The flu

Overview

The flu is a contagious virus that anyone can get. It can be serious and can result in a hospital stay and serious complications, especially among seniors and young children. Getting your free flu shot is the best way to keep you, your family, and your loved ones safe and healthy during flu season.

To learn more about the tools available to stay protected during respiratory illness season, visit: ontario.ca/respiratoryillness

For additional information from a health care professional, visit Health811 online or call 811 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not need to provide your OHIP number. All of your information is confidential.

When to get the flu shot

Getting your flu shot is the best way to remain protected against the most severe outcomes of infection, including hospitalization caused by the flu.

Flu season typically runs from late fall to early spring. To keep you and your loved ones protected, it is recommended to get the updated flu vaccines each fall as the flu virus changes frequently.

The flu shot takes approximately 2 weeks to take full effect. Get your shot as soon as the vaccine is available for you.

The flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. It is:

• safe (including for kids and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding)
• free for individuals who live, work, or study in Ontario
• proven to reduce the number of doctor visits and hospitalizations related to the flu

Flu vaccines may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after administration of other vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines for those aged 6 months of age and older. Talk to a health care provider or pharmacist to learn more.

Don’t take any unnecessary risks with your health. Get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available to you.

Where to get the flu vaccine

6 months to under 2 years old

• doctor or nurse practitioner
• some local public health units

Children 6 months up to 2 years old can only get their flu shot from a doctor, nurse practitioner or local public health unit. Children under 2 years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy.

2 to 64 years old

• doctor or nurse practitioner
• some local public health units
• participating pharmacies

Children as young as 2 years of age can get their flu shot at a participating pharmacy.

65 and older

• visit a doctor or nurse practitioner
• contact your local public health unit
• visit a participating pharmacy

Who is most at risk

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

Some people are more vulnerable to infection or serious complications and hospitalization from the flu, making vaccination especially important for:

• babies under 6 months old are too young to get the flu shot, but they'll get some protection if their parent got the flu shot while they were pregnant
• children under 5 years of age, because their immune systems are developing, and their airways are small and more easily blocked
• people 65 years old and older, because their immune systems are weaker and they are more likely to have an underlying condition that increases their risk
• residents, staff and care providers of congregate living settings (such as chronic care facilities, retirement homes)
• pregnant women, because their immune system, heart and lungs change – especially later in pregnancy – making them more likely to get seriously ill from the flu
• people with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes
• individuals in or from First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities
• members of racialized and other equity deserving communities
• first responders
• individuals with significant exposure to birds or mammals, such as poultry, livestock, slaughterhouse and processing plant workers, wildlife officers/researchers, and veterinarians

Flu shot types available for those 65 and older

For the 2024–2025 season, if you're 65 and older, 3 different flu shots are available:

• The standard-dose vaccine that protects against 4 strains of flu virus.
• The adjuvanted vaccine that protects against 3 strains of flu virus and contains an adjuvant (a substance added to a vaccine that helps the recipient develop an improved immune response).
• The high-dose vaccine, that protects against 4 strains of flu virus, but in higher doses.

All 3 flu vaccine types are safe, effective and offer strong protection to seniors. Talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or public health unit about which option is best for you.

Flu vs. common cold

The symptoms of the flu and the common cold can be very similar but, unlike a case of the common cold, the flu can lead to serious health problems like pneumonia.

Use this chart to help determine if you have a cold or the flu.

If you get the flu

Be sure to:

• stay home and get plenty of rest
• drink lots of fluids
• speak to your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that can help you feel better (such as basic pain or fever relievers), but do not give acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin®) to anyone under 18 years old
• treat muscle pain using a hot water bottle or heating pad – apply heat for short periods of time
• take a warm bath
• gargle with a glass of warm salt water or suck on hard candy or lozenges
• use spray or saline drops for a stuffy nose
• avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco

Call your doctor or nurse practitioner if:

• you don't start to feel better after a few days
• your symptoms get worse
• you are in a high-risk group and develop flu symptoms