June 19, 2026
The Honourable Sylvia Jones
Minister of Health
5th Floor
777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Dr. Kieran Moore
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health
Box 12
Toronto, ON M7A 1N3
SENT VIA EMAIL
RE: Request for Review of Pneumococcal Vaccine Eligibility
Dear Minister Jones and Dr. Moore,
Please see the attached resolution passed by the Board of Health at its February meeting.
The Board is requesting a review of the eligibility for publicly funded pneumococcal vaccine in adults as rates of invasive pneumococcal disease have increased in recent years and has resulted in increased severe disease and hospitalizations in the health unit area. An expansion of eligibility of publicly funded vaccine would be beneficial in mitigating this.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James McPherson
Chair, Board of Health
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
cc. Honourable Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay-Atikokan)
Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay-Superior North)
Northern Ontario Boards of Health
MOVED BY: L. Belanger SECONDED BY: J. Moffat
(Regular Meeting)
SOURCE: TBDHU Board of Health DATE: February 18, 2026 Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.: 25-2026 x CARRIED AMENDED LOST DEFERRED/
REFERRED
ITEM NO.: 9.1
J. McPherson
CHAIR
RE: Report 06-2026 (Medical Officer of Health) Advocacy Related to Pneumococcal Vaccine Eligibility
WHEREAS invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a serious and potentially life-threatening vaccine-preventable illness that can result in hospitalization, intensive care admission, long-term complications, and death; and
WHEREAS Thunder Bay District Health Unit has observed an increase in reported cases of IPD in recent years, with a significant proportion of cases requiring hospitalization and intensive care; and
WHEREAS local surveillance data indicate that individuals experiencing social and behavioural risk factors are disproportionately affected; and
WHEREAS current publicly funded pneumococcal vaccine eligibility criteria set by the Ontario Ministry of Health are primarily based on age and medical risk, and do not explicitly include certain social and behavioural risk factors associated with increased risk of invasive disease; and
WHEREAS expanding eligibility criteria may reduce morbidity and mortality, decrease health system pressures, and address health inequities among vulnerable populations;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit formally request that the Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer of Health review, in an expeditious manner, the current eligibility criteria for publicly funded pneumococcal vaccination for adults;
AND THAT the review considers the inclusion of individuals with social and behavioural risk factors associated with increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease;
AND THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to the Minister of Health, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, local Members of Provincial Parliament, and Northern Ontario Boards of Health.