Flu season expected to peak around holidays: Toronto Public Health
Posted November 30, 2022 11:21 am.
Last Updated November 30, 2022 11:30 am.
Toronto’s medical officer of health is urging residents “in the strongest possible terms” to get their flu shots as soon as possible.
Dr. Eileen de Villa says according to the the latest data influenza is expected to peak just as people are set to gather for the holidays near the end of December.
Toronto Public Health says the influenza positivity rate in the city had increased from 8.1 to 10.5 per cent since the last report. A positivity rate above five per cent indicates influenza is circulating in the community.
Data shows there were 512 influenza cases in the city for the week ending Nov. 19, up from 454 the previous week.
toronto public health influenza dashboard. TPH
“I am urging Torontonians – in the strongest possible terms – to receive their flu vaccine soon as possible,” said De Villa, noting that appointments are available throughout the city.
Individuals aged 50 and older can get their flu vaccine and COVID-19 shots at select walk-in clinics at Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall pharmacies as part of the pharmacies’ seniors’ health days.
Torontonians can also book their appointment at any of the six City-run immunization clinics through the TPH Flu Vaccination Clinics webpage.
Dr. Vinita Dubey, the City’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, will hold a live telephone Town Hall event at 7 p.m. Wednesday night. People can join by calling 1-833-490-0778 or by connecting online here: Toronto.ca/VaccineTownHall.
Earlier this month, the province’s top doctor strongly recommended Ontarians mask up in all indoor settings in an effort to help overwhelmed children’s hospitals.
Dr. Kieran Moore said back on Nov. 14 that more than half of the children who were being tested for influenza in hospitals and emergency departments were testing positive and that over 20 per cent of children under the age of one are testing positive for RSV in hospital settings.
“It’s not COVID that’s affecting our children. It’s RSV and influenza combined that are driving our children to have to be admitted to hospital,” said Dr. Moore. He adds half the children in the ICU have RSV, and the other half have Influenza.
