> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Public Health Ontario - URL: https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/public-health-ontario/ - Published: 2026-03-07T19:04:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-07T19:04:37.000Z - Author: Liam Sturgess - Tags: Profiles, #docs, #organization, Organization, Canada, Ontario, COVID-19, #toc, Government, Healthcare **Public Health Ontario (PHO)** is an agency of the [Government of Ontario](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Government-of-Ontario) responsible for public health guidance in the province. It is a subsidiary agency of the [Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Ontario-Ministry-of-Health-and-Long-Term-Care). ## History PHO was an exhibitor at the Canadian Immunization Conference 2016, which took place from December 6-8, 2016, at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.[\[1\]](#fn1) PHO provided funding for a study on narcolepsy as an adverse event following immunization with Pandemrix, an H1N1 vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline, published in August 2018.[\[2\]](#fn2) ### COVID-19 Kieran Moore became Chief Medical Officer of Health in June 2021.[\[3\]](#fn3) At Moore's request, PHO established the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (OIAC) to provide "evidence-based advice... on vaccines and immunization matters including vaccine program implementation in Ontario, priority populations, clinical guidance and vaccine safety and effectiveness."[\[4\]](#fn4) On August 17, 2021, Moore issued a directive requiring hospitals and healthcare facilities to develop a policy around [COVID-19 vaccination](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/COVID-19-vaccine) effective September 7, 2021.[\[5\]](#fn5) This was officially known as Directive 6 (or the "Vaccine Directive") issued under section 77.7 of Ontario's *Health Protection and Promotion Act.*[\[6\]](#fn6) As written, Directive 6 enabled employers to adopt accommodation policies for staff who chose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but many chose not to do so.[\[7\]](#fn7) In late September 2021, Public Health Ontario adjusted its guidance to suggest youth aged 18-24 receive the [Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Pfizer-BioNTech-COVID-19-vaccine) instead of the [Moderna COVID-19 vaccine](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Moderna-COVID-19-vaccine) product due to elevated risk of [myocarditis](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Myocarditis). However, individuals in that group could still receive the [Moderna](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Moderna) shot so long as they gave "informed consent."[\[8\]](#fn8) As of March 14, 2022, Directive 6 was no longer in effect.[\[9\]](#fn9) ## Organization PHO has been a tenant at [MaRS Discovery District](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/MaRS-Discovery-District).[\[10\]](#fn10) ### Personnel | Name | Position | Notes | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Kieran Moore | Chief Medical Officer of Health[\[3:1\]](#fn3) | Queen's University, Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network, KFL&A Public Health Informatics | | Samantha Akingbola | Researcher[\[11\]](#fn11) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [Toronto Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Toronto-Public-Health) | | Vanessa Allen | Chief of Microbiology and Laboratory Science (former)[\[12\]](#fn12) | University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [COVID-19 Provincial Diagnostic Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/COVID-19-Provincial-Diagnostic-Network) | | Shelly Bolotin | Scientist, Health Protection[\[13\]](#fn13) | [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN) | | Kevin Antoine Brown | Scientist, Infection Prevention and Control[\[14\]](#fn14) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health) | | Sarah Buchan | Scientist, Health Protection[\[15\]](#fn15) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, [National Advisory Committee on Immunization](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/National-Advisory-Committee-on-Immunization) (NACI), Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE) | | Cynthia Chen | Senior Health Data Analyst[\[16\]](#fn16) | [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN) | | William Ciccotelli | Member, Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control (PIDAC-IPC)[\[17\]](#fn17) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) | | Natasha Crowcroft | Chief Science Officer[\[18\]](#fn18) | [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN) | | Shelley Deeks | Chief Health Protection Officer[\[19\]](#fn19) | [National Advisory Committee on Immunization](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/National-Advisory-Committee-on-Immunization) (NACI), [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), [Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Vaccine-Innovation-Prioritisation-Strategy) (VIPS) | | Gerald Evans | Consultant Infection Prevention and Control Physician[\[20\]](#fn20) | COVID-19 Therapeutics Interim Working Group, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) | | Nahuel Fittipaldi | Scientist, Public Health Ontario Laboratory[\[21\]](#fn21) | [Ontario's COVID-19 Genomics Rapid Response Coalition](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Ontarios-COVID-19-Genomics-Rapid-Response-Coalition) (ONCoV) | | Jonathan Gubbay | Medical Microbiologist[\[22\]](#fn22) | National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), SickKids | | Jessica Hopkins | Chief Health Protection and Emergency Preparedness Officer[\[23\]](#fn23) | Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (OIAC), [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19 | | Frances Jamieson | Director of the TB and Mycobacteriology Laboratory[\[24\]](#fn24) | University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN) | | Caitlin Johnson | Epidemiologist[\[25\]](#fn25) | [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), Regional Municipality of York | | Jeff Kwong | Scientist[\[26\]](#fn26) | [Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Vaccine-Surveillance-Reference-Group) (VSRG), Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre | | Bradley Langford | Pharmacist Specialist, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program[\[27\]](#fn27) | [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre | | Pamela Leece | Public Health Physician - Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention[\[28\]](#fn28) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Women's College Hospital | | Lennon Li | Biostatistical Specialist[\[29\]](#fn29) | [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Statistical Society of Canada, [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN) | | Alex Marchand-Austin | Manager of Lab Surveillance and Data Management[\[30\]](#fn30) | [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), [Public Health Agency of Canada](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Public-Health-Agency-of-Canada) (PHAC) | | John McLaughlin | Chief Science Officer (former)[\[31\]](#fn31) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) | | Michelle Murti | Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health[\[32\]](#fn32) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), Fraser Health Authority | | Nancy Ondrusek | Director of Research and Ethics[\[33\]](#fn33) | Ontario COVID-19 Bioethics Table, [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health) | | Samir Patel | Chief, Microbiology and Laboratory Science[\[34\]](#fn34) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology | | [Brian Schwartz](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Brian-Schwartz) | Vice President[\[35\]](#fn35) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST), [Dalla Lana School of Public Health](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Dalla-Lana-School-of-Public-Health), Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Task Group, Ontario SARS Scientific Advisory Committee | | Premy Selvakumar | Administrative Assistant[\[36\]](#fn36) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) | | Kathy Torkos | Administrative Assistant, Environmental and Occupational Health Program[\[37\]](#fn37) | Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) | | Bryna Warshawsky | Medical Director, Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response Department[\[38\]](#fn38) | [Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange Centre](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Vaccination-Evidence-Resource-and-Exchange-Centre) (CANVax), [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), Middlesex-London Health Unit | | Ashini Weerasinghe | Epidemiologist[\[39\]](#fn39) | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) | | Sarah Wilson | Medical Epidemiologist, Health Protection[\[40\]](#fn40) | [Canadian Immunization Research Network](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Immunization-Research-Network) (CIRN), Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), Immunization Canada, Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, [National Advisory Committee on Immunization](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/National-Advisory-Committee-on-Immunization) (NACI) | ### Partners Public Health Ontario is a member organization of the Evidence Synthesis Network (ESN),[\[41\]](#fn41) Immunize Canada,[\[42\]](#fn42) the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA),[\[43\]](#fn43) [Ontario's COVID-19 Genomics Rapid Response Coalition](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Ontarios-COVID-19-Genomics-Rapid-Response-Coalition) (ONCoV),[\[44\]](#fn44) Public Health Training for Equitable Systems Change (PHESC)[\[45\]](#fn45) and Vaccine Safety Net (VSN).[\[46\]](#fn46) PHO's partners include: - [BORN Ontario](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/BORN-Ontario)[\[47\]](#fn47) - Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL)[\[48\]](#fn48) - Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network[\[49\]](#fn49) - CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network[\[50\]](#fn50) - KFL&A Public Health Informatics[\[51\]](#fn51) - Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)[\[52\]](#fn52) PHO has additionally provided funding to: - [Canadian Public Health Association](https://www.whiteroseintelligence.com/Canadian-Public-Health-Association) (CPHA)[\[53\]](#fn53) ## Publications **Report of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI)** - [January 2021](https://web.archive.org/web/20210208114715/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/a/2020/aefi-reporting-form.pdf) - [May 2021](https://web.archive.org/web/20210708052918/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/a/2020/aefi-reporting-form.pdf) - [October 2021](https://web.archive.org/web/20211022130815/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/a/2020/aefi-reporting-form.pdf) **Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) for COVID-19 in Ontario** - [December 13, 2020 to April 21, 2024](https://web.archive.org/web/20240430081058/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/epi/covid-19-aefi-report.pdf) - [December 13, 2020 to May 19, 2024](https://web.archive.org/web/20240903224141/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/epi/covid-19-aefi-report.pdf?sc%5Flang=en) ## External links - [Campfire Wiki](https://www.campfire.wiki/doku.php?id=public%5Fhealth%5Fontario) - [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public%5FHealth%5FOntario) --- 1. *CIC 2016 Final Program.* Canadian Immunization Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref1) 2. Weibel, D., Sturkenboom, M., Black, S., de Ridder, M., Dodd, C., Bonhoeffer, J., Vanrolleghem, A., van der Maas, N., Lammers, G. J., Overeem, S., Gentile, A., Giglio, N., Castellano, V., Kwong, J. C., Murray, B. J., Cauch-Dudek, K., Juhasz, D., Campitelli, M., Datta, A. N., & Kallweit, U. (2018). Narcolepsy and adjuvanted pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccines – Multi-country assessment. *Vaccine, 36*(41), 6202–6211\. [↩︎](#fnref2) 3. Hilkene, A., & Jensen, D. (2021, May 30). *Ontario To Appoint New Chief Medical Officer of Health.* Government of Ontario. [↩︎](#fnref3) [↩︎](#fnref3:1) 4. *Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (OIAC).* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from [↩︎](#fnref4) 5. *Ontario Makes COVID-19 Vaccination Policies Mandatory for High-Risk Settings.* (2021, August 17). Government of Ontario. [↩︎](#fnref5) 6. Newell, S., Reid, A. E., Trattner, P., Watts, M., Putyra, M., Arella, A., & Cohen, S. (2021, November 3). *Ontario Superior Court of Justice dissolves injunction to stay terminations under hospital’s mandatory vaccination policy.* Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. [↩︎](#fnref6) 7. Sturgess, L., Natsheh, S., Forte, M., & Andersson, D. (2022). *A Citizens’ Hearing: Examining Canada’s Covid Response* (pp. 56-57). Canadian Covid Care Alliance. [↩︎](#fnref7) 8. Casaletto, L. (2021, September 30). *Ontario recommending Pfizer over Moderna vaccine for young adults.* CityNews Toronto. [↩︎](#fnref8) 9. Gooding, A. (2022, September 9). *Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy.* Home and Community Care Support Services. [↩︎](#fnref9) 10. Treurnicht, I., & Nixon, G. (2014, December 9). *2012 MaRS Annual Report*. Issuu; MaRS. [↩︎](#fnref10) 11. van Ingen, T., Akingbola, S., Brown, K. A., Daneman, N., Buchan, S. A., & Smith, B. T. (2021). *Neighbourhood-level risk factors of COVID-19 incidence and mortality.* medRxiv. [↩︎](#fnref11) 12. *Vanessa G Allen.* University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref12) 13. *Dr. Shelly Bolotin.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref13) 14. *About Us.* Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref14) 15. *Dr. Sarah Buchan.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref15) 16. *Cynthia (Yiqun) Chen.* LinkedIn. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref16) 17. *Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control (PIDAC-IPC).* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref17) 18. *Crowcroft, Natasha Sarah.* Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref18) 19. *Briefing with Public Health Ontario.* (2020, September 28). Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. [↩︎](#fnref19) 20. *Seasonal Influenza 2020-2021 Recommendations in the Context of COVID-19.* (2020, August 25). National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases. [↩︎](#fnref20) 21. *Dr. Nahuel Fittipaldi.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref21) 22. *Dr. Jonathan Gubbay.* National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases. Retrieved February 23, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref22) 23. *Dr. Jessica Hopkins.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref23) 24. *Frances Jamieson.* University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref24) 25. *Caitlin Johnson.* LinkedIn. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref25) 26. *Dr. Jeff Kwong.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved February 5, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref26) 27. *Bradley Langford.* LinkedIn. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref27) 28. *Dr. Pamela Leece.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref28) 29. *Li, Lennon.* Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref29) 30. *Profile: Alex Marchand-Austin.* (2018, January 12). Public Health Ontario. [↩︎](#fnref30) 31. *John R. McLaughlin.* ResearchGate. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref31) 32. Moore, K. (2024, April 2). *Balancing Act: Focus on Tobacco/Vaping Products, Cannabis, Alcohol, and Opioids An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms - 2023 Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.* Government of Ontario. [↩︎](#fnref32) 33. *Leadership Team.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref33) 34. *Dr. Samir Patel.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref34) 35. *Dr. Brian Schwartz.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref35) 36. Selvakumar, P. (2021, February 3). *Declaration of Interest.* Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. [↩︎](#fnref36) 37. *Contact Directory Results - Kathy Torkos.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from [http://archive.today/2022.05.25-150845/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/contact/contact-search%23kathy torkos](http://archive.today/2022.05.25-150845/https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/contact/contact-search%23kathy%20torkos) [↩︎](#fnref37) 38. *Bryna Warshawsky.* CANVax. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref38) 39. Brunton, N., Russell, K., Booth, G., Hobin, E., Mcgavock, J., Klaprat, N., Swanson, A., Pancoe, D., & Manley, E. (2019). *Abstract #61 (0346\_0513\_000075).* Child Health Research Days Manitoba. [↩︎](#fnref39) 40. *Dr. Sarah Wilson.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref40) 41. *Evidence & Knowledge for COVID-19 Response.* Evidence Synthesis Network. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref41) 42. *Member Organizations.* Immunize Canada. Retrieved December 2, 2021, from [↩︎](#fnref42) 43. *OHA Members.* Ontario Hospital Association. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref43) 44. *Home.* ONCoV. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref44) 45. *Home 1 | PHESC.* Public Health Training for Equitable Systems Change. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref45) 46. *Vaccine Safety.* Public Health Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from [↩︎](#fnref46) 47. *Partnerships*. (2022, September 13). BORN Ontario. [↩︎](#fnref47) 48. *Healthcare Organizations using LEADS.* Canadian College of Health Leaders. Retrieved April 17, 2023, from [↩︎](#fnref48) 49. *Our Partners.* Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from [↩︎](#fnref49) 50. *Partners.* CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network. Retrieved February 2, 2023, from [↩︎](#fnref50) 51. *Partners.* KFL&A Public Health Informatics. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref51) 52. *Partners.* Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from [↩︎](#fnref52) 53. *2018 Annual Report.* Canadian Public Health Association. Retrieved June 4, 2023, from [↩︎](#fnref53)