Influenza (Flu)

For more information on preventing the flu and other respiratory viruses see preventing the flu.

Flu vaccination

The earlier you get the vaccine, the better your chances are to prevent getting the flu virus. 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 this unprecedented time. 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. 

Where can I get my flu vaccine?

  • Flu vaccines are available at participating pharmacies and health care providers for anyone 6 months of age or older. Vaccine availability may vary by provider. 
  • People may be required to provide proof that they live, work, or attend school in Ontario to receive the publicly funded flu vaccine. Many different identification (ID) documents are accepted to prove eligibility (such as health card, mail with name and address, pay stub, student card). Having a health card is not a requirement, however, some health care providers may request one for their services. 

Ottawa Public Health Flu Vaccine Clinics for select groups below:
  • Children aged six months to 5 years old and their household members.
  • Individuals without an Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) who are unable to access a flu vaccine through a primary care provider or pharmacy.
As of March 26th 2023, you must schedule an appointment. To schedule an appointment, please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744.
It is important to screen yourself for symptoms before being vaccinated. Public health measures are in place at clinics to keep you and others safe. Please wear a mask, distance yourself from others and stay home if you are ill.

 

A message from Dr. Vera Etches

Frequently asked questions

Participating pharmacies

Influenza vaccines are available in late fall - please call ahead to your local pharmacy to ensure vaccine availability. Use the map or table below to find your nearest participating pharmacy. Please note that pharmacies do not provide flu vaccines to children under the age of 2 years old.

 

Participating pharmacies
Pharmacy Name Address Telephone number
First Care Pharmacy  2 Lorry Greenberg Drive  613-248-8000
Hunt Club Pharmacy  2430 Bank Street 613-521-7955
Drugstore Pharmacy  760 Eagleson Road 613-254-5334
Shoppers Drug Mart  3781 Strandherd Drive 613-825-9151
Sobeys Pharmacy  700 Terry Fox Drive 613-831-4311
Bridlewood Drug Mart 64 Stonehaven Drive 613-254-9918
N.K.S. Health 2197 Riverside Drive 613-730-2322
ApotheSOS Pharmacy 314 Central Park Drive 613-680-8858
Richmond Village Pharmacy 6146 Perth Street 613-838-5352
Pharmacie Jean Coutu Pharmacy 262 Montreal Road 613-749-5957
Health Haven Pharmacy 3780 Fallowfield Road 613-823-1540
Manotick Main Pharmacy 5556 Manotick Main Street 613-692-2999
Tompkins IDA Pharmacy 385 Tompkins Avenue 613-824-5000
Orleans Community Pharmacy 2746 St. Joseph Boulevard  613-824-3111
Eshmun Pharmacy 460 West Hunt Club 613-737-3000
Kanata Pharmasave 99 Kakulu Road 613-592-6955
Bank Street Medical Pharmacy 1935 Bank Street 613-422-1245
Loblaw Pharmacy 200 Grant Carmen Drive 613-727-7477
Loblaw Pharmacy 375 Rideau Street 613-789-3346
Shoppers Drug Mart 1080 Bank Street 613-526-9537
Shoppers Drug Mart 1642 Merivale Road 613-226-1155
Somerset Drugs 708 Somerset Street West 613-234-7011
Stafford I.D.A Pharmacy 1861 Robertson Road 613-726-7999
New Edinburgh Pharmacy 5 Beechwood Ave 613-749-4444
McNeil Pharmacy 1081 Carling Avenue 613-722-7679
Ogilvie Square Pharmasave 1946 Montreal Road 613-747-3535
Health Treasure Pharmacy 10 Green Street 613-440-9100
CATP - Parkway Pharmacy 311 McArthur Avenue 613-749-2324
Osgoode Pharmacy Ltd. 3192 Logan Farm Drive 613-826-0667
Loblaw Pharmacy 1980 Ogilvie Road 613-746-9553
Loblaw Pharmacy 2210C Bank Street 613-733-2283
Trust Care Pharmasave 1020 St Laurent Boulevard 613-749-8577
Avalon Compounding Pharmacy 2026  Tenth Line Road 613-824-5555
St. Mary Health Center Pharmacy 2010 Trim Road 613-590-7800
Loblaw Pharmacy 2065 Robertson Road 613-829-4680
Loblaw Pharmacy 1460 Merivale Road 613-226-2611
Shoppers Drug Mart 1559 Alta Vista Drive 613-738-1445
Swift Compounding Pharmacy 276 Bank Street 613-422-2202
Loblaw Pharmacy 296 Bank Street 613-234-9299
Green Street Pharmacy 16 Green Street 613-825-7700
Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy 381 Kent Street 613-232-4337
Fallowfield Pharmacy 3500 Fallowfield Road 613-823-3500
Carlingwood Pharmacy 356 Woodroffe Avenue 613-680-3233
Lancaster Medical Pharmacy 2450 Lancaster Road 613-518-1978
Loblaw Pharmacy 671 River Road 613-822-9878
Shoppers Drug Mart 3151 Strandherd Drive 613-825-8717
Shoppers Drug Mart 2012 Ogilvie Road 613-741-5151
Sobeys Pharmacy 5150 Innes Road 613-590-7144
Shoppers Drug Mart 1460 Richmond Road 613-596-0509
St. Laurent Pharmacy 1237 Donald Street 613-688-0299
Half Moon Bay Pharmacy 3802 Greenbank Road 613-692-9998
Loblaw Pharmacy 1619 Orleans Boulevard 613-830-9914
Shoppers Drug Mart 181 Greenbank Road 613-820-1306
Shoppers Drug Mart 2301 Tenth Line Road 613-837-4131
Shoppers Drug Mart 2446 Bank Street 613-247-9893
Shoppers Drug Mart 6491 Jeanne D'Arc Boulevard 613-837-1521
Shoppers Drug Mart 2515 Bank Street 613-523-9999
Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy 5303 Canotek Road 613-745-5905
Pharmasave Orleans Medical Pharmacy 5929 Jean D'arc South 613-510-0150
Shoppers Drug Mart 298 Dalhousie Street 613-241-1871
Rideau Compounding Pharmacy 541 Rideau Street 613-789-5151
Loblaw Pharmacy 200 Earl Grey Drive 613-599-4046
Preston Medical Pharmacy 225 Preston Street 613-233-3636
Drugstore Pharmacy 100 McArthur Avenue 613-744-3225
Loblaw Pharmacy 1226 Orleans Place Drive 613-834-4074
Shoppers Drug Mart 1180 Walkley Road 613-737-3344
Shoppers Drug Mart 1309 Carling Avenue 613-722-4277
Shoppers Drug Mart 5709 Hazeldean Road 613-836-3679
Paul's Pharmasave 990 River Road 613-692-0015
Pharmasave Cyril Pharmacy 1795 Kilborn Avenue 613-680-1772
Loblaw Pharmacy 3201 Greenbank Road  613-825-3748
Shoppers Drug Mart 888 Meadowlands Drive 613-225-6204
Constance Bay Pharmacy 179 Constance Bay Road 613-832-7707
Stittsville Whole Health Pharmacy 1609 Stittsville Main Street 613-831-2180
Pharm Can Drug Mart 71 Willow Street 613-230-4866
Shoppers Drug mart 5230 Mitch Owens Road 613-692-6737
Shoppers Drug Mart 3080 Carling Avenue 613-820-5350
Shoppers Drug Mart 4744 Bank Street 613-822-0366
Shoppers Drug Mart 1582 Bank Street 613-523-9016
Shoppers Drug Mart 1820 Robertson Road 613-828-4487
Shoppers Drug Mart 647 Earl Armstrong 613-822-6746
Shoppers Drug Mart 2954 St. Joseph Boulevard 613-841-1535
Shoppers Drug Mart 3310 McCarthy Road 613-523-2835
Shoppers Drug Mart 111 Albert Street 613-235-5139
Shoppers Drug Mart 876 Montreal Road 613-741-3660
Greely Pharmasave 6045 Bank Street 613-455-3333
Loblaw Pharmacy 4270 Innes Road 613-824-5448
Drugstore Pharmacy 190 Richmond Road 613-722-2102
Shoppers Drug Mart 2638 Innes Road 613-824-2257
Pharmasave Cyrville Pharmacy 1675 Cyrville Road 613-515-0445
Shoppers Drug Mart 499 Terry Fox Drive 613-271-9790
Jockvale Pharmacy 2201 Jockvale Road 613-440-7200
Shoppers Drug Mart 680 Easleson Road 613-599-4595
Shoppers Drug Mart 1300 Stittsville Main Street 613-831-0901
Drugstore Pharmacy 3777 Strandherd Drive 613-823-4633
Loblaw Pharmacy 1251 Main Street 613-831-9277
Shoppers Drug Mart 1675 Tenth Line Road 613-837-6078
Med Rx Altabank Pharmacy 1405 Bank Street 613-526-4466
North Gower Pharmacy 2333 Church Street 613-489-5000
Proactive Pharmacy 1645 Bank Street 612-521-1200
Drugstore Pharmacy 2681 Alta Vista Drive 613-247-1070
Shoppers Drug Mart 420 Hazeldean Road 613-831-2975
Shoppers Drug Mart 2339 Ogilvie Road 613-741-6465
Shoppers Drug Mart 1469 Merivale Road 613-224-7270
Findlay Creek Pharmacy 111 Shuttleworth Drive 613-425-8585
Specialty Rx 1 Centrepointe Drive 613-225-5070
Shoppers Drug Mart 1102 Klondike Road R.R.#1 613-592-6010
Click Pharmacy 442 Hazeldean Road 613-435-5100
Meadowlands Pharmacy 885 Meadowlands Drive East 613-422-5800
Costco Pharmacy 1849 Merivale Road 613-727-5822
Costco Pharmacy 1405 Blair Towers Place 613-691-7617
Costco Pharmacy 770 Silver Seven Road 613-270-5578
Costco Pharmacy 4315 Strandherd Drive  613-714-0923
Limebank Pharmacy 3771 Spratt Road 613-425-7100
Shoppers Drug Mart 150 Montreal Road 613-842-7544
Carling IDA Pharmacy 1320 Carling Avenue 613-722-7774
Michael Pharmacy 2200 Montreal Road 613-421-0223
Beechwood Wholehealth Pharmacy 222 Beechwood Avenue 613-842-7455
White Cross Disp (Ottawa) Ltd 264 Elgin Street  613-233-4029
Woodroffe Pharmacy 1637 Woodroffe Avenue 613-224-8342
Mecca Pharmacy 3059 Carling Avenue 613-422-7766
Pharmacie Medici Pharmacy 1200 Colonial Road 613-429-4100
UltraCare Compounding Pharmacy  1366 Clyde Avenue 613-225-2225
Loblaw Pharmacy 1980 Baseline Road 613-723-3100
Glebe Apothecary 778 Bank Street 613-234-8587
Bell Pharmacy 737 Gladstone Avenue 613-234-1890
Guardian Hillside Pharmacy 556 Montreal Road 613-741-9900
Shoppers Drug Mart 50 Rideau Street 613-236-2533
Shoppers Drug Mart 1937 Portobello Boulevard 613-590-1800
Shoppers Drug Mart 455 Bank Street 613-238-9041
Shoppers Drug Mart 1200 St. Laurent Boulevard 613-745-7015
Palmyra Guardian 1007 Merivale Road 613-729-7007
Shoppers Drug Mart 1200 St. Laurent Boulevard 613-233-3202
Shoppers Drug Mart 1007 Merivale Road 613-232-5723
Cedarview Guardian Pharmacy 702 Bank Street 613-823-1700
Barrhaven Pharmacy 174 Bank Street 613-825-1200
Watson's Pharmacy and Compounding Centre 192 Main Street 613-238-1881
Metro Pharmacy 4510 Innes Road 613-824-7818
Watson's Pharmacy and Compounding Centre 1308 Wellington Street West 613-238-1882
Metro Pharmacy 10 Cope Drive 613-591-9824
Metro Pharmacy 2525 Carling Avenue 613-596-5329
Trainyards Pharmacy 550 Terminal Avenue 613-789-3420
Health Smart Pharmacy 1500 Bank Street 613-695-5561
Blossom Park Pharmacy 1650 Queensdale Avenue 613-422-2828
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 450 Terminal Avenue 613-562-3225
The Greely Pharmacy 7163 Parkway Road 613-821-9292
Kanata Mews Pharmacy 329 March Road 613-435-2111
GoodHealth Pharmasave 4188 Spratt Road 613-822-8669
Pharmacie Centrum Pharmacy Inc 210 Centrum Boulevard 613-837-4995
Hybrid Pharm 318 Richmond Road 613-695-4923
Navan Medical Pharmacy 3349 Navan Road 613-518-7444
IDA Vars Medical Pharmacy 5875 Buckland Road 613-510-0144
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 500 Earl Grey Drive 613-599-1343
Centretown Pharmacy 326 Bank Street 613-422-2900
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 2277 Riverside Drive 613-737-6898
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 5357 Fernbank Road 613-831-8142
Pharmacie Orleans Pharmacy 110-4275 Innes Road 613-837-4747
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 1980 Ogilvie Road 613-747-7384
Donald St. Pharmacy 336 Donald Street 613-567-1212
Blackburn Pharmacy 2575 Innes Rd 613-830-1212
Bank St. Pharmacy 2531-A Bank Street 613-739-1212
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 100 Bayshore Drive 613-829-0777
Medical Pharmacy 1053 Carling Avenue 613-761-4157
Greenbank Pharmacy 139 Greenbank Road 613-695-1847
Vanier Ideal Pharmacy 292 Montreal Road 613-467-7777
Shoppers Drug Mart 3940 Innes Road 613-834-7383
Medisystem Pharmacy 40 Camelot Drive 613-224-3225
Stittsville IDA Pharmacy 1250 Main Street 613-836-3881
Richmond IDA Pharmacy 6265 Perth Street 613-838-5323
Pharmacie Brisson Pharmacy Ltd 270 Dalhousie street  613-241-6273
Greenbank Hunt Club Pharmacy 250 Greenbank Road 613-288-1414
Pharmacie Medione Inc. 595 Montreal Road 613-422-2071
Hazeldean Pharmacy 6150 Hazeldean Road 613-435-0789
Shoppers Drug Mart 322 Rideau Street 613-789-9700
Rexall 1910 St. Laurent Boulevard 613-733-4574
Rexall 1595 Merivale Road 613-224-7322
Rexall 900 Greenbank Rd 613-825-9000
Rexall 1615 Orleans Boulevard 613-824-0082
Rexall 200 Rideau Street 613-789-7884
Sobeys Pharmacy 840 March Road 613-599-3060
H M A Pharmacy Ltd 2948 Baseline Road 613-228-9925
Iris Compounding Pharmacy 2730 Iris Street 613-828-6868
Riverside Court Remedy's Rx 3635 Rivergate Way 613-739-0950
Kilborn Pharmacy 1385 Bank Street 613-721-6000
Baseline Pharmacy Inc. 2571 Baseline Road 613-721-9000
Rexall 240 Sparks Street 613-238-1241
Rexall 2529 Carling Avenue 613-828-3412
Rexall 2950 Carling Avenue 613-829-3417
Rexall 1415 Carling Avenue 613-729-0375
Rexall 1725 Walkley Road 613-737-9826
Rexall 2269 Riverside Drive East 613-733-2287
Rexall 2121 Carling Avenue 613-722-4588
Rexall 1620 Scott Street 613-724-9874
Rexall 300 Eagleson Road 613-592-3109
Rexall 2116 Montreal Road 613-741-1489
Rexall 4048 Carling Avenue 613-599-5188
Rexall 1190 Wellington Street 613-728-3724
Rexall 1363B Woodroffe Avenue 613-224-1538
Rexall 1980 Ogilvie Road 613-745-9497
Rexall 1160 Beaverwood Road 613-692-2424
Rexall 2144 Robertson Road 613-820-4980
Rexall 832 March Road 613-599-6699
Rexall 753 Montreal Road 613-745-4796
Rexall 407 Laurier Avenue West  613-782-2332
Rexall 0160-110 Place D'Orleans Drive 613-590-7540
Astley's Pharmasave 423 Rideau Street 613-233-8454
Rexall 160 Elgin St 613-232-4204
Rexall 350 Cresthaven Drive  613-825-1682
ProMed Pharmacy 2706 Alta Vista Drive 613-680-4343
Shas Pharmacy 1428 Walkley Road 613-737-4106
LMC Pharmacy - Ottawa 4100 Strandherd Drive 613-505-9711
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 2210 Bank Street 613-247-1033
Pharmacie La Paix Pharmacy 390 McArthur Ave 613-744-5800
Pharmacie Jean Coutu Pharmacy 2701 St. Joseph Boulevard 613-837-8689
West Carleton Drug Mart 461 Donald B Munro Drive 613-839-3133
Health Keys Pharmacy 1181 Hunt Club Road 613-421-1620
Forest Valley Pharmacy 1600 Forest Valley  613-841-0666
Mooney's Bay Pharmacy 743 Ridgewood Avenue 613-680-2900
Uplands Pharmacy 380 Hunt Club Road 613-216-7100
Centrepointe Gabriel Drugs 117 Centrepointe Drive  613-723-2366
Rideau Pharmacy 390 Rideau Street 613-789-4444
Pleasant Park Pharmacy 1024 Pleasant Park Road 613-733-2211
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 1375 Baseline Road 613-224-6891
Whole Health Pharmacy Ogilvie 1150 Cadboro Road 613-749-7455
Extend Pharmacy 1929 Russell Road 613-260-7890
Pharmasave Woodroffe Pharmacy 1433 Woodroffe Avenue 613-224-1011
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 3900 Innes Road 613-837-1166
Westboro Pharmasave  298 Richmond Rd 613-722-7647
Barrhaven Medical Pharmacy 2900 Woodroffe Avenue 613-440-7997
Respect Rx Ottawa West 2006 Robertson Road 613-680-6999
Merivale IDA Pharmacy 1390 Clyde Avenue 613-224-1111
Ottawa Medical Pharmacy 797 Somerset Street West 613-236-2307
Whole Health Compounding Pharmacy Glebe 857A Bank Street 613-231-7770
Southkeys Pharmacy 1883 Bank Street 613-680-8880
Innes Ideal Pharmacy 4473 Innes Road 613-424-8444
Flora Medical Pharmacy 500 Bank Street 613-231-5333
Restore Medical Pharmacy 786 Bronson Avenue 613-422-2224
Seaway Valley Pharmacy - Barrhaven 2201 Jockvale Road 613-440-7200
Shoppers Drug Mart 410 Richmond Road 613-761-5575
Shoppers Drug Mart 541 Montreal Road 613-740-0616
1355 Bank Street Pharmacy 1355 Bank Street 613-731-2200
Bayshore Pharmacy Limited 3029 Carling Avenue 613-820-4907
Victoria Pharmacy 1065 Wellington Street 613-729-6149
Metcalfe Pharmacy 8205 Victoria Street 613-821-1224
Bridle Path Pharmacy 4000 Bridle Path Drive 613-249-0624
Wellington Drug Store 1221 Wellington Street West 613-680-6789
Strandherd Guardian Pharmacy 3091 Strandherd Drive 613-825-7400
Kanata Compounding Pharmacy 150 Katimavik Road 613-271-6339
Pharma Land 1740 Montreal Road 613-746-4555
Pharmacie Campus Pharmacy 100 Marie-Curie Private 613-563-4000
Kanata North Pharmacy 471 Terry Fox Drive 613-271-9494
Shoppers Drug Mart 2148 Carling Avenue 613-725-9990
Wal-Mart Pharmacy 3651 Strandherd Drive 613-823-8717
Longfields Pharmacy 613 Longsfield Drive 613-440-9199
CareRx Ottawa East 2447 Kaladar Avenue 613-526-1313
Orleans Integrative Pharmacy 3095 St. Joseph Boulevard 613-424-5721
Greenboro Pharmacy 25 Tailola Crescent 613-695-1177
KidCare Pharmacy 401 Smyth Road 613-737-2316
Evans Medical Pharmacy 1194 Karn Place 613-731-7808
Taylor Creek Pharmacy 570 Lacolle Way 613-686-1991
Crown Pointe Pharmacy 900 Watters Road 613-590-0230
Medical Pharmacy 770 Broadview Avenue 613-725-9671
Panorama Wellness Pharmacy 1380 Upper Canada Street 343-499-1000

What is the flu?

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common contagious infection. The flu affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces that have come into contact with flu droplets, and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Flu symptoms include a sudden fever or feeling feverish as well as a cough and/or a sore throat. It is common to also have a runny or stuffy nose, headache or body aches, and chills. You may feel more tired than usual and have a lower appetite. Some people (mostly children) also have nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Most people will recover within a week to 10 days, but some people are at greater risk of severe complications, such as pneumonia or death. Influenza infection can also worsen certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease. Although the burden of influenza can vary from year to year, it is estimated that there are an average of 12,200 hospitalizations related to influenza and approximately 3,500 deaths attributable to influenza annually in Canada.

Preventing the flu

You can help protect yourself against the flu by getting the flu vaccine. The earlier you get the vaccine, the better your chances are to prevent getting the flu virus. 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 helps your body help itself. The vaccine will trigger your body to fight off infection if you come into contact with the flu. This means you either will not get the flu virus, or the symptoms will be greatly reduced. Each year, different strains of the flu virus appear. Scientists predict which strains will be most likely to affect us for the coming year. These strains are used to make up the year's flu vaccine. This is why it is important to be immunized with a flu vaccine each year, in the fall.

Getting your flu vaccine is good for everyone. When more people get their flu vaccine, the odds of the flu virus spreading goes down. This protects those who are most vulnerable such as children under five, adults 65 years or older, pregnant women, as well as those living with chronic health conditions like diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

Along with getting your annual flu vaccine, you can help stop the spread of the flu, and protect yourself and your family by following a few easy steps:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask to protect yourself and others in indoor or crowded spaces.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth or mask with unwashed hands to prevent germs from entering your system
  • Wash your hands often (or use hand sanitizer), especially after being in contact with others or being in a shared/public space
  • Stay home when you’re sick – do not attend work, school or childcare or visit high-risk settings like long term care or retirement homes and hospitals. Make sure you wear a mask when you go out in public after feeling better until 10 days have passed.
  • Choose to gather with people outside or in well-ventilated spaces where lots of space can be kept between people
  • Cover your cough - cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or into a tissue that you dispose of
  • Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly like doorknobs, light switches and railings
  • Make a plan in the event you or your child/children have to stay home from work, school or daycare

Types of publicly funded vaccines

Age groups who are eligible to receive publicly funded vaccines:
Age group Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV) 
FluLaval Tetra
Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV) 
Fluzone® Quadrivalent
Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV) 
Afluria® Tetra
QIV-HD
Fluzone® High-Dose
Quadrivalent
TIV-adj
Fluad®
six months  to one year  yes  yes  no  no  no
two to four years   yes  yes  no  no  no
five to 64 years  yes  yes  yes  no  no
65 years or older  yes  yes  yes  yes  yes

FluMist® Quadrivalent (AstraZeneca) is authorized for use but it is not publicly funded in this 2022-2023 flu season.

Children six months to under nine years of age who have never had a flu vaccine in their life require two doses of the flu vaccine, given at least four weeks apart. Children six months to less than nine years or anyone older who received one or more doses of seasonal flu vaccine in the previous year, should receive one dose of flu vaccine per season thereafter.

The standard-dose quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIV) continues to be a good option for individuals six months of age and over, including adults over the age of 65 years.

The QIV protects against four flu strains: two different flu A viruses and two different flu B viruses. TIV (Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine) protects against two different flu A viruses and one flu B virus. 

Fluzone® High-Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV-HD) is also available for persons 65 years old and over. QIV-HD contains a higher amount of antigen per strain than standard-dose flu vaccine formulations. QIV-HD has a comparable safety and immunogenicity profile to the previously authorized TIV-HD. For individual-level decision making, NACI in Canada states that when available, high-dose should be used over standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine, given the burden of influenza A(H3N2) disease and the good evidence of better protection compared to standard-dose in adults 65 years of age and older. However, NACI states that any of the available age-appropriate influenza vaccines should be used. There is no preferential recommendation for the use of QIV-HD versus TIV-adj vaccine for this age group. All QIV, QIV-HD, and TIV-adj vaccines protect people 65 years old and over against the flu and the most important thing is for older adults to be vaccinated.

Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-2023

Vaccine precautions

It is important to screen yourself for symptoms before being vaccinated. Public health measures are in place at clinics to keep you and others safe. Please wear a mask, distance yourself from others and stay home if you are ill.

  • The flu vaccine is safe for anyone 6 months of age or older who does not have a contraindication to the flu vaccine.
  • The flu vaccine is safe and recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • Persons with egg allergy can safely receive any influenza vaccine and do not need any special precautions or testing.

You should not get the flu vaccine if you are:

  • Feeling ill? You can get the flu vaccine when you are feeling better.
  • Someone who has had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any of the components of that specific flu vaccine before (with the exception to egg). Consideration may be given to offering another flu vaccine that does not contain the implicated component.
  • Someone who has had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous flu vaccine. A consultation with an allergist is recommended prior to flu vaccination
  • Someone who has developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of a previous flu vaccination, unless another cause was found for the GBS. You may be referred to a physician in this case.

You may also be referred to a physician if you have a history of severe Oculo-Respiratory Syndrome involving difficulty breathing or wheezing following receipt of seasonal flu vaccine.

Administration of flu vaccine with other vaccines

All seasonal influenza vaccines may be given at the same time as, or at any time before or after, administration of other routine vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 6 months of age and older.

On December 9, 2022, NACI updated their guidance now recommending that COVID-19 vaccines may be given on the same day as or at any time before or after non-COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 5 years of age.   

Reports

The dashboard provides an overview of respiratory infections, respiratory outbreaks, and enteric outbreaks in the City of Ottawa during the respiratory surveillance season. For information on influenza activity across Ontario see the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin, and for Canada see the FluWatch report. Regional syndromic surveillance data on Influenza like Illness (ILI), including hospital admissions and emergency department visits, can be accessed through the Viral Respiratory Mapper.

Starting Dec. 14, 2022, the Respiratory and Enteric Surveillance Report has been revised with four pages to explore. Several indicators that provide additional information about respiratory virus activity in Ottawa have been added. Some of these indicators are new, while others will be familiar from the previous version of the Respiratory and Enteric Surveillance Report and the COVID-19 Dashboard. New indicators include:

  • Wastewater surveillance data for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV
  • Percent positivity, previously only displayed for influenza, which now includes COVID-19 and RSV
  • All cause and respiratory-related emergency department visits to Ottawa hospitals

The Overall Surveillance page provides highlights of the past week compared to the previous week, while the three other pages provide additional details.

To control both COVID-19 and influenza and keep our community safe, we ask that all residents continue to follow public health measures. Please also visit our Influenza page to find out how to get your vaccine.

Dashboard updated weekly on Wednesdays during the respiratory surveillance Season

The following data tables are available for download on Open Ottawa:

Supporting documents:

 

To enter the Power BI report using a keyboard, press Tab once after the "full screen mode" link and press Ctrl + Enter. A small box will appear in the top left corner of the report. Press Tab three times to navigate through the options and you will then be inside the report. From here you can navigate the content of the report using Tab and the other keyboard shortcuts enumerated in the Keyboard Shortcuts document.

 

Having trouble viewing the report? Try the full screen mode.

Previous season (2020-2021)

Influenza activity in Ottawa residents was minimal in 2020-2021. Percent positivity did not exceed 5% for at least two weeks in a row. COVID-19 public health measures in 2020-2021 are believed to have greatly reduced influenza activity during the 2020-2021 Influenza season.

 

Past Seasons from 2013-2014 to 2018-2019

Graph of the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in Ottawa, by influenza season, from 2013-2014 to 2018-2019

 Graph showing the number of laboratory confirmed cases of influenza by flu week. The graph shows six curves representing the influenza cases of the previous six seasons. The figure has been converted into a table below.

Date ranges for influenza surveillance (flu weeks) weeks change slightly each season. For ease of interpretation, only 2018-2019 flu week date ranges are captured in the epidemiological curve above. Visit the FluWatch Weeks Calendar for the current season's flu week date ranges.

Data
 Figure Data Table

 Week

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

wk 35

0

0

0

1

0

0

wk 36

0

0

0

0

2

0

wk 37

0

0

0

1

0

0

wk 38

0

0

0

1

1

1

wk 39

0

0

3

0

1

0

wk 40

0

0

0

0

0

1

wk 41

0

0

1

1

3

0

wk 42

0

1

1

0

0

5

wk 43

0

0

1

0

1

2

wk 44

2

0

0

1

0

3

wk 45

0

1

1

2

0

1

wk 46

0

0

0

1

4

5

wk 47

0

0

1

2

3

3

wk 48

4

5

1

5

9

6

wk 49

7

7

4

10

3

17

wk 50

6

21

1

14

13

8

wk 51

24

51

5

42

25

8

wk 52

33

65

4

60

36

20

wk 1

47

97

3

61

72

30

wk 2

45

98

7

50

85

39

wk 3

30

74

5

39

76

42

wk 4

20

56

14

34

59

37

wk 5

11

63

18

38

62

40

wk 6

16

53

29

35

89

37

wk 7

6

46

41

28

106

46

wk 8

6

49

54

25

118

38

wk 9

4

26

56

27

117

42

wk 10

5

34

61

16

72

31

wk 11

13

44

63

25

46

38

wk 12

12

38

23

12

41

26

wk 13

10

24

24

19

39

18

wk 14

9

12

19

11

36

31

wk 15

12

14

14

12

28

36

wk 16

17

14

13

11

13

22

wk 17

12

10

11

14

8

14

wk 18

7

14

9

7

8

14

wk 19

11

2

12

1

5

5

wk 20

8

3

2

7

2

6

wk 21

18

0

3

2

0

9

wk 22

5

0

2

2

0

2

wk 23

2

1

0

1

1

1

wk 24

0

0

0

0

0

2

wk 25

0

0

0

1

0

2

wk 26

1

0

0

1

0

1

wk 27

0

1

0

0

0

1

wk 28

0

0

0

0

0

0

wk 29

0

0

0

2

0

0

wk 30

1

0

0

0

0

1

wk 31

0

0

0

0

0

0

wk 32

0

0

0

0

1

0

wk 33

0

0

0

0

1

1

wk 34

0

0

0

0

1

0

Dominant Influenza Strain(s) & Key Flu Activity Periods
 

2013 - 2014

2014 - 2015

2015 - 2016

2016 - 2017

2017 - 2018

2018 - 2019

Dominant influenza strain(s)

A/H1N1

A/H3N2

A/H1N1

A/H3N2

A/H3N2 and B/Phuket (Yamagata lineage)

A/H1N1 and A/H3N2

First week of flu season

Dec 1-7, 2013*

Nov 23-29, 2014*

Jan 17-23, 2016*

Nov 27- Dec 3, 2016

Nov 26- Dec 2, 2017

Oct 14 – 20, 2018

Week of maximum % test-positivity

Dec 29, 2013 - Jan 4, 2014*

Dec 28, 2014 - Jan 3, 2015*

Mar 6-12, 2016*

Dec 25-31, 2016*

Feb 25- Mar 3, 2018*

 Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2019

Maximum % test-positivity

29.1%*

34.5%*

34.3%*

19.4%

34%

 19.8%

Peak week of flu season±

Dec 31, 2013 - Jan 7, 2014

Jan 7-14, 2015

Mar 10-16, 2016

Dec 31, 2016 -Jan 7, 2017

Peak 1: 
Jan 7-14, 2018

Peak 2:
Feb 18-24, 2018

Feb 10 – 16, 2019
Laboratory-confirmed Influenza Cases
 

2013 - 2014

2014 - 2015

2015 - 2016

2016 - 2017

2017 - 2018

2018 - 2019

Median age

54 years

78 years

45 years

71 years

72 years

62 years

Total flu cases

404

924

506

622

1187

693

Flu A cases (%)

300 (74%)

769 (83%)

402 (79%)

544 (87%)

689 (58%)

666 (96%)

Flu B cases (%)

104 (26%)

153 (17%)

104 (21%)

78 (12%)

492 (41%)

23 (3%)

Hospitalizations

106

234

149

113

Not available

Not available

Deaths

9

27

7

11

21

6

Institutional Respiratory Outbreak
 

2013 - 2014

2014 - 2015

2015 - 2016

2016 - 2017

2017 - 2018

2018 - 2019

Total respiratory outbreaks

73

156

78

132

148

115

Flu A outbreaks

20

91

14

44

42

38

Flu B outbreaks

8

11

3

3

37

3

Non-influenza outbreaks

45

54

61

85

62

74

Hospitalizations

Not available

179

17

46

96

50

Deaths

Not available

48

5

19

34

14

Influenza Immunization (flu vaccine)
 

2013 - 2014

2014 - 2015

2015 - 2016

2016 - 2017

2017 - 2018

2018 - 2019

Vaccine doses distributed in Ottawa

390,640

380,309

379,333

379,241

392,603

434,564

Vaccine effectiveness (95% CI)¥

68%
(58-76%)

9%
(0-27%)

46%
(32-57%)

45%
(31-56%)

42%
(22-55%)

56%
(47-64%) 

Archived Seasonal Respiratory Infections and Enteric Outbreaks Surveillance Reports

2019-2020 Influenza Season

2018-2019 Influenza Season

Data Notes

The data presented are current as of Sep 3, 2019.  Unless otherwise stated, information included in this table was extracted from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) database by Ottawa Public Health (OPH). iPHIS is a dynamic disease reporting system that allows for ongoing updates to data previously entered. Data extracted from the iPHIS database represent a snapshot at the time of extraction and can be different in previous or subsequent reports.

Influenza cases and respiratory infection outbreaks in institutions and public hospitals meeting Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) case definitions for Diseases of Public Health Significance (DPHS), according to Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services, and Accountability (Standards): Infectious Diseases Protocol, are presented. In the City of Ottawa, laboratory confirmation testing of influenza is performed by Public Health Ontario Labs (PHOL) or Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA). Changes to DPHS reporting requirements or case definitions, as well as variability in influenza laboratory testing and reporting algorithms at can limit the ability to compare across influenza seasons.

* Influenza laboratory test-positivity data for influenza seasons prior to the 2016-2017 season are unavailable for the City of Ottawa. Ontario data, available from Public Health Ontario (PHO) and accessed here, are included as proxy measures.

First week when 5% or more of samples submitted for laboratory testing were positive for influenza.

Highest % of samples submitted for testing that were positive for influenza during a single week.

± Week when the highest number of new influenza cases were reported to OPH, by accurate episode date.

Deaths and hospitalizations are limited to line-listed resident or patient cases from influenza outbreaks in institutions and public hospitals. Influenza infections are not confirmed through laboratory testing for all line-listed cases, as per MOH reporting case definitions. Generally, up to four sample are tested, the remaining outbreak cases are assumed to be caused by the same respiratory pathogen.

¥ Flu vaccine effectiveness data are based on the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN) influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates accessed here.

 

The report provides an overview of the influenza activity in the City of Ottawa during Influenza Season. For information on the influenza season across Ontario see the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin, and for Canada see the FluWatch report. Regional syndromic surveillance data on Influenza like Illness (ILI), including hospital admissions and emergency department visits, can be accessed through ILI mapper.

Related information

For the latest public health information, you can contact Ottawa Public Health Information Centre at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656) or on Facebook and Twitter. To reach Telehealth Ontario, call 1-866-797-0000.

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