Health officials urge vaccination for COVID-19, flu ahead of winter

Health officials are warning of a potentially tough winter season and are urging those in Ontario to be up to date on vaccinations to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health says the current COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is very active right now and there are hundreds of people in hospital with COVID, some in intensive care.

Along with that, the flu is on the way.

“Winter is always a tough time of year. We go indoors, lots of social gatherings over the holidays, that’s how the virus is spread. So we anticipate having another difficult influenza season.” says Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario.

The flu has been delayed this year, possibly until mid-November and Moore says that’s a chance to get immunized with a flu shot along with a COVID shot.

“Now is the time. please, please, please consider getting immunized and protected against both influenza as well as COVID through these two updated vaccines for both those pathogens.”

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With new vaccines available for flu and COVID he says officials don’t rate one over another.

The province has also lined up vaccines for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for older people and long-term care.

For the general population, Moore says the key to getting through the winter is vaccination.

“It’s great timing. Typically the vaccines give us six months of protection then immunity fades and the viruses change. So really six months of protection now, starting in November, gets us through to the springtime.”

As for going back to mask-wearing, the recommendation is limited.

“If you’re at risk to these viruses please consider wearing a mask in indoor public spaces.”

Moore says Ontario’s population has built up a level of protection to COVID-19 and fewer people are dying with the virus. However, he says people have to keep up that immunity to get them healthy through the next six months and to avoid overwhelming the health care system.

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