Influenza - The Flu

The flu vaccine is available for everyone six months and older.

You can get the flu vaccine - flu shot at:

  • Health care providers’ offices
  • Medical walk-in clinics
  • Participating pharmacies (for individuals two years or older)
    • Ontario health card is not required to be vaccinated at the pharmacy
  • Some workplace clinics

York Region provides a list of pre-approved health care agencies that can order and administer influenza vaccines at workplaces, community organizations and/or people’s homes.  

The Flu vaccine

Getting the flu vaccine each year provides the best protection against becoming ill with the flu. Since the viruses causing the flu can change every year, a flu vaccine is needed.

The flu vaccine:

  • Reduces the risk of serious flu complications
  • Is recommended for all persons six months of age or older
  • Is provided for free to anyone who lives, works or attends school in Ontario
  • Effectiveness can change each year depending on how well the vaccine strains match with circulating types/subtypes of influenza viruses and the health and age of the individual. Even when there is a less-than-ideal match or lower vaccine effectiveness against one strain, it is still important to get vaccinated and be protected
  • It takes nearly two weeks after receiving the flu shot for the flu vaccine to take full effect
  • Does not cause the flu

The flu vaccine is especially important for individuals at high risk of developing complications from the flu. Flu vaccine will be prioritized beginning in October for the following groups:

  • Hospitalized individual and staff 
  • Residents, staff and caregivers of long-term care homes
  • Residents and staff of congregate living settings (e.g., chronic care facilities, retirement homes) 
  • Pregnant individuals (the vaccine is safe in pregnancy)
  • Individuals 65 years of age and older
  • All children six months to four years of age
  • Individuals who are from a First Nation, Inuit or Métis community, and/or who self-identify as First Nation, Inuit, or Métis, and their household members
  • Individuals six months of age and older with underlying health conditions (identified in Health Canada’s NACI statement on seasonal influenza)
  • Members of racialized and other equity-deserving communities
  • Health care providers and first responders

Those who live with or have close contact with high-risk individuals as listed above, are a priority for getting the flu vaccine since they can spread the flu to high-risk people. They include:

  • Those that live with people at high risk of flu-related complications
  • Health care workers and other care providers in facilities and community settings
  • People who provide care to children under five years of age
  • Individuals who provide services within a closed or relatively closed setting to persons at high risk (e.g., crew on a ship)

Health Canada also recommends that people who provide essential community services and those in direct contact with poultry infected with avian influenza during culling operations (e.g., poultry industry workers) should get the flu vaccine.

When to wait before getting the flu vaccine

Individuals with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should defer getting the flu vaccine until they have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you have gastrointestinal symptoms).

About the flu

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a serious respiratory infection caused by influenza A and B viruses. It spreads quickly and easily from person to person and occurs each year in the late fall and winter months.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the flu are more severe than those of the common cold and often include:

  • High fever
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat 
  • Runny nose
  • Muscle aches
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur in children.

Visit the Ministry of Health's web page to learn: about the flu to learn:

  • The difference between the flu and a cold
  • What to do if you or a family member gets sick with the flu
  • How getting the flu vaccine every year helps protect you and those around you

Avoiding the flu

The flu spreads quickly and easily from an infected person to others through:

  • Coughing or sneezing (when droplets containing the flu virus are released into the air and then land on the face, mouth, and eyes of another person)
  • Touching surfaces, unwashed hands, or objects such as phones and toys that have been contaminated by the influenza virus and then touching your face, mouth or eyes

Everyone is at risk of getting the flu; receiving the flu vaccine protects you, your family and those around you.

Being sick with the flu is unpleasant. It can be a serious threat, if you or a family member has other health issues.

How to avoid getting and spreading the flu:

  • Get the flu vaccine every year
  • Avoid large crowds and stay home when you’re sick
  • Wash your hands well and often with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) with at least 70% alcohol
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out immediately. Wash hands afterwards. Cough in your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue
  • Don't touch your face
  • Clean (and disinfect) surfaces and shared items

Important! You may not know that you have become infected with the flu virus. Adults infected with the flu can infect other people one day before they have symptoms and up to five days after becoming sick. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be able to spread the virus for even longer.

Follow the above tips to stay healthy throughout the year.

What York Region does

  • Monitors and investigates influenza cases and outbreaks
  • Investigates unusual disease patterns that could indicate an increase in the severity of influenza illness in the community
  • Educate the public about infection prevention and control
  • Provides the flu vaccine to hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and workplaces
  • Ensure pharmacies and health care providers are handling and storing vaccines properly (including flu vaccines)
  • Provides the flu vaccine to health care providers’ offices

Related Resources

External Resources