Ontarians can begin rolling up their sleeves for the flu shot next month.
The province has announced the free shot will be available for the most vulnerable and high priority populations, including seniors, hospital workers, and long-term care staff and residents, in early October.
That's around the same time shipments of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Ontario from the federal government. The initial doses will be earmarked for those considered higher risk before the vaccine is made available to the rest of the public, the province said. A reminder was also issued that receiving the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time is safe and convenient, as well as cuts down on the number of visits to doctors, nurse practitioners, and local pharmacies.
The general public, aged six months and older, will be eligible to get the flu shot starting on October 28. They will be available at primary care offices, participating pharmacies and some public health units.
“Staying up to date on vaccination helps everyone stay healthy this respiratory illness season, especially those who cannot protect themselves including younger children and others who can’t be immunized,” Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said in a statement. “With a large rise in cases of whooping cough (pertussis) this year, particularly in children and teens aged 10-18, it is especially important for parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with all of their vaccinations as well as vaccines for pregnant individuals.”
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine will also be available for free to eligible Ontarians next month. The publicly funded RSV prevention program was recently expanded to include families with infants and high-risk children up to 24-months-old and residents of long-term care and retirement homes.
People who are unsure which immunizations they are eligible to receive are advised to speak with their health care provider or local health unit.