COVID-19 Update
- Changes to Halton Region Public Health vaccine distribution
Effective the week of Monday, November 2, 2020, all vaccine orders will be delivered to health care provider’s offices by courier.
- Changes to Halton Region Public Health vaccine ordering
All vaccine orders can now be placed online. Fax/paper orders will no longer be accepted after November 30, 2020.
Ordering Vaccines
Use the vaccine order form to request influenza, routine, high-risk and school-based vaccines. Temperature logs must be submitted with all orders.
When picking up vaccines, please check in at main reception and ensure that you bring:
- A pre-cooled, hard-sided cooler;
- An electronic device that measures temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius; and
- Ice packs and a water blanket inside the cooler.
Frequently asked questions on ordering vaccines
Receiving all vaccine orders online helps streamline the ordering process, improving the efficiency and accuracy of processing vaccine orders in Halton.
Temperature logs are submitted electronically through the online order form. They can either be entered manually or by uploading an image when placing your online vaccine order.
Vaccine orders submitted after 4 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to a scheduled delivery date will be processed and delivered for the next scheduled bi-weekly delivery date.
Please note: If you’ve missed the delivery and will need the vaccines more urgently (e.g. high risk vaccines), before the next scheduled delivery date, you can pick up the order at the Halton Regional Centre (1151 Bronte Road, Oakville) Tuesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. Ensure you choose the “pick up” option instead of delivery option when submitting orders past the deadline.
We are requesting that health care providers transition to online vaccine ordering starting immediately. Orders will not be received by fax after November 30, 2020. If you need support in transitioning to online ordering, email vaccinedepot@halton.ca.
Vaccine Distribution
Starting the week of November 2, 2020 all vaccine orders (includes influenza, routine, and special/high-risk) will be delivered by courier bi-weekly in each municipality in Halton as follows:
- Burlington/Milton – Tuesdays
- Oakville/Halton Hills – Wednesdays
Order by Wednesday before 4 p.m.
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South Halton Delivery
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BURLINGTON
Tuesday delivery
between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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OAKVILLE
Wednesday delivery
between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2020
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Tuesday, November 3, 2020
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Wednesday, November 4, 2020
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Wednesday, November 11, 2020
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Tuesday, November 17, 2020
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Wednesday, November 18, 2020
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Wednesday, November 25, 2020
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Tuesday, December 1, 2020
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Wednesday, December 2, 2020
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Wednesday, December 9, 2020
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Tuesday, December 15, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
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South Halton delivery resumes week of January 11, 2021. For urgent orders, pick up at 1151 Bronte Rd. Tuesday, January 5, 2021 8-10 a.m. Please order by: Monday, December 21, 2020
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Please note: Vaccine order processing and delivery will be unavailable
Thursday, December 24 2020 through Monday, January 4, 2021
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Wednesday, January 6, 2021
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Tuesday, January 12, 2021
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021
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Wednesday, January 20, 2021
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Tuesday, January 26, 2021
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
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Wednesday, February 3, 2021
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Tuesday, February 9, 2021
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Wednesday, February 10, 2021
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021
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Wednesday, March 3, 2021
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Tuesday, March 9, 2021
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Wednesday, March 10, 2021
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Wednesday, March 17, 2020
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Tuesday, March 23, 2021
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Wednesday, March 24, 2021
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Order by Wednesday before 4 p.m.
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North Halton Delivery
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MILTON
Tuesday delivery
between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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HALTON HILLS
Wednesday delivery
between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 4, 2020
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Tuesday, November 10, 2020
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Wednesday, November 11, 2020
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Wednesday, November 18, 2020
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Tuesday, November 24, 2020
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Wednesday, November 25, 2020
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Wednesday, December 2, 2020
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Tuesday, December 8, 2020
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Wednesday, December 9, 2020
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Wednesday, December 16, 2020
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Tuesday, December 22, 2020
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Wednesday, December 23, 2020
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North Halton delivery resumes week of January 18, 2021. For urgent orders, pick up at 1151 Bronte Rd. Tuesday, January 12, 2021 8-10 a.m. Please order by: Wednesday, January 6, 2021
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Please note: Vaccine order processing and delivery will be unavailable
Thursday, December 24 2020 through Monday, January 4, 2021
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021
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Tuesday, January 19, 2021
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Wednesday, January 20, 2021
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
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Tuesday, February 2, 2021
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Wednesday, February 3, 2021
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Wednesday, February 10, 2021
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021
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Tuesday, March 2, 2021
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Wednesday, March 3, 2021
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Wednesday, March 10, 2021
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Tuesday, March 16, 2021
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Wednesday, March 17, 2021
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Wednesday, March 24, 2020
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Tuesday, March 30, 2021
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Wednesday, March 31, 2021
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Frequently asked questions on vaccine delivery
Public health measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in limited public access to services offered at the Halton Regional Centre - 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville. To ensure continued access to publicly funded vaccines, Halton Region Public Health is implementing a vaccine courier service to minimize the need for health care providers to pick up vaccines at the Halton Regional Centre.
If you have an existing arrangement with a courier service, you can continue to use it. However, if you wish to transition to Halton Region’s courier service, please contact the vaccine depot at vaccinedepot@halton.ca for more information or to be added to our courier schedule.
If you have been picking up your vaccine orders at Joseph Brant, Georgetown, or Milton District hospitals, this option will no longer be available after October 30, 2020, and your vaccine orders will be delivered directly to your office.
Vaccine orders submitted after 4 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to a scheduled delivery date will be processed and delivered for the next scheduled bi-weekly delivery date.
Please note: If the vaccines are required more urgently before the next scheduled delivery date (e.g. missed delivery or high risk vaccines), please call 311 or email vaccinedepot@halton.ca for options.
Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines (PDF file) require that health care providers storing publicly funded vaccines meet specific requirements, including appropriately monitored refrigeration and cold chain maintenance. If bi-weekly delivery of vaccine orders will cause issues related to appropriate storage and inventory practices, please contact vaccinedepot@halton.ca to discuss options.
If you are unable to receive your vaccine on the scheduled delivery date for your municipality, please email vaccinedepot@halton.ca for options.
Due to COVID-19 disruptions, Halton Region Public Health will be offering complementary vaccine deliveries until March 31, 2021 for influenza, routine and special/high-risk vaccine orders. In the future, the cost to continue to delivery vaccines will be reassessed.
Vaccine Storage
Recent inspections of refrigerators in health care provider premises have shown that improper storage of vaccines is a significant problem in Ontario. Under the authority of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, public health units must inspect storage locations of provincially funded vaccines.
The purpose of annual inspections is to:
- Ensure the proper management of vaccine inventories (store in temperatures of 2-8 degrees Celsius)
- Provide education strategies to minimize vaccine wastage
- Promote vaccine safety and effectiveness
If you are a health care provider storing provincially funded vaccines, ensure all staff familiarize themselves with proper vaccine storage and handling guidelines (PDF file)
Proper Vaccine Storage procedures
- Read, record and clear the min/max thermometer twice per day in the temperature log book.
- Post the Ministry cold chain material on the fridge door.
- Close and secure fridge door after each use.
- Place water bottles on inside of fridge door to maintain proper temperatures.
- Ensure no ice has built up in the freezer.
- Place thermometer probe in the center of the fridge in an empty vaccine box.
- Store vaccines on the middle shelf.
- Date all opened multi-dose vials.
- Protect all vaccine from light.
- Keep refrigerator plugged in at all times.
NOTE: Do not store food or specimens in the vaccine fridge.
What to Do With Spoiled or Expired Vaccines
- Report all fridge temperatures outside the 2-8 degrees Celcius range to the Health Department immediately
- Return all expired/exposed vaccine to the Health Department
- Prior to moving or changing vaccine fridges, notify the Health Department
Report a vaccine storage failure by calling 311 or fill out the applicable form below.
Influenza Vaccine
Resources
- Ministry of Health
- Government of Canada
- Halton Region
For information on this year’s influenza immunization program, visit the Ministry of Health’s 2020/2021 Universal Influenza Immunization Program webpage (external link) to read the National Advisory Committee of Immunization statement (external link) and the NACI Statement re. Post-Vaccination Observation Period for Influenza During COVID-19. (PDF file).
Distribution and delivery
Health care providers taking part in the 2020/2021 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (external link) will first receive the influenza vaccine in one predetermined amount. This allotment can be administered to the general population, not just high-risk populations.
Halton Region Public Health will accept orders the week of October 13, 2020 for additional doses of influenza vaccine. Orders submitted prior to this date will not be processed. Influenza vaccine orders must be submitted through the online vaccine order form, and must include a copy of your recent fridge temperature log. Faxed orders will no longer be accepted.
To limit in-person vaccine order pick-ups at the Halton Regional Centre, Halton Region Public Health is implementing a courier vaccine delivery method for vaccine, starting with influenza.
For information on this year’s influenza immunization program, visit the Ministry of Health’s 2020/2021 Universal Influenza Immunization Program webpage (external link) to read the National Advisory Committee of Immunization statement (external link) and the NACI Statement re. Post-Vaccination Observation Period for Influenza During COVID-19. (PDF file).
Vaccine Exemptions
Important information regarding vaccine education sessions
- Until further notice, Halton Region Public Health has suspended vaccine education session for parents and guardians.
A parent or guardian may decide against vaccinating their child for medical or personal reasons. Choose the necessary exemption form for your patient from the list below.
Please remind patients that by law, parents wishing to exempt their children from vaccines because of personal choice, must attend an in-person education session on vaccines at the Health Department.
Updated Eligibility for Routine Vaccines
Children ages 4-6 years old who need both a second dose of MMR AND a second dose of chickenpox vaccine may receive this vaccine. (Children under 4 as well as those receiving either antigen for the 1st time should receive the antigens separately.)
In Ontario, the rotavirus vaccine is publicly funded for infants 6 - 24 weeks of age. The following dosing schedule is recommended:
- First dose at 2 months of age
- Second dose 4 months of age
- Third dose at 6 months of age
All rotavirus vaccine doses should be given by 32 weeks of age.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has expanded Ontario’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV4) Immunization Program. Changes include:
- Offering HPV4 vaccine to all boys and girls in grade 7 from the 2016-17 school year and going forward.
- Ongoing eligibility for females until the end of August after grade 12
- Ongoing eligibility for males who were in grade 7 in the 2016-17 school year until the end of August after grade 12
Vaccines are offered at Halton regional immunization clinics by appointment. Patients should call 311 to schedule an appointment.
Immunization Clinics
Important information regarding Halton Public Health school programs
- Until further notice, Halton Region Public Health has temporarily suspended some school health programs. This includes:
- vaccine education sessions for parents and guardians;
- oral health clinics; and
- school health promotion activities performed by public health nurses.
- Planning for immunization catch-up clinics for all students is underway. Please check back regularly for updates.
In Ontario, routine immunizations are mainly given in family doctor’s offices. However, Halton Region also offers Community Immunization Clinics for school-based immunizations.
No-Cost Vaccines:
- All vaccines in the childhood routine schedule
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib; measles, mumps and rubella; chickenpox; pneumococcal conjugate; Men C
- Tdap: All adults up to the age of 64 can receive one life-time dose.
- Eligible school-aged children who missed their school-based clinic:
- Hepatitis B
- Menactra (Meningococcal ACYW-135)
- Gardasil (HPV)
- These are all the vaccines that are included in the publicly funded schedule.
Vaccines offered for a fee:
- The Health Department does not provide these vaccines.
Topics Library
Reducing Vaccine Injection Pain in Children
Reporting an Adverse Event Following Immunization
As a health care provider, the law requires you to report an adverse event following an immunization. Do your part to monitor adverse events by following these three easy steps:
- Advise patients to contact you if they experience an unwanted and unexpected health effect after receiving a vaccine.
- Report adverse events to your local public health unit. Use the Report of Adverse Event Following Immunization Reporting Form. (external PDF)
- If you have questions, contact your local public health unit.
Once you have completed the reporting form, fax it to 905-465-3403.