Our agency
KFL&A Public Health is a local public health agency with over 326 staff and 274 volunteers who deliver public health programs and services to the people of the KFL&A area. The underlying goal of our services and programs—from immunization, physical activity, nutritious eating, food safety, raising healthy babies and children, sexual health, tobacco use reduction, and many other public health areas—is to promote and protect the health of the more than 209,230 residents of the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington region.
Vision
Healthy people, healthy places
Mission
KFL&A Public Health promotes and protects the public's health and strives to reduce health disparities through a skilled and dedicated work force that collaborates with our partners and communities and engages our residents to be as healthy as they can be.
Mandate
We are directed by Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act, and the Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services, and Accountability. We develop and implement evidence-informed policies, programs, and services to address the public health needs of the residents in the KFL&A region.
Board of Health members |
|
Message from KFL&A Board of Health Chair, Denis Doyle |
|
I want to thank everyone for getting vaccinated and for supporting others to get vaccinated too. Together, our community’s efforts contributed to our region having the lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the province. This speaks to the remarkable effort and collaboration we have had with community partners throughout COVID-19. A special thanks to our 11 member municipalities for their support and to the Mayors and Wardens who met virtually every two weeks throughout 2021 to address COVID-19 issues and to enact consistent plans across the region. It will be a long journey to recover as a community and to normalize COVID-19 as we have normalized all the other infectious disease viruses. However, as all of you have shown we have a solid foundation of unity and collaboration to move forward as a team. Speaking of teams, we welcomed new leadership in October when Dr. Piotr Oglaza joined KFL&A Public Health as the new medical officer of health, replacing Dr. Kieran Moore who moved on to be Ontario’s new Chief Medical Officer of Health. We want to acknowledge with thanks the tremendous work of Dr. Hugh Guan and Linda Murray, who stepped in to lead the agency during the recruitment phase. As well, a great deal of thanks goes to all Board members who put forth a special effort, and attended additional meetings, while interviewing and selecting our new Medical Officer of Health. The seamlessness of ongoing public health efforts over the course of this transition speaks to the professionalism of KFL&A Public Health staff. I applaud their dedication. Over the past year, the KFL&A Board of Health advocated to the provincial and municipal governments in several areas to support public health measures and to protect the health of our residents, including requests to:
As we move forward, it is my hope that we will continue to work together to address priority public health issues in the region. Together, we make KFL&A strong. |
Message from KFL&A Public Health Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Piotr Oglaza |
|
When it came to getting COVID-19 vaccine into arms, the KFL&A region was a leader in achieving one of the highest vaccine coverages in the province. This significant accomplishment was due to the tremendous support and commitment of staff and volunteers, health care agencies, primary care providers, pharmacies, schools, businesses, and municipalities. Our community partners opened their doors to host vaccine clinics and offered their facilities and staff to help at these clinics. KFL&A region was also home to some of the largest mass vaccination clinics in the province which was a joint community effort involving large numbers of volunteers. Our health care partners worked tirelessly to support these vaccine clinics and to provide vaccinations in their own settings. Many pharmacies across the region made the vaccine accessible in every neighbourhood while Paramedics reached those who were homebound. These collective efforts of community partners were remarkable and reflected the strength of our community. Over half a million COVID-19 vaccines (506,011) were administered in local vaccine clinics resulting in almost 93 per cent of 5 years of age and older receiving one dose of vaccine. As well, almost half a million COVID-19 tests (468,355) were completed with a quarter of a million patients (259,728) swabbed at local assessment centres. We are grateful for the support that we have received from our community, partners in other sectors of the health system and businesses, the excellent advice, and ongoing funding from 11 municipalities across the region and our residents for getting vaccinated and adhering to public health measures to keep each other safe. Although the pandemic is not behind us, the efforts of the residents and communities that make up the KFL&A region have positioned us well to minimize further disruption and illness. As circumstances change, we will adapt and change with them. As a community, we have worked incredibly hard to limit the spread of the virus and we all want to continue to keep our community healthy and safe. Many of the basic public health measures we emphasized during the pandemic will hopefully continue, including good hand hygiene, physical distancing, staying home when ill, and even mask wearing, if people so choose. I am so pleased to be part of this community. It has been an honor taking on the role of medical officer of health at KFL&A Public Health during this critical time in public health history. I love my work in population health and I welcome the opportunity to continue to provide leadership as we move forward and focus on many other priority public health issues. Let us continue to work together, support one another, and demonstrate our strength and resilience. Together, we make KFL&A strong. |
-circle-crop-350px.png "KFLA Public Health Board of Health Chair, Denis Doyle")
There is no denying the challenges we have faced over the past year—as individuals, families, communities, businesses, workplaces, and municipalities at large. Thankfully, though there was a shift away from the sheer uncertainty of the early pandemic toward a renewed focus of hope, as COVID-19 vaccines rolled out across the KFL&A region.
This past year was a year like no other. It has challenged us, made us adapt to new realities, and inspired us to never give up. But most importantly, it has made us proud of what our community can achieve together in a time of great crisis.Highlights of evolving COVID-19 pandemic events and actions taken in KFL&A.
January to March 2021
- January 4: Provincial education minister confirms delay start date for in-person elementary and secondary school classes.
- January 10: First lab confirmed COVID-19 death in the KFL&A region.
- January 12: First delivery of COVID-19 vaccines arrives at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Long-term care workers and residents begin receiving first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
- January 12: Government of Ontario declares second provincial emergency to enhance public health measures to reduce increasing case counts and limit the impact on the health care system.
- January 17: First mobile vaccine clinic at Extendicare Kingston.
- January 25: First lab confirmed B.1.1.7 case (highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 first identified in the United Kingdom) in the KFL&A region.
- January 25: In-person learning resumes at KFL&A elementary and secondary schools.
- February 10: KFL&A region stay-at-home order lifts and region moves to Green-Prevent level.
- February 16: INVISTA Centre’s MNP Rink in Kingston and the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee are confirmed as the locations for mass immunization clinics in the KFL&A region. As well hospital-based, mobile, and on-site vaccine clinics are planned for specific targeted populations.
- March 1: Mass immunization clinic opens at INVISTA Centre.
- March 8: Vaccine clinic opens at Kingston Community Health Centre.
- March 10: KFL&A Public Health announces 95 per cent (first dose) and 89 per cent (second dose) vaccine uptake in long-term care and retirement home residents.
- March 12: One of three regions, KFL&A chosen to participate in the provincial COVID-19 vaccine pharmacy initiative receiving over 20,000 doses of vaccine to share with over 40 pharmacies.
- March 13: KFL&A Public Health issues class order to address St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the City of Kingston until April 30 due to increasing COVID-19 cases.
- March 15: Mass immunization clinic opens at Strathcona Paper Centre.
- March 15: Government of Ontario’s online COVID-19 vaccine appointment tool launches for eligible individuals.
- March 20: KFL&A region moves from Green-Prevent to Yellow-Protect level.
- March 20: Increased levels of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the City of Kingston recommending more action to protect community and curb the upward surge of the virus.
- March 22: Government of Ontario expands vaccine appointments to adults 75 years and older.
- March 25: Variants of COVID-19 account for over 40 per cent of new cases in the KFL&A region.
- March 29: Government of Ontario expands vaccine appointments to adults 70 years and older.
April to June 2021
-
April 1: KFL&A’s vaccination strategy marks a significant milestone with 25 per cent of adults having received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
-
April 2: KFL&A Public Health rescinds class order originally issued on March 13 as the KFL&A region moves to COVID-19 shutdown.
-
April 3: Government of Ontario imposes a provincewide emergency brake for at least four weeks as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province.
-
April 12: KFL&A region’s local data indicates COVID-19 cases are at the highest levels to date, an upward surge of the variants with an incidence rate of 54.9 per 100,000 (red-control level) and 1.56 per cent positivity (orange-restrict level).
-
April 16: KFL&A Public Health celebrates volunteers—‘The Value of One, The Power of Many’ truly reflects the collective efforts volunteers have made in the KFL&A region during the pandemic.
-
May 4: KFL&A Public Health recognizes the achievement of long-term care and retirement homes in reaching 90 per cent vaccination rates among their residents and staff.
-
May 4: KFL&A region declares community transmission of COVID-19 even with enhanced restrictions and stay-at-home order across the province.
-
May 17: KFL&A’s vaccination strategy marks a new milestone with 50 per cent of adults having received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
-
May 28: KFL&A Public Health rescinds two class orders originally issued on December 10, 2020 (i.e., home and community care agencies enforcement of stronger IPAC measures) and June 27, 2020 (i.e., municipalities and businesses enforcement of masking, availability of alcohol-based hand rub, and physical distancing).
-
May 31: KFL&A Board of Health recognizes Dr. Kieran Moore’s appointment to the next Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario. The Board communicated how deeply grateful they were for Dr. Moore’s guidance, tireless service, and unwavering leadership during the pandemic, and throughout his career at KFL&A Public Health.
-
June 16: Government of Ontario expands vaccine appointments to individuals 12 years of age and older and second doses accelerated for some populations due to new Delta variant.
-
June 22: KFL&A Public Health urges community to get vaccinated with first available mRNA vaccine as Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization confirms that mixing mRNA vaccines is safe and effective.
July to September 2021
-
July 15: KFL&A’s vaccination strategy marks a new milestone with 80 per cent of individuals 12 years of age and older receiving one dose and 60 per cent of this same age group receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
- August 3: KFL&A’s vaccination strategy begins next phase as over 72 per cent of individuals 12 years of age and older have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The strategy will transition from large mass vaccination clinics to smaller clinic venues, including mobile teams, pharmacies, and primary care clinics.
- August 31: KFL&A Public Health and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health release a joint statement to support return to in-person learning for students and educators across the region.
- September 1: KFL&A Board of Health announces Dr. Piotr Oglaza will serve as the next medical officer of health at KFL&A Public Health starting on October 18, 2021.
-
September 18: Government of Ontario expands eligibility for third dose vaccine appointments to priority populations.
October to December 2021
-
October 4: KFL&A Public Health issues a letter of instruction to enforce required proof of vaccination for volunteers, coaches, and officials participating in indoor organized sports and recreation activities.
-
November 12: KFL&A’s vaccination strategy marks a significant milestone with 90 per cent of eligible population having received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
-
November 16: KFL&A Public Health declares community spread due to spike in COVID-19 cases and increased clusters of cases throughout the KFL&A region.
-
November 19: KFL&A Public Health releases plan to vaccinate approximately 13,000 eligible children 5 to 11 years of age beginning on November 25.
-
November 24: KFL&A Public Health issues a letter of instruction to enforce required proof of vaccination for individuals between the age of 12 to 17 years participating in indoor organized sports and recreation activities. Proof of vaccination of one dose required by December 6, 2021 and two doses by February 25, 2022.
-
November 26: KFL&A Public Health issues a class order to restrict indoor social gatherings in private dwellings to no more than 10 people due to rising cases of Delta COVID-19 variant in the KFL&A region.
-
December 8: KFL&A Public Health confirms presence of Omicron COVID-19 variant in the KFL&A region.
-
December 9: KFL&A Public Health issues a letter of instruction to require businesses and organizations to implement strict mask use and to screen for an expanded list of symptoms.
-
December 10: KFL&A Public Health implements new isolation requirements for close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases to address the increased transmissibility of Omicron COVID-19 variant and high case counts in the KFL&A region.
-
December 13: KFL&A Public Health announces take home PCR test kits are available in the KFL&A region.
-
December 13: KFL&A Public Health issues a class order to restrict indoor and outdoor social gatherings or organized public events to no more than five persons in the City of Kingston. As well additional restrictions on food establishments, including hours of operation, number of patrons seated per table, volume of music, dancing, singing, and live performances.
-
December 15: KFL&A Public Health issues a letter of instruction to require businesses and organizations to reinstate capacity limits, strengthen masking requirements, physical distancing, and other public health measures as KFL&A region tops COVID-19 rates in the province.
A snapshot of COVID-19 team activities in 2021.
Financial Report
Public health programs revenue $31,655,382
| Total | $30,417,842 |
| Operating expenditure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mandatory programs | $17,396,733 |
| One time funding | $7,920,578 |
| Ontario Seniors Dental Care program | $800,200 |
| Syndromic Surveillance Project | $296,148 |
| Blind Low Vision, Preschool Speech and Infant Hearing program | $1,827,932 |
| Healthy Babies program | $1,068,388 |
| Private Sewage program | $195,050 |
| Special project expenses | $912,813 |