Toronto’s public health agency is encouraging residents to take steps to protect themselves and others during the fall respiratory virus season, which typically ramps up in November and lasts until the spring.
According to Toronto Public Health (TPH), the most effective way individuals can protect themselves against the seasonal rise of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is by getting the flu vaccine along with taking preventative measures like hand washing, staying home when sick and wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation.
High-risk Torontonians can currently receive a yearly influenza vaccination and an updated COVID-19 shot, while the general population will be able to receive both beginning next Monday, Oct. 28.
A vaccine for RSV is being provided to residents 60 and older who live in long-term care homes, elder care lodges and retirement homes, or who are organ transplant recipients, undergoing dialysis, experiencing homelessness or Indigenous.
As of this year, pregnant people, infants less than eight months old and high-risk children under two years old are also able to receive the RSV vaccine.
“Getting updated vaccines will help prevent severe illness and death, especially in those who are at highest risk. That continues to be shown time to time again,” said Dr. Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health at TPH.
Dubey noted that in previous years, respiratory illness has led to strains on the city’s hospital system.
“Last year, SickKids and other pediatric hospitals were overflowing with RSV admissions in infants and young children,” she explained. “We really want to be able to prevent the illness, but also recognize that it can put a significant drain on our health-care system.”
Local health experts are echoing TPH’s recommendations, while also raising concerns on how the respiratory virus season can affect the city’s vulnerable populations.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, said tools that protect communities such as vaccinations aren’t being utilized as well as they should be.
“My biggest concern is that there are vulnerable people that are at risk of severe infection, including hospitalization and death, and we can be taking more steps to protect those individuals,” Bogoch said. “No one tool is perfect, but they all add incremental benefits.”
Dr. James Callahan, the supervisor of community health, infection prevention and control at Michael Garron Hospital, said he’s concerned with how RSV can affect young children — but is optimistic about the new vaccine program targeting infants.
“I'm hopeful that these new options are going to make [RSV] a little bit less of a burden,” Callahan said.
Callahan warned against using expired rapid antigen tests for COVID-19. The tests packaged in a bright green box that were provided for free by the Ontario government during the pandemic expired earlier this year.
“If the rapid antigen tests are expired, it’s best to not use them,” he said.
Michael Garron Hospital is taking steps to address any potential surges related to the respiratory season, such as increasing staffing in certain areas to accommodate any spikes in patients and screening for anyone that comes to the hospital with symptoms that could be contagious.
The University Health Network (UHN), which consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, will be requiring those waiting for or receiving care to wear a mask as of Oct. 28. Masking will remain optional in common areas such as lobbies and food courts.
“We managed the largest barrage of respiratory illnesses that we'd ever seen throughout COVID,” Bogoch explained. “We've been tested. Obviously you don't want to work under those circumstances, but we can work under those circumstances.”