As Canadian students return to school and the weather cools down, experts warn about the upcoming fall season bringing a surge in seasonal illnesses. According to the latest federal surveillance report monitoring influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), these respiratory threats are currently at low and stable levels but are expected to rise as colder weather drives people indoors, facilitating the spread of viruses. Dr. Ayisha Kurji, a pediatrician in Saskatoon, emphasized that as people spend more time indoors, emergency room visits and hospitalizations, especially among children, tend to increase.
Immunologist Matthew Miller from McMaster University advises Canadians to consider getting their seasonal vaccines early. Last year, there was an unusually severe early peak in flu cases, highlighting the importance of timely immunization to allow the body to develop protective immunity. Miller stressed the significance of receiving the fall flu shot, recommended for all Canadians aged six months and older, as part of a broader range of vaccines families should consider.
Apart from the flu shot, Canadians are encouraged to avail themselves of COVID-19, RSV, and other vaccines based on national recommendations. For high-risk individuals like older adults, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions, a COVID-19 shot is strongly recommended to reduce hospitalizations. RSV vaccines are also available for older adults and pregnant individuals to combat the severe risks the virus poses to newborns.
Research has shown that newer RSV vaccines have significantly decreased serious RSV-related illnesses, particularly in older adults and newborns. Besides seasonal vaccines, experts emphasize the importance of staying up to date with routine vaccinations to prevent the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, which can lead to various complications, including pneumonia and even death.
With vaccination rates against measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases falling below recommended levels, there has been a resurgence of measles outbreaks across North America. In Canada, this has resulted in thousands of new cases and a loss of official measles elimination status. Health officials stress the critical role of vaccination in preventing measles and other preventable diseases, highlighting the need for higher vaccination coverage to protect vulnerable populations, especially children.