Everyone should take precautions, including getting vaccinated, as Toronto battles a particularly bad flu season, the city’s health doctor said Wednesday after rolling up his sleeves to get a flu shot.
Dr. Eileen de Villa, speaking to reporters at the Metro Hall immunization clinic downtown, said Toronto Public Health is seeing “increased levels of respiratory illness” earlier in the year than would normally be the case .
“We expect this trend to continue over the coming weeks,” he said.
De Villa said he’s encouraging Toronto residents to get both the flu and COVID-19 shots.
Residents must do their part to protect the health care system and vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and people with medical conditions, he said.
“Get your shots, wear a mask, stay home when you’re sick and wash your hands and clean those high-touch surfaces,” he said.
“Toronto, we know what we have to do and we know how to do it. We can do it together.”
De Villa said “these simple steps” are good ways to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. He said vaccination, in particular, is one of the best tools to prevent infection and reduce the severity of infection.
His remarks came as the City of Toronto launched its 2022-2023 flu vaccination campaign. Toronto has six city-run immunization clinics offering flu and COVID-19 shots, and de Villa said that means a one-stop shop.
Toronto Mayor John Tory receives one of the two pins on Wednesday. The mayor got his flu and COVID-19 shots on the same day and is encouraging Torontonians to get vaccinated too. (CBC)
As part of the campaign, Mayor John Tory also rolled up his sleeves and received his flu shot and bivalent COVID-19 booster.
“I got my shots today because I both wanted to protect myself and I also wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to encourage other people to get vaccinated,” Tory said.
De Villa added: “It is also safe and convenient to get the flu shot and the COVID-19 booster at the same time, as the mayor did today.”
The actions may reduce pressure on health care, the city says
In a press release Wednesday, the city said, “Having more people vaccinated, along with using personal protective practices like hand and respiratory hygiene and staying home when sick, can reduce exposure and lead to fewer infections and less severe illnesses in the community, which will help reduce pressure on our healthcare system.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada says flu spreads from person to person through droplets produced by coughing, sneezing or talking. People can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available for people six months of age and older. People 12 years of age and older are eligible for the bivalent booster. Flu shots are available with or without an appointment and no health card is required.