Flu vaccine for high-risk individuals will be available through local pharmacies, healthcare providers in early October. Ottawa Public Health Community and Neighbourhood Hubs will offer influenza vaccines for high-risk individuals without OHIP & children under 5 and their families.
The flu vaccine will be available to the general population on October 30th through local pharmacies, and your regular health care provider. The earlier you get the vaccine, the better your chances are to prevent getting the flu virus. Influenza vaccines are available at over 270 pharmacies in the city in late fall – please contact your local pharmacy to ensure vaccine availability.
The flu is a viral infection that can have severe complications. Anyone can get the flu virus. The flu is not just a cold. You could miss school, work, parties, holidays, or even end up in the hospital. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and over. This year with the presence of COVID-19 circulating in the community, it is especially important for high risks groups to get the flu vaccine to reduce the potential risk of having COVID-19 and influenza at the same time. Getting your annual flu vaccine is an important way to help protect yourself, your family and high risk groups in your community against seasonal flu. It will also help reduce the burden on Canada’s health care system during respiratory illness season . The flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, but it will help reduce your risk of getting the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Having both illnesses at the same time could put you at a higher risk for severe illness.
