Below are the 2017/18 annual reports of influenza immunization rates among healthcare workers in the following Toronto healthcare facilities: acute care hospitals, chronic care/rehabilitation hospitals, and long-term care homes.

2017/18 Influenza Season: Influenza Immunization Rates for Healthcare Workers of Toronto Acute Care Facilities (reporting date as of December 15, 2017).

Acute Care Facilities Total Staff Number of Staff Immunized Staff Coverage Rate* (%)
Casey House 134 68 51
Humber River Regional Hospital – Wilson Site 4,895 2,186 45
Michael Garron Hospital 3,127 1,327 42
North York General Hospital 4,333 1,976 46
Our Shared Purpose – St. Joseph’s Health Centre 2,968 1,506 51
Our Shared Purpose – St. Michael’s Hospital 7,056 3,621 51
Sinai Health System – Mount Sinai Site 5,079 3,184 63
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre 8,625 6,098 71
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) 7,429 4,633 62
The Scarborough and Rouge Hospital – Birchmount Site 1,171 572 49
The Scarborough and Rouge Hospital – Centenary Site 2,150 821 38
The Scarborough and Rouge Hospital – General Site 2,269 935 41
Trillium Health Partners – Queensway Site 11,329 5,723 51
University Health Network – Princess Margaret Hospital 3,651 1,881 52
University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital 9,502 4,076 43
University Health Network – Toronto Western Hospital 3,946 2,148 54
William Osler Health System, Etobicoke General Hospital 1,996 716 36
Women’s College Hospital 1,015 365 36

*Influenza immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) hospitals with a vaccinate or mask policy.

2017/18 Influenza Season: Influenza Immunization Rates for Healthcare Workers of Toronto Complex Continuing Care/Rehabilitation Facilities (reporting date as of December 15, 2017).

Complex Continuing Care/Rehabilitation Facilities Total Staff Number of Staff Immunized Staff Coverage Rate* (%)
Baycrest Health Sciences 1,501 1,011 67
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – College Site 1,602 1,110 69
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Queen Site 2,689 1,726 64
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 1,179 1,023 87
McCall Centre for Continuing Care 171 160 94
Our Shared Purpose – Providence Healthcare 975 607 62
Runnymede Healthcare Centre 487 424 87
Sinai Health System – Bridgepoint Active Healthcare 1,330 626 47
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre 369 254 69
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital 581 444 76
The Salvation Army – Toronto Grace Health Centre 339 102 30
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – Bickle Centre 453 170 38
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – Lyndhurst Centre 314 166 53
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – Rumsey Centre 101 51 50
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Centre 1,358 641 47
West Park Healthcare Centre 1,056 638 60

*Influenza immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) hospitals with a vaccinate or mask policy.

2017/18 Influenza Season: Influenza Immunization Rates for Healthcare Workers of Toronto Long-Term Care Homes (LTCHs) (reporting date as of December 15, 2017).

Long-Term Care Homes (LTCHs) Total Staff Number of Staff Immunized Staff Coverage Rate* (%)
Altamont Care Community 200 128 64
Baycrest Hospital – Apotex Centre (LTCH) 1,065 638 60
Belmont House 343 252 73
Bendale Acres 372 290 78
Carefree Lodge 205 130 63
Castleview Wychwood Towers 738 612 83
Cedarvale Terrace 312 138 44
Cheltenham Care Community 211 138 65
Chester Village 288 232 81
Copernicus Lodge 403 95 24
Craiglee Nursing Home 196 183 93
Cummer Lodge 526 424 81
Deerwood Creek Care Community 212 183 86
Dom Lipa 105 79 75
Downsview Long Term Care Centre 383 168 44
Drs. Paul and John Rekai Centre 173 147 85
Eatonville Care Centre 374 308 82
Ehatare Nursing Home 56 46 82
Elm Grove Living Centre 148 134 91
Extendicare Bayview 246 224 91
Extendicare Guildwood 216 124 57
Extendicare Rouge Valley 261 242 93
Extendicare Scarborough 258 216 84
Fairview Nursing Home 139 102 73
Fieldstone Commons Care Community 295 272 92
Fountain View Care Community 205 188 92
Fudger House 366 288 79
Garden Court Nursing Home 46 36 78
Harmony Hills Care Community 241 219 91
Harold and Grace Baker Centre 152 91 60
Hawthorne Place Care Centre 248 126 51
Hellenic Care for Seniors (Toronto) 100 87 87
Hellenic Home – Scarborough 170 80 47
Humber Valley Terrace 219 104 47
Ina Grafton Gage Home 177 159 90
Isabel and Arthur Meighen Manor 262 211 81
Ivan Franko Home (Etobicoke) 114 23 20
Kennedy Lodge 334 315 94
Kipling Acres 600 261 44
Labdara Lithuanian Nursing Home 146 21 14
Lakeshore Lodge 254 186 73
Lakeside Long Term Care Centre 158 143 91
Main Street Terrace 174 154 89
Maynard Nursing Home 93 63 68
McCall Centre Interim LTC Unit 29 27 93
Midland Gardens Care Community 343 237 69
Mon Sheong Home for the Aged 137 135 99
Mon Sheong Scarborough Long Term Care Centre 216 214 99
Nisbet Lodge 132 95 72
Norfinch Care Community 207 121 58
North Park Nursing Home 119 89 75
North York General Hospital – Seniors Health Centre 221 88 40
Norwood Nursing Home 80 73 91
Our Shared Purpose – Providence Long Term Care Home 460 259 56
Rockcliffe Care Community 257 174 68
Rose of Sharon Korean Long Term Care 89 87 98
Seven Oaks 361 212 59
Shepherd Lodge 331 160 48
St. Clair O’Connor  Community Nursing Home 61 50 82
St. George Care Community 243 211 87
Sunnybrook Veterans Centre 876 742 85
Suomi-Koti Toronto Nursing Home 106 63 59
Tendercare Living Centre 472 371 79
The Gibson  Long Term Care Centre 285 236 83
The Heritage Nursing Home 224 157 70
The Kensington Gardens 589 515 87
The O’Neill Centre 211 151 72
The Village of Humber Heights 284 73 26
The Westbury 264 238 90
The Wexford 288 271 94
Thompson House 164 142 87
Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans’ Care 142 123 87
Trilogy Long Term Care 278 231 83
True Davidson Acres 276 218 79
Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre 322 136 42
Valleyview Residence 213 109 51
Vermont Square 165 113 68
Villa Colombo 501 421 84
Wellesley Central Place 151 141 93
Wesburn Manor 251 184 73
West Park Long Term Care Centre 255 152 60
Weston Terrace Care Community 263 199 76
Westside 255 230 90
White Eagle Residence 98 43 44
Yee Hong Centre – Scarborough Finch 351 338 96
Yee Hong Centre – Scarborough McNicoll 290 286 99

*Influenza immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) hospitals with a vaccinate or mask policy.

2013/14 to 2017/18 Influenza Seasons: Influenza Immunization Rates* for Healthcare Workers of Acute Care Facilities – Median Rates* and by Season (including Ontario Median Rates).

Influenza Season Toronto N† Toronto Median Rate (Range) Ontario Median Rate
2013/14 20 44% (30% to 59%) 55%
2014/15 21 63% (29% to 79%) 61%
2015/16 18 52% (26% to 71%) 53%
2016/17 18 51% (30% to 68%) 53%
2017/18 18 50% (36% to 71%) 54%

*Immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Count of institutions submitting rates to TPH for December 15, 2017

2013/14 to 2017/18 Influenza Seasons: Influenza Immunization Rates* for Healthcare Workers of Complex Continuing Care/Rehabilitation Facilities – Median Rates and by Season (including Ontario Median Rates).

 Influenza Season Toronto N† Toronto Median Rate (Range) Ontario Median Rate
2013/14 15 67% (41% to 89%) 55%
2014/15 15 70% (32% to 93%) 61%
2015/16 15 64% (45% to 89%) 53%
2016/17 15 63% (45% to 89%) 53%
2017/18 16 63% (30% to 94%) 54%

*Immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Count of institutions submitting rates to TPH for December 15, 2017

2013/14 to 2017/18 Influenza Seasons: Influenza Immunization Rates* for Healthcare Workers of Long-Term Care Homes – Median Rates and by Season (including Ontario Median Rates).

 Influenza Season Toronto N† Toronto Median Rate (Range) Ontario Median Rate
2013/14 86  77% (12% to 99%) 78%
2014/15 86  79% (13% to 100%) 76%
2015/16 85  76% (19% to 100%) 73%
2016/17 85  80% (18% to 99%) 72%
2017/18 86  79% (14% to 99%) 73%

*Immunization rate based on the number of immunized staff of total number of staff at the healthcare facility.†Count of institutions submitting rates to TPH for December 15, 2017

Influenza is a highly contagious acute viral infection of the respiratory tract that causes annual outbreaks and periodic worldwide epidemics. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) estimates that each year, five to 10 per cent of adults and 20 to 30 per cent of children are infected with influenza. Further, NACI estimates that in Canada, an average of 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths due to influenza occur annually.

Influenza transmission and outbreaks in hospitals and LTCHs are well documented and result in significant patient/resident morbidity and mortality. The increased risk of severe influenza to patients/residents in these facilities is related to their advanced age and/or underlying health problems. Healthcare workers can acquire influenza from patients/residents and the community and can transmit infection to patients/residents, other healthcare workers and their family members.

Annual influenza vaccination is recognized as the best tool for prevention of influenza currently available. Numerous public health agencies and professional associations, such as NACI, the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all healthcare workers be vaccinated each year.

  • Since 1999, under The Influenza Prevention and Surveillance Protocol for Long-Term Care Homes (LTCHs), LTCHs are to report influenza immunization coverage rates to their local Medical Officer of Health.
  • Since 2000, under the Influenza Surveillance Protocol for Ontario Hospitals, hospitals are to report healthcare worker influenza immunization rates to their local Medical Officer of Health.
  • Beginning in 2012, the reporting date for hospitals and LTCHs was extended by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) from November 15 to December 15.

The Medical Officer of Health ensures that facility coverage rates are reported to the MOHLTC by January 15 (every year, the aggregated median provincial healthcare worker influenza immunization coverage rates are published in the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin).