m.