The arrival of cooler weather brings the start of respiratory illness season. Influenza (flu), COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are already circulating in the community, and your best bet to avoid getting sick is to get vaccinated. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge and recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. The RSV vaccine is also available for free to eligible individuals.
“Compared to previous years, the flu has started making its rounds earlier than usual and we expect RSV infections to rise over the next few weeks, while COVID-19 circulates year-round,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). “As always, I believe the best preventive measure people can take to protect themselves throughout the season is to ensure they receive the vaccines they are eligible for.”
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available across the five Eastern Counties and Cornwall through healthcare providers, community health centres, and participating pharmacies as of October 26. For children ages 6 months to under 5 years and their household members, the flu and COVID-19 vaccines are also available by appointment at the EOHU. Visit EOHU.ca to learn how you can book an appointment.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk of complications from the flu and COVID-19 and are strongly encouraged to get immunized. These include:
- children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
- people aged 65 and older
- people with chronic medical conditions or who are immunocompromised
- pregnant individuals
If you live with or provide care to someone who falls under one of the groups listed above, or care for babies under 6 months of age who are too young to get the flu or COVID-19 vaccine, it is also highly recommended that you get immunized. This simple step will help protect you and those around you.
RSV vaccines
Ontario residents aged 60 to 74 who are considered high-risk or live in higher-risk settings, as well as those who are 75 and older, are eligible to receive the RSV vaccine at any time of the year free of charge under Ontario’s publicly funded RSV prevention program.
In addition, the Beyfortus® immunization is available to protect the following groups of children:
- eligible newborns and infants up to eight months of age in their first RSV season
- high-risk children up to 24 months of age in their second RSV season
Have questions about any of these immunizations?
For more information about the flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines, visit EOHU.ca or call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120. Follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.
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