This report summarizes the Winter Institute, held on February 7-9, 2023 in Winnipeg. The event brought together over 100 community experts, policy makers and public health personnel from Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, to explore the potential for partnerships between shelters and public health.
Publications
Connect Care’s Best Practice Advisory for Syphilis
In this case study, we describe the process and planning done by AHS STI Services to create an outbreak strategy using a Best Practice Advisory. The BPA is an example of a promising practice for syphilis testing alerts that can be adapted in other parts of the country.
Maximizing the impact of limited vaccine supply under different early epidemic conditions: a 2-city modelling analysis of monkeypox transmission among men who have sex with men
This study sought to explore how different epidemic conditions could affect optimal allocation of a limited supply of mpox vaccines across 2 partially connected GBMSM networks.
Hepatitis A Immunization and High-Risk Populations in Canada and Internationally
This document is intended to be a resource for public health professionals and policy-makers, to identify similarities and differences among hepatitis A policies and immunization criteria in Canada.
Summary of Findings from the 2021 Manitoba Harm Reduction Network Evaluation
This document summarizes key findings from the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network Evaluation. Findings include recommendations for changes to programs and practices that can be made by harm reduction service providers, clinics, and other public health organizations.
Report of an Evaluation of Manitoba Harm Reduction Network Services in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
An Emerging Syndemic Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March of 2020, extensive public health resources have been directed to identifying cases, curbing transmission, and carrying out vaccination campaigns. This focus has undoubtedly saved lives; it has also reduced the attention paid to other public health crises in Canada, including epidemics of sexually transmitted…
Incarceration and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Diseases
Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) rates have been increasing across Canada, particularly for hepatitis C (HCV), gonorrhea, and syphilis, including the highest rates of congenital syphilis ever reported. STBBI transmission is influenced by social, structural, and environmental factors, and these infections are increasingly associated with substance use, inadequate housing, and a history of incarceration….
Rural Immunization Programs Considerations for the Canadian Context
This review of evidence provides an overview of the rural risk profile for COVID-19 and vaccination in rural Canada, and explores factors contributing to success in rural vaccination campaigns and ways to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
National Forum on STBBI Testing and Linkages to Care: Reaching the Undiagnosed: Meeting Proceedings
This meeting provided an opportunity for attendees to share current research and information on a range of STBBI testing modalities and programs from jurisdictions across Canada, and to discuss opportunities, challenges, and potential next steps for reaching the undiagnosed.
Corrections and correctional facilities as a public health setting in Canada
In the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic context, there has been increasing attention to correctional facilities and other congregate settings as catalysts for infectious disease transmission. It is well known that infectious and other diseases are prevalent in correctional facilities around the world and Canada is no exception. Rachlis et al. discuss the importance of considering…
Harm Reduction in a Rural Setting: Lessons learned from HCV and HIV outbreaks in Scott County, Indiana
The increased use of crystal methamphetamine and other drugs has led to an increased demand for needle and syringe harm reduction services across Canada. There have been a small number of HIV outbreaks in rural parts of Canada, but these environments have mostly limited services for harm reduction and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) testing.
Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted and Blood‐Borne Infections: A Canadian Realist Review
Canada has endorsed global targets to eliminate sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) as public health threats by 2030. Despite these goals, STBBI – including HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), human papilloma virus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and Trichomonas vaginalis – continue to be important public health concerns. Notably, reported…