“As we approach this respiratory illness season, our government is ensuring Ontarians are prepared and have the tools they need to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and healthy,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are working closely with our partners to make it easier for people of all ages to be protected this fall and access the care they need close to home and within their community.”

Starting in early October, flu shots will be available for the most vulnerable and high priority populations, including hospitalized individuals, hospital staff, and residents and staff in long-term care homes, followed by those in retirement homes and other congregate settings and individuals 65 years and older. Free flu shots for the general public aged six months and older will be available starting October 28, 2024, at doctor and nurse practitioner offices, participating pharmacies and some public health units. To learn more about the flu shot this fall, visit Ontario.ca/flu.

It is safe and convenient to receive both the COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time, reducing the need for multiple visits to a doctor, nurse practitioner or local pharmacy. Ontario expects to receive shipments of the updated COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government by early October following approval by Health Canada. Initial doses will be prioritized for higher risk populations and more details will be provided once doses are distributed to Ontario.

Beginning in October, families with infants and high-risk children up to 24 months old, will now have access to the new RSV immunization, Beyfortus®, through the recently expanded publicly funded RSV prevention program. Families can access the Beyfortus® immunization through their health care provider, as well as within hospital settings for infants born during the 2024/25 respiratory illness season. Pregnant women also have the option of receiving a single dose of Abrysvo®, to provide protection for their infant from birth to six months. The RSV prevention program has also expanded this fall to include all retirement home residents. For more details on the RSV program, visit Ontario.ca/rsv.

“Staying up to date on vaccination helps everyone stay healthy this respiratory illness season, especially those who cannot protect themselves including younger children and others who can’t be immunized,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “With a large rise in cases of whooping cough (pertussis) this year, particularly in children and teens aged 10-18, it is especially important for parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with all of their vaccinations as well as vaccines for pregnant individuals.”

Vaccines in Ontario’s routine immunization schedule are provided free of charge if you meet the eligibility criteria. If you are unsure about which immunizations you or your family have received or are eligible for, talk to your health care provider or public health unit.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is providing people with the tools they need early to connect to the care they need to keep themselves, and their loved ones safe and healthy.

“Thanks to the ongoing resilience and commitment of Ontarians, we are seeing a decline in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu and COVID activity throughout the province.

RSV trends are beginning to stabilize and decline, and after the annual 12-week flu season, the number of cases of flu peaked at the end of November, case rates continue to decline, and the impact on our communities, hospitals and intensive care units is improving.

On the COVID front, key indicators are showing signs of improvement after a rise over the holiday period due to the BQ.1 variant and its sub-lineages.

I want to thank Ontarians for following public health advice regarding the layers of protection throughout the holiday period and beyond, which has helped to manage the spread of these respiratory viruses.

We must remain vigilant as many jurisdictions across the province continue to see a rise in the number of cases of the more transmissible XBB.1.5 variant of COVID-19.

XBB.1.5 has not been associated with a change in severity of illness, but due to its increased transmissibility, more individuals may get infected as it becomes the main variant in Ontario.

I continue to strongly recommend that everyone stays up to date with their vaccinations as it remains our best defence against COVID-19 and its variants, especially for those at increased risk of severe infection and for anyone who has not received a booster or been infected in the past six months.

Paxlovid is an outpatient oral anti-viral treatment used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19 and is now easier to access for more people across Ontario. Prescriptions are available for free to eligible individuals through pharmacies across the province, any physician or nurse practitioner in Ontario, as well as clinical assessment centres.

Additionally, the province’s guidance on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been updated to align with the current recommendations for who should receive Paxlovid, which further improves access to this effective treatment option. I encourage Ontarians with a positive test and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to speak to their health care provider to determine if this treatment is appropriate for them.

Free PCR tests are offered at any provincial testing location and rapid antigen tests can continue to be picked up at no charge in over 3,000 retail locations in the province.

As always, Ontarians are advised to stay home when they feel sick, wash their hands often, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze and to wear a mask in crowded indoor public spaces, especially those at higher risk.

We have the tools we need to reduce the spread of respiratory illness in our communities, and I am grateful to Ontarians for continuing to utilize them. These important choices help preserve our hospital capacity to ensure care is always available for those who need it.

Thank you again for continuing to protect yourself, your family, and your community.”