Flu vaccine clinics launch Tuesday in Ottawa for toddlers, newcomers

Ottawa Public Health will begin vaccinating young children aged six months to two years old and their families at community clinics starting Nov. 1 to prepare for a winter season with more influenza than usual.

Parents of children in this age range can book vaccination appointments online or over the phone for their family starting Oct. 31. The community flu vaccine clinics will run from Nov. 1 to 5 at rotating locations across the city.

People are required to wear masks at public health clinical settings, including the flu shot clinics. Newcomers and individuals without OHIP cards can also access the flu shot at these vaccination clinics.

Starting Nov. 1, the general public can also get their annual flu shot from their pharmacy or doctor's office.  

Experts say it is important to get vaccinated as soon as possible because Canada's flu season begins at the end of October and more people could get sick this year than the last flu season. 

Infectious disease experts explain the challenge 

Dr. Fahad Razak, a former head of the Ontario COVID-19 science advisory table who teaches medicine at St. Michael's Hospital, said the last two flu seasons were tame.

Influenza rates were low because the public health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 also helped control the spread of the flu, Razak said, but those measures are no longer here.

"What it means is we have a population that has not been exposed to as much influenza the past couple of years and potentially would be at greater risk for [being] infected this year," Razak said.

Experts have also watched Australia, which just experienced its worst flu season in the past five years. Australia and New Zealand experience the flu season months before Ontario during North America's summer.

"They've seen a massive surge of cases. If that were to occur here that would seriously challenge our system," Razak said. 

Ontario's hospital system also needs to plan for a significant surge because a 50 per cent increase in hospitalizations is possible and "not an exaggeration," Razak said. 

"Practically, what is going to happen? I think that is the important question we need to ask ourselves," Razak said.

Australia's flu season also suggests it is important to receive your annual flu shot earlier than usual, Dr. Gerald Evans told CBC.

"We knew [the vaccine] was a match in the Southern hemisphere, and at this early stage it looks like a good match in the Northern hemisphere," said Evans, an infectious disease specialist at Queen's University.

Scientists design influenza vaccines months before the flu season. So far, lab testing suggests this year's vaccine protects against the influenza strains that are most likely to infect a person.

• What do I need to know about this year's flu shot?

People who are at a higher risk of complications related to influenza, such as seniors or those with chronic conditions, can already book a vaccination appointment at their pharmacies and other health-care providers, said public health.

If a person becomes sick with any respiratory illness, including influenza or COVID-19, they can get the influenza vaccine as soon as they recover. 

According to public health officials, adults and children older than five can receive the influenza and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. As a precaution, children aged six months to five years old should not receive any additional vaccines 14 days before or after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.