Earlier today, Dr. Michelle Murti, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, and Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre), Chair of the Board of Health, received their COVID-19 and flu vaccines at a local pharmacy.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is recommending all eligible residents to get vaccinated against influenza (flu), COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). As the respiratory illness season gets underway, Torontonians are reminded that vaccination is an important step residents can take to reduce infections that can lead to severe illness, complications and strain on the health care system.
Vaccines are now available across Toronto
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone aged six months and older and are available at participating pharmacies and primary care providers. Toronto Public Health community clinics are available for children aged six months to four years. It is safe and convenient to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, and the RSV vaccine too if eligible.
Vaccines for RSV are available for adults aged 75 and older, certain high-risk adults aged 60 to 74, infants in their first RSV season, high-risk children under two years of age and pregnant individuals from 32 to 36 weeks of gestation. Eligible infants and high-risk children can receive RSV immunization through hospitals, birthing centres and primary care providers, as well as at Toronto Public Health breastfeeding clinics for infants up to eight months old. For eligible adults, RSV vaccination is available for free at primary care providers. For more information about community clinics and to book an appointment, visit the Toronto Public Health booking website: www.tphbookings.ca.
For residents who have had COVID-19 or the flu before, protection against these viruses decreases over time so staying up to date with vaccines is important. Vaccines are updated each year to match the strains expected to circulate. Even when the vaccine is not a perfect match, it still strengthens an individual’s protection, helping prevent serious illness and complications.
Public health officials recommend that everyone who is eligible for a vaccine, especially those at higher risk, roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community.
More ways to protect yourself and others
In addition to getting vaccinated, public health officials remind residents that there are additional steps they can take to reduce virus spread, protect themselves and those who are most vulnerable, such as young children and older adults:
Each layer of protection adds up and works best when used together, especially when respiratory virus activity is high. People with health concerns such as lung and heart conditions should talk to their health care provider about what to do if they get sick this season by creating a respiratory illness care plan.
More information on layers of protection is available on the City of Toronto’s website: www.toronto.ca/RespiratoryViruses/.
Toronto Public Health encourages everyone to stay up to date on local virus activity through TPH’s respiratory virus surveillance dashboard, which offers weekly flu and COVID-19 updates as well as institutional and public hospital respiratory outbreak information. More information is available on the City’s website: https://www.toronto.ca/integrated-respiratory-diseases-dashboard/.
Quotes:
“Our City is making these free vaccines available and accessible to everyone eligible: just go to a participating pharmacy or primary care provider. By getting vaccinated, each of us plays a role in keeping Toronto safe and healthy.”
– Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre), Board of Health Chair
“Vaccination for COVID-19, flu and RSV not only prevents severe illness but also reduces the strain on our hospitals and protects those who are most vulnerable in our community. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get their vaccines as part of staying healthy this fall and winter.”
– Dr. Michelle Murti, Medical Officer of Health
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