As the holiday season approaches, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, issues a public reminder about respiratory virus season, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations.
Seasonal respiratory illnesses, including influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, are circulating, and flu cases are steadily increasing across the province.
Vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV are widely available at participating pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and public health units, with high-risk groups encouraged to get immunized promptly to reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and complications.
Residents are also urged to follow simple safety measures, including handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning shared surfaces, and staying home when sick, to protect themselves and their communities during the peak virus season.