Influenza Vaccine and UIIP

Each spring, the Ministry of Health posts the Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP) application materials on a separate web page.

The Ministry sends out notices in early May each year to pharmacies, retirement homes and other facilities that have participated in the UIIP in the past to let them know about the application process and deadlines.

Who should apply to the UIIP?

• Facilities that DO NOT have publically funded vaccines in an approved vaccine fridge all year long and are planning to administer influenza and/or covid vaccines in the fall.
  • Why do you need to apply? Before publically funded vaccines can be released to your facility, you need to have your vaccine fridge inspected and understand the expectations around safe vaccine storage and handling.
  • Facilities that store and administer vaccines throughout the year complete the Annual Fridge Inspection Process every year and submit monthly temperature logs all year long. They are allowed to order publically funded vaccines including influenza.
• Facilities that intend to use their own staff to immunize staff and residents. The facility is NOT intending to partner with a local pharmacy to administer vaccines to their residents (Retirement Homes).
  • If your Retirement Home is thinking about partnering with a pharmacy, there are a few things to confirm before you decide to not submit a UIIP application.
    • The Pharmacy must be local to this Health Unit area. Publically funded vaccines are not allowed to ‘travel’ across Health Unit boundaries. The pharmacy that supplies your medications for residents is not be eligible to come in and vaccinate at your facility if they are located in Ottawa Public Health Region, Eastern Ontario Health Unit Region or Renfrew County District Health Unit Region.
    • The pharmacy must have a registered injection-trained pharmacist that is able to come and administer the vaccines.
    • The Pharmacy confirms they are aware of the plan and will be able to get the needed doses of vaccines needed to immunize your residents. The pharmacy must complete a UIIP application.

Each September, the Health Unit updates their vaccine order page for seasonal vaccines to include information about available influenza vaccines, order deadlines and when they expect to receive vaccine from Ontario Government Pharmacy.

• The Health Unit does NOT automatically send Influenza vaccine to any HCP or facility, you must place an order using the online order form.
• The Health Unit strives to fairly distribute available doses of high dose flu vaccine as it becomes available and according to Ministry Guidelines for eligibility.
• The Health Unit will refer to the previous year’s order quantities and returned doses. Our goal is to limit vaccine wastage.