Toronto Public Health (TPH) is reminding Toronto residents that the best way to prevent the flu and protect others in the community from getting it is to get the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is available at one of TPH’s four flu vaccine clinics from November 8 to 15. It is also available through health care providers and at more than 500 local pharmacies.
Influenza, also known as the flu, can spread to others before symptoms even appear. Typical flu symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, chills, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. Other common symptoms include headache, loss of appetite and feeling tired. Recovering from the flu usually takes a week to 10 days but for some people it can worsen pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, or develop into more serious health problems such as pneumonia and, in rare circumstances, can be fatal.
The flu is spread from person to person by small droplets produced by a cough or sneeze or through contact with contaminated hands, surfaces or objects. In addition to receiving your flu shot early in the season, effective ways to fight the flu are to wash your hands often, cover your cough or sneeze and stay home when you’re sick.
People who are most vulnerable to the effects of the flu include seniors, individuals with chronic health conditions, residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities, children six months to five years of age, pregnant women and Indigenous people.
For seniors, a high-dose flu vaccine which provides them with better protection is available at TPH clinics, doctor’s offices and long-term care and retirement homes. TPH is also holding clinics in shelters and drop-in centres until the end of the month. Children six months of age and older can get the flu vaccine as an injection; the nasal spray vaccine is not available in Canada this year.
The flu vaccine is free for people six months of age and older who live, work or attend school in Ontario. A health card is not required at a TPH clinic. Flu clinic appointments can be booked online at https://www.tphbookings.ca.
More information about the flu is available https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/immunization/flu-influenza/.
Quotes:
“These four free flu immunization clinics for the public and the clinics being planned for vulnerable populations in local shelters and drop-in centres are one of the many ways Toronto Public Health works behind the scenes in our community to protect and promote good health among all of our residents. Anyone can get the flu, and getting vaccinated really is the best way to prevent it.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair of Toronto’s Board of Health
“The flu vaccine is the most effective method we have to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities against the flu. Thankfully most people recover from the flu, but it can cause a lot of harm to people who are more vulnerable such as seniors and very young children. Canadian statistics show there are more than 12,000 hospitalizations each year due to flu and hundreds locally. Typically the flu starts to circulate in late fall, so this is why we are reminding residents to get their flu shot early to prevent illness in our community.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.