Respiratory Illness & Peak Viral Season

What is the flu?

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common sickness that spreads easily. It affects your nose, throat, and lungs. You can catch the flu from tiny droplets when someone with the flu coughs or sneezes. You can also get it by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces with flu droplets and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Symptoms of the flu

• Sudden fever or feeling very hot
• Cough and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache or body aches
• Chills
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Lower appetite
• Some people, especially kids, might also feel sick to their stomach, vomit, or have diarrhea

Preventing the flu

Get vaccinated: The flu vaccine helps your body fight off infection. It can prevent the flu or reduce the severity of symptoms. Each year, the vaccine is updated to protect against the most likely flu strains.

Protect yourself and others

• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and workplace.
• Wear a mask:
  • To protect yourself from viral respiratory illnesses.
  • To protect others at higher risk of severe respiratory illness.
  • When you’re recovering from illness.

How serious is the flu?

Complications from the flu can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or heart attacks and, in some cases, death. The flu is estimated to cause about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.

The initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines will be available for high-risk and priority groups who live, work or study in Ontario, starting the week of September 28, 2026, including:

• Hospitalized patients
• Hospital staff
• Residents and staff in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings
• Individuals aged 65 and older 

Starting October 26, 2026, free flu and COVID-19 shots will be available to the general public at participating pharmacies, public health units and participating doctor and nurse practitioner offices.

I live in a house where all household members are 5 years old or older

• Pharmacies
• Participating Health Care Provider 

I live in a house with a child between 2 and 5 years old

• Pharmacies
• Participating Health Care Provider
• Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs*
• Ottawa Public Health Vaccination Clinics*

I live in a house with a child under 2 years old

• Participating Health Care Provider
• Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs*
• Ottawa Public Health Vaccination Clinics*

I do not have OHIP

• Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs*
• Ottawa Public Health Vaccination Clinics*

I am a client with a medical or disability-related need who cannot be seen by a pharmacist or family doctor and require accommodation (e.g., extra time with a nurse, a quieter or private space)

• Contact the Ottawa Public Health Contact Centre at 613-580-6744 and speak to a Public Health Nurse about clinic options.

*If you don’t meet Ottawa Public Health criteria, you will be redirected to another community option for vaccination.

Southeast Public Health Unit (Hastings & Prince Edward, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Lanark, Leeds & Grenville)

Eastern Ontario Health Unit (Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott-Russell & Cornwall)

Renfrew County & District Health Unit (Renfrew & Pembroke)

Lakelands Health Unit (Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland & Peterborough)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs resulting in cold-like symptoms. It usually starts spreading in the fall and peaks in the winter months. RSV infection can happen at any age but is particularly severe in infants and older adults, often leading to significant lung infections requiring hospitalization especially in those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, chronic heart or lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems.

RSV products will be available just before and during peak RSV season:

• For newborn infants born in hospital during the RSV season:  Beyfortus® is recommended before hospital discharge. Local birthing hospitals and midwives will provide the preventative antibody.
• Eligible infants born before the RSV season can access the preventative antibody through their regular health care provider.
  
  • For infants born before the RSV season, without a regular health care provider, appointment bookings for the preventative antibody are available through the Kids Come First Vaccinate and Up-to-Date initiative.
    
    • Kids Come First -Vaccinate and Up-to-Date
  • For high-risk children 12 to 24 months, the preventative antibody can be given by pediatricians, primary care providers, in hospital or outpatient clinics; please speak to your health care provider in these settings about the preventative antibody.

Southeast Public Health Unit (Hastings & Prince Edward, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Lanark, Leeds & Grenville)

Eastern Ontario Health Unit (Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Prescott-Russell & Cornwall)

Renfrew County & District Health Unit (Renfrew & Pembroke)

Lakelands Health Unit (Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland & Peterborough)

The Ontario RSV prevention program offers a monoclonal antibody (preventative antibody), Beyfortus®, given to babies and high-risk children born before or during the RSV season.

Infant Program Eligibility: Your child will be eligible if they are born on or after April 1st, 2026 AND are less than 8 months of age.

High-Risk Children Program Eligibility

Children less than 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease, following a discussion with their pediatric specialist including children with:

• Chronic lung disease (CLD), including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), defined by need for ongoing respiratory support and supplemental oxygen therapy at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (gestational age at birth plus chronological age) or discharged home, if earlier.
  
  • Note: Children who were less 12 months of age and approved for coverage in the previous RSV season for chronic lung disease and bronchopulmonary dysplasia remain eligible, irrespective of their clinical status in the second RSV season.
• Hemodynamically significant cyanotic or acyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) defined as infants requiring corrective surgery or are on cardiac medication for congestive heart failure or diagnosed with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension.
• Severe immunodeficiency
• Down syndrome/Trisomy 21
• Cystic fibrosis with recurrent pulmonary exacerbations requiring hospitalization,
  deteriorating pulmonary function and/or severe growth delay
• Neuromuscular disease impairing clearing of respiratory secretions
• Severe congenital airway anomalies impairing the clearing of respiratory secretions
   

Monoclonal antibody (preventative antibody)

Monoclonal antibodies are medicines that act like natural antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes. They help defend against a threat, like bacteria and viruses.