Health unit encouraging vaccination during flu season

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Southwestern Public Health is urging residents to act after provincial models indicate a spike in influenza activity is projected to arrive in Ontario over the holidays.

According to data from Public Health Ontario, respiratory illness in Ontario has been increasing week over week since mid-October. The latest per-cent positivity for influenza is 18.3 per cent provincially, as of the week ending Nov. 29. Projections indicate flu activity will continue to rise from now until early January.

“We sent out the news release to heighten people’s awareness about the rising flu activity,” said Dr. Ninh Tran, medical officer of health for Elgin County, Oxford County and the City of St. Thomas. “We are urging people to get vaccinated before the peak happens.”

That peak, according to modelling by the provincial government, is expected to take place right in the middle of the holidays.

“They are expecting it to peak in late December or early January. We are pushing hard on the message for people to get vaccinated now because we are right in the middle of the flu season, added Tran.

The health unit’s contagious disease dashboard is located on its website and the current risk in the area is listed as high. Tran said the public should remember the numbers represent data from the preceding week.

Some health experts in Canada, including at York University, warned circulating flu viruses may differ from the strains included in the available vaccine, meaning one component, the H3N2 strain, may not be a perfect match. Tran said that doesn’t mean people should be hesitant to receive the shot.

“The flu shot is developed to try and predict the most common strains. Some years, it’s designed and matches up perfectly, but other years it doesn’t quite match,” he explained. “Even if we don’t get the exact strain, there is going to be some cross-protection. We can’t tell until the season is over as to how effective it is, but it will provide some level of protection against hospitalizations and deaths.”

Noting the flu vaccine requires approximately two weeks to become fully effective, he urged residents to plan accordingly.

“We are a little over two weeks from the holidays, so this week is a really good time to get vaccinated,” Tran said, adding there are several actions people can take right now to lessen the impact of respiratory illnesses on themselves and their loved ones over the holidays.

“It comes down to the three principles of public health: protection, prevention and promotion. When combined, these actions have the greatest opportunity for a healthy holiday season.”

For protection, residents are encouraged to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, which are both currently circulating locally. People are also encouraged to seek RSV vaccination if they are eligible.

Southwestern Public Health offers eligible vaccinations to children aged five and under and their families. Appointments can be booked at www.swpublichealth.ca/booking. All other residents can speak with their health-care providers or a local participating pharmacy about vaccine availability and eligibility.

“Preventing respiratory illnesses means washing hands frequently, staying home when ill, cleaning high-touch surfaces, and covering coughs and sneezes,” a health-unit press release says. “Consider masking when in crowds if you have respiratory symptoms, or when visiting vulnerable individuals, such as young babies or elderly loved ones. Finally, promote healthy habits this season through adequate nutrition intake, being physically active, staying hydrated and bringing fresh air into your home.”

Resources about local respiratory activity, vaccination and disease prevention can be found at www.swpublichealth.ca.