12 12 05 coronavirus cig sc vol 5 no 38

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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEW: Updates to the Canadian
Immunization Guide
REMINDER: Ontario Drug Benefit
Coverage for Smoking Cessation
Medications and Counselling
UPDATE: Novel Coronavirus

NEW: Updates to the Canadian Immunization
NEW: Expanded Role of Pharmacists in
Smoking Cessation Programming
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Public Health Agency of Canada are in the process of updating the 2006 edition of the regulations to allow pharmacists the ability to Canadian Immunization Guide. New and revised prescribe varenicline (Champix®) and bupropion chapters are posted at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/. (Zyban®) for the purposes of smoking cessation, and to renew prescriptions for varenicline REMINDER: Ontario Drug Benefit Coverage
for Smoking Cessation Medications and
Pharmacists prescribing these medications must: Counselling
Provide patient counselling similar to the This is a reminder that the Ontario Government will cover prescriptions for Ontario Drug Benefit Notify the patient’s physician that the drug (ODB)-eligible patients who are prescribed varenicline (Champix®) or bupropion (Zyban®) for smoking-cessation treatment, in conjunction with http://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2012/10/ontario-expands-services-offered-by-pharmacists.html ODB-eligible patients will require a valid prescription from their doctor in order to access Key Points
ODB eligibility includes residents of Ontario with valid health cards who meet at least one of the http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/. Ontario Drug Benefit covers prescriptions for varenicline (Champix®) or bupropion Pharmacists have the ability to prescribe or Registered in the Trillium Drug Program Receiving social assistance through Ontario Novel coronavirus infections continue to be For more information, visit the Ministry of Health www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/smoking/ Page 2 of 2

UPDATE: Novel Coronavirus

Since the last update in the HPU dated Thursday,
November 29, 2012, there have been three more
cases of novel coronavirus infection reported, all of
which have been fatal:
One case was identified in Saudi Arabia in October 2012 and has been linked to two previously reported cases of novel coronavirus infection. Two cases were part of a severe pneumonia cluster identified in April 2012 in Jordan, but were not tested for novel coronavirus until October 2012. For information on testing and occupational health and safety precautions, refer to the Important Health Notice (IHN) released September 27, 2012: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/emb/health_notices/ihn_20120927.pdf 7120 Hurontario Street, PO Box 667 RPO Streetsville, Mississauga, ON L5M 2C2 Tel: (905) 799-7700 www.peelregion.ca
The Health Professionals Update is distributed to physician offices in Peel Region. Please reproduce copies for each physician in your practice.

Source: http://www.peelregion.ca/health/professionals/pdfs/2012updates/12-05-2012-update.pdf