Primary Care Advisory and Liaison Group

The Niagara Region Public Health Primary Care Advisory and Liaison (PCAL) Group is made up of Public Health representatives, family physicians and nurse practitioners. Representing specific areas of Niagara, the members strive to equitably represent and be inclusive of all primary care practitioners who practice in Niagara's diverse communities.

This group is in place to support improved two-way communication between Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara's primary care sector, including collaboration efforts, resource sharing and knowledge exchange.

Public Health presented to the PCAL Group on various health topics throughout the year. These presentations strive to support an understanding of our programs and the role of primary care in these areas.

Watch past presentations.

Group objectives

• Increase program awareness: Ensuring primary care is aware of the programs and resources available through Public Health to support practice
• Knowledge exchange: Advising on the development of communication and engagement strategies to share information with primary care
• Engagement of catchment areas: Group members seek to understand the needs, pain points and issues experienced by primary care in Niagara related to Public Health
• Planning and development: Engaging Niagara's primary care providers to support program planning and development tailored to the primary care sector

Helpful information

• Lyme disease reporting

  As of April 1, the Public Health Ontario Lab began testing patient samples for Lyme disease antibodies using a new method known as the Modified Two-Tier Testing.

  Learn about Changes to Lyme Disease Testing, Updated Resources and Reporting Tools.

• Mpox

  Mpox vaccine is available at Public Health vaccination clinics by appointment.

  Eligible individuals can book an appointment for their first or second dose by calling at 905-688-8248 ext. 7425 or 1-800-263-7248.

• Catch-up immunizations

  Public Health is running a campaign to ensure students are caught up on any routine childhood vaccinations they may have missed. Ensure your office has enough vaccine to accommodate this potential increase in demand.

  • For required vaccines under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, use the general vaccine order form 
  • For meningococcal vaccine, use the school program vaccine order form

  To complement immunization efforts in your office, Public Health continues to run vaccination clinics.