Influenza Information for Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities

Information on this page is for staff who work at long-term care or assisted living facilities located within Island Health.

Immunization Information for Healthcare Professionals
Influenza Disease & Immunizations Courses for Health Professionals
Medical Health Officers Newsletter
BCCDC: Influenza Vaccine Eligibility Criteria
Reporting Adverse Events
Reporting Influenza Vaccine RESIDENTS Form
- Completed form: Email (PREFERRED) or fax per Instructions at top of form: INTERIM report by October 29, 2021; FINAL report by November 30, 2021.
Reporting Influenza Vaccine HEALTH CARE WORKERS Form
- Completed form: Email (PREFERRED) or fax per Instructions at top of form by January 31, 2022.
Contacts:

Vaccine Stability

All staff who monitor, handle or administer vaccine must be familiar with the Cold Chain process
Influenza vaccine must always be stored between +2°C to +8° either in a monitored fridge or cooler packed according to BCCDC standards
Influenza vaccine stored in fridge: record min, max and current temperatures at the start & end of each day
Influenza vaccine stored in a cooler for ≥4 hours must be monitored with a min/max thermometer
If influenza vaccine is exposed to any temperature outside +2°C to +8°, immediately:
- place vaccine in a bag and label ‘QUARANTINE – DO NOT USE’
- store bag between +2°C to +8° in a monitored fridge or cooler packed according to BCCDC standards
- contact local health unit

2021-2022 Influenza Vaccine Products

The following products will be available in B.C. this season for long-term care and assisted living residents and staff.

Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines
FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE	Residents ≥65 years and living in long term care and assisted living facilities May be available for purchase at local pharmacies for individuals who do not qualify for a publicly funded dose (as described in bullet above)	Pre-filled syringe
FLULAVAL®	Residents and staff of facilities less than 65 years of age	Multi-dose vial
FLUZONE®	Residents and staff of facilities less than 65 years of age	Multi-dose vial or Pre-filled syringe
AFLURIA®	Residents and staff of facilities less than 65 years of age	Multi-dose vial

FLULAVAL® and AFLURIA®: once punctured, multi-dose vials must be used within 28 days
FLUZONE®: once punctured, multi-dose vials stored between +2°C to +8°C can be used up to the expiry date on the label
Pre-filled syringes take up approximately 10x more fridge space than multi-dose vials and do not come with needles

Ordering Influenza Vaccine

Vaccine Order Form

First Order: request vaccine doses based on the number of long-term care and assisted living residents and non-Island Health staff (including volunteers) at your facility. Occupational Health will order vaccine for Island Health staff.
Subsequent Orders: place as needed

Place your vaccine orders as soon as possible through your local health unit and plan to begin vaccinating your residents and staff as soon as vaccine is available to your facility.

Facilities that contract pharmacists to administer flu vaccine must place their own vaccine order. Indicate the name of the pharmacy on the order form if a pharmacist will be picking up the vaccine on behalf of the facility.

Anticipated distribution week of September 27th (or as soon as vaccine is available).

Influenza Outbreaks

Prepare for Outbreaks

Review your facility’s outbreak protocols and plans
Island Health: Toolkits for Infectious Diseases: Influenza & Influenza-like Illness Toolkit
Island Health: Influenza-like Illness Checklist for Long Term Care

Report Outbreaks within 24 hours

Amalgamate facilities report to their infection control practitioner
Affiliate facilities report to Public Health Communicable Disease Program:
- South Island: 1-866-665-6626
- Central Island: 1-866-770-7798
- North Island: 1-877-887-8835

Manage Outbreaks