Board of Health
The full agenda, as filed
All 5 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
HL36.1amended
Response to COVID-19 - April 2022 Update
The Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Response to COVID-19 - April 2022 Update.
The Board of Health: 1. Expressed its full support to the Medical Officer of Health to implement additional measures to address the harm of COVID-19, as needed. 2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in partnership with Ontario Health and the City's community and health sector partners, to accelerate the integration of the delivery of on-site COVID-19 vaccination, testing, treatment, and health and social services. 3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to continue using the VaxTO program for the COVID-19 3rd- and 4th-dose campaign, and to scale up live calling in support of vaccine booster dose uptake. 4. Requested the Province of Ontario to re-enable local Medical Officers of Health to issue letters of instruction as part of the local toolkit to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and help keep people safe. 5. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to implement a public health promotion campaign to inform the public of COVID-19 risks and provide guidance for risk mitigation. 6. Requested the Medical Officer of Health and the Province of Ontario to provide additional focused guidance to help the public discern how best to employ layers of protection against COVID-19 and to provide support to those at greatest risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19, including priority access to testing, personal protective equipment, and other resources to support safer public interactions. 7. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to explore innovative and accessible ways to use data to communicate with the public to enable informed decisions about how best to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. 8. Requested the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health to work with Toronto Public Health, primary care, pharmacies, other health care practitioners, and any other relevant stakeholders, to facilitate access to and increase appropriate uptake of COVID-19 treatments, incorporating core elements such as: a. an information campaign to raise awareness among health care providers and the public of the availability of this effective treatment; b. resources to support health care providers and the public to use available COVID-19 treatments; and c. a strategy to leverage existing community vaccine distribution infrastructure to ensure effective, equitable access to COVID-19 treatment. 9. Requested the Province of Ontario to work with relevant stakeholders and communities to expand the collection of sociodemographic data in the health system (which may include, for example, optimizing the linkage of existing Census data with health data) to ensure that resources are deployed to the populations with the greatest need and to ensure equitable and culturally-safe access to health and social services. 10. Forwarded Part 9 above, concerning the collection of sociodemographic data, to all Boards of Health in Ontario and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies. 11. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to provide public reporting on, and consider for potential inclusion in dashboard changes, the following: a. COVID-19 related hospitalizations among school-aged children and youth; b. transmission of COVID-19 in schools; and c. health workforce absentee data.
HL36.2amended
TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan Update
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto have been committed to identifying and mitigate inequities in health outcomes for Torontonians. In December 2020, the Board of Health endorsed the TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan with 25 targeted equity actions. This report responds to the Board of Health's request on March 21, 2022 for an update on TO Supports: Equity Action Plan, including Vaccine Engagement Teams. Overall, TO Supports has demonstrated innovation, effectiveness, responsiveness and impact in providing assistance, outreach, and resources for equity-deserving Torontonians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A post-pandemic recovery must respond to the compounded effects on the health and well-being of equity-deserving populations and remain adaptable to potential changes in public health needs driven by future variants, vaccine changes or increased disease severity. Successful equity-focused engagement models that have been employed effectively as part of the pandemic response are being explored to support a more equitable pandemic recovery, and longer-term engagement model for public health, health care, and social services.
The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to include recommendations for extending the successful work of Vaccine Engagement Teams to continue supporting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, as part of the report to the Board of Health on the evaluation of Vaccine Engagement Teams at its meeting on May 16, 2022. 2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to include recommendations for adapting the community-based Vaccine Engagement Teams model to address other health inequities that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the report to the Board of Health on the development of new approaches to address public health issues at its meeting on June 20, 2022.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, recommend that: 1. The Board of Health receive this report for information.
HL36.3amended
Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Youth
This report responds to the Board of Health's request for an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-age children and youth, including current programs operated by Toronto Public Health (TPH) to support this population (see Item HL35.7). The COVID-19 pandemic has had both direct and indirect impacts on the health of children and youth. Data on COVID-19 cases and outcomes over the course of the pandemic show that children and youth have generally experienced less severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection, relative to older age groups. Although rare, instances of serious illness and loss of life have occurred among children and youth. These are tragic outcomes for those who have been impacted, as well as their family, friends, and communities. Children and youth have experienced a wide range of indirect physical and mental health outcomes that are concerning and merit further investigation and attention. The COVID-19 pandemic led to multiple interruptions to in-person learning for Toronto's children and youth resulting from both school closures and loss of educational days due to illness and isolation requirements. Although these and other public health measures were necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its associated health impacts, evidence shows that they had unintended impacts for many of Toronto's children and youth in the areas of mental health, substance use, nutrition, physical activity, and negative impacts on their access to dental health services and vaccines against preventable diseases. Remote learning has also led to widening pre-existing educational disparities due to limited support and resources for remote learning among students with pre-existing behavioural concerns, lower socio-economic backgrounds, single parent homes, racialized and marginalized groups, Indigenous communities, or those that have pre-existing mental health concerns. Nonetheless, the experience of children and youth has not been uniform, and there are indications that the shift to remote learning was beneficial for some. This points to a need for further investigation to inform approaches that address the urgent need for focused policy, strategies, and population-level interventions targeting the vulnerable population of school aged children and youth to promote mental health recovery, growth, and development. While the direct provision of mental health services falls outside of TPH's mandate, staff will continue to collaborate with schools, school communities and school boards, providing the public health expertise necessary to integrate these interventions into the school system and TPH's existing school health offerings. Toronto Public Health will also provide expertise regarding the need to understand current and future mental health issues through research and the evaluation of interventions.
The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province of Ontario and Toronto School Boards to conduct further research and establish a baseline assessment of the mental health and well-being of youth in Toronto, to be used to measure the performance of future interventions. 2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto School Boards to assist in the development of short and long-term approaches to promote the mental health and well-being of children and youth in Toronto and report back to the Board of Health with a status update in the second quarter of 2023. 3. Requested the Province of Ontario to provide resourcing to address the service backlog in the School Immunization and Dental Screening programs and support efforts to expedite this work through new service delivery channels and approaches. 4. Requested the Ministry of Health to implement a provincial electronic immunization registry for all vaccines as soon as possible. 5. Requested the Ministry of Health to work with local public health units and other relevant stakeholders to explore and implement approaches and activate more channels to further facilitate access to vaccines for children and youth, including vaccines that are traditionally administered in the School Immunization Program. 6. Forwarded the report (March 30, 2022) from the Medical Officer of Health to Canada's Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development. 7. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to provide further updates on the pandemic's impacts on children and youth as they become available.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province of Ontario and Toronto school boards to conduct further research and establish a baseline assessment of the mental health and well-being of youth in Toronto, to be used to measure the performance of future interventions. 2. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto school boards to assist in the development of short and long-term approaches to promote the mental health and well-being of children and youth in Toronto and report back to the Board of Health with a status update in the second quarter of 2023. 3. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario to provide resourcing to address the service backlog in the School Immunization and Dental Screening programs and support efforts to expedite this work through new service delivery channels and approaches. 4. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to implement a provincial electronic immunization registry for all vaccines as soon as possible. 5. The Board of Health request the Ministry of Health to work with local public health units and other relevant stakeholders to explore and implement approaches and activate more channels to further facilitate access to vaccines for children and youth, including vaccines that are traditionally administered in the School Immunization Program.
HL36.4adopted
Climate Change and the Role of Public Health
The mandate of Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the authorities of the Medical Officer of Health are primarily set out in the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). The Ontario Public Health Standards, published by the Minister of Health under the HPPA, further describe the mandatory health programs and services provided by boards of health. Natural gas is Ontario's most common heating source and accounts for 57 per cent of Toronto's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. In December 2022, the Board of Health requested the Medical Officer of Health to review the potential to declare a public health emergency as it relates to the phasing out of natural gas. This report describes the role of public health with respect to climate change and the authorities of the Medical Officer of Health to declare a public health emergency as it relates to phasing out of natural gas. While the Medical Officer of Health does not have the authority to advance the phasing out of natural gas through a public health emergency declaration, TPH will continue to provide public health advice and guidance in support of City-wide efforts to address climate change, including TransformTO, and consider public health approaches to addressing climate change as it develops its key strategic priorities following the response to COVID-19. This report was developed in consultation with Legal Services.
The Board of Health: 1. Received the report (March 28, 2022) from the Medical Officer of Health for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. The Board of Health receive this report for information.
HL36.5adopted
Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Drug Strategy
At its meeting on February 2 and 3, 2022, City Council considered Item EX29.7 and made recommendations to the Board of Health.
The Board of Health: 1. Directed the Medical Officer of Health and the Associate Director, Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat to: a. create a specific Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Drug Strategy as a component of the Toronto Drug Strategy; b. incorporate the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee's feedback into the creation of the strategy and consult with Sherbourne Health, AIDS service organizations, The 519 and other Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer health service providers; c. create educational materials and campaigns with the objective of promoting sexual health as it relates to the strategy and ending the stigma and discrimination that members of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community face; and d. request the Provincial and Federal Governments to invest in the development and implementation of the strategy. 2. Directed the Associate Director, Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat, to present an update on theimplementation of the Toronto Drug Strategy to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee in 2022.
Staff recommendation as filed
City Council recommends that: 1. The Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Health and the Associate Director, Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat to: a. create a specific Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Drug Strategy as a component of the Toronto Drug Strategy; b. incorporate the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee's feedback into the creation of the strategy and consult with Sherbourne Health, AIDS service organizations, The 519 and other Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer health service providers; c. create educational materials and campaigns with the objective of promoting sexual health as it relates to the strategy and ending the stigma and discrimination that members of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community face; and d. request the Provincial and Federal Governments to invest in the development and implementation of the strategy; and 2. The Board of Health direct the Associate Director, Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat, to present an update on implementation of the Toronto Drug Strategy to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee in 2022.