Influenza (the Flu)

Most us of are at risk of infection from the influenza virus. People at greater risk of complications from flu include:

• Adults and children with certain chronic medical conditions including:
  • Anemia
  • Asthma
  • Lung, heart and kidney disease
  • Neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Weakened immune systems due to disease or medication
  • Morbid obesity
• Residents of nursing homes and chronic care homes
• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Children under 5 years old
• Pregnant women
• Indigenous peoples

Colds, vomiting, diarrhea (often referred to as "stomach flu") and other viral infections are often confused with the flu but different viruses cause them.

Cold and Flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19. For more information about signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you need to get tested, visit the COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) webpage.

Symptoms	Cold	Influenza
Fever	Rare	Usual, high fever (39°C/102°F - 40°C/104°F); sudden onset, lasts 3-4 days Note: The elderly and people who have a weakened immune system might not develop a fever.
Headache	Rare	Usual, can be sudden
Muscle aches & pains	Sometimes, generally mild	Usual, often severe
Tiredness & weakness	Sometimes, generally mild	Usual, severe, might last 2-3 weeks or more
Extreme fatigue	Unusual	Usual, early onset, can be severe
Runny, stuffy nose	Common	Common
Sneezing	Common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Common	Common
Cough/chest discomfort	Sometimes, mild to moderate	Common, can become moderate to severe; cough might last for weeks
Complications	Can lead to sinus congestion or infection, and ear aches*	Can lead to pneumonia, can worsen a current chronic condition, can be life threatening

* Colds do not generally result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia or bacterial infections.

Note: Children might also experience the croup, ear infections, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when they have influenza – symptoms that are not common in adults.

Please note, these symptoms are subject to change. For the latest on symptoms, visit the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Guidance for the Health Sector webpage (external link).

The flu vaccine is made each year to protect against strains of the influenza virus that are expected to be circulating in the community in the upcoming influenza season. The vaccine stimulates your body’s immune system to build antibodies against influenza, making it stronger and ready to fight off the illness before it starts.
 

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (external link), which advises the Public Health Agency of Canada, recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. It is especially recommended for persons:

• at high risk for complications of flu;
• who might spread influenza to high-risk people; and
• who provide essential community services.

Individuals who should not get the flu vaccine include anyone who:

• has had severe allergic reaction to a past influenza vaccine such as:
  • hives
  • throat and/or tongue swelling
  • difficulty breathing or shock
• has a severe allergy to any part of the vaccine except egg;
• has a new or worsening illness, with or without fever (however, if you have a cold or other minor illness, you can still be immunized);
• has had Guillain-Barré Syndrome within 6 weeks of a past influenza vaccine;
• has had Oculorespiratory syndrome with lower respiratory symptoms;
• is under 6 months of age.

If you fall into any of the above categories, depending on the situation, you might need to speak with your physician, or return after an appropriate time interval.

A flu vaccine is available for:

• People six months and older, which provides protection against four common strains of flu virus.
• Older adults, age 65 and older, are eligible to receive either the regular quadrivalent (4-strain) flu vaccine, high-dose trivalent (3 strain), or the high-dose quadrivalent (4-strain) flu vaccine. The high dose trivalent flu vaccine is only available at participating pharmacies for seniors at high risk due to age or in the community with multiple comorbidities.

Talk to your doctor about any questions you have about the flu vaccine.

To get your free flu immunization, book an appointment with:

• your doctor
• a local pharmacy*
• a walk-in clinic

*Children under 2 years of age must visit their doctor. Looking for a family doctor? We can help.

Participating pharmacies are offering both the high-dose and regular flu vaccines. Find the closest participating pharmacy in:

• Burlington (extearnl link)
• Halton Hills (extearnl link)
• Milton (extearnl link)
• Oakville (extearnl link)

Residents can also sign up to be notified when and where flu shots become available by visiting MyFluShot.ca.

Keep a record of your flu vaccination

• After you get your immunization, you will be given a written record. Add this information to your immunization record.
• If you received the vaccine at a pharmacy, share this information with your regular health care provider. 
• If you develop respiratory symptoms over the next few months, this information will be an important part of your care plan.

Safety and side effects

• The flu vaccine is safe. Most people who get the vaccine have either no or mild side effects. Mild side effects, which occur within one to two days after vaccination, include soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site.
• Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. In very rare cases, the flu vaccine has been associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a very uncommon disease that causes muscle paralysis. The risk is about 1 in one million doses of vaccine given.

Ocular respiratory syndrome (ORS)

• In 2000-2001, a small number of people who received the influenza vaccine developed ORS.
• ORS can cause red eyes, cough, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, sore throat and swelling of the face.
• Symptoms occur within 24 hours and resolve within 48 hours.
• Persons who experienced ORS in the past may safely have the flu vaccine but should talk to their health care provider before being immunized.

When do I seek medical attention?

As with other vaccines, you should stay on site in the health care provider’s office (or pharmacy) for at least 15 minutes after receiving your immunization. You should seek medical attention if you experience the following:

• Swelling of the lips, tongue or face
• Trouble breathing
• Hives
• Convulsions
• Dizziness
• Lasting or worsening weakness
• High fever (40°C or 104°F)

Contact your family doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you have any of these symptoms within 3 days of getting the influenza vaccine.
 

Influenza vaccine effectiveness can vary from year to year and among different age and risk groups. It cannot protect you from other types of viruses circulating in the fall/winter months that can cause illness much like influenza. The body needs two weeks to build up protection to the flu virus after you receive immunization; protection might last up to one year.

High-dose quadrivalent vaccine (QIV), high-dose trivalent vaccine (TIV) and standard dose quadrivalent vaccines (QIV) are available for adults 65 years of age and older.

It is recommended that adults 65 years of age and older receive high-dose QIV or high-dose TIV, as it provides higher protection against Influenza A (H3N2), which is the predominant strain seen in this age group. However, Halton Region Public Health recommends getting vaccinated as soon as possible. Do not delay vaccination to wait for a particular product. QIV, high-dose TIV, and high-dose QIV protect against the flu and it is most important for older adults to be vaccinated.

Note, high-dose trivalent vaccine (TIV) are only available at participating pharmacies.

Flu vaccine decision making should be discussed with your health care provider.

FluMist® (intranasal spray) is not available this year through the publicly funded flu program but is available for purchase. Please contact your pharmacy/physician for more information.

• The Ministry of Health orders the vaccine for the province of Ontario.
• The vaccine arrives at the Ministry’s central pharmacy in multiple shipments over a period of two to three months. Typically, the first shipments of flu vaccine arrive by the beginning of October.
• As the shipments come in, each Public Health Unit and pharmacy distributor receives a portion of those shipments.
• Public Health Units then send vaccine out to local health care providers. Pharmacy distributors send the flu vaccine out to the pharmacies.