East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, have implemented a strategy to make the flu vaccine and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization as accessible as possible for eligible people in East Toronto this cold and flu season.
The strategy involves Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) providing doses of flu and RSV vaccines from their supply to other member organizations across ETHP, including primary care providers who are part of East Toronto Family Practice Network (EasT-FPN), local congregate living settings and community health centres.
This allows partners across the OHT to quickly and easily access these vaccines in case they have challenges getting them. This ensures they have the supply they need to confidently organize hyperlocal walk-in clinics, appointments and other methods so they can vaccinate their eligible patients and clients in a timely manner. The strategy does not impact MGH’s ability to immunize eligible individuals at the hospital.
The approach helps ensure eligible people in East Toronto can get the flu vaccine and RSV immunization in a way that is most convenient for them. It also increases the likelihood that high-risk individuals will get vaccinated, which prevents them from getting sick and needing hospital-level care during this cold and flu season.
“The more people we can immunize against respiratory viruses, like RSV, the safer and healthier our community will be,” says Dr. Jeff Powis, Medical Co-Lead at ETHP. “This is not only great for population health, but it ensures we’re able to maintain capacity at our hospitals during a busy time of year for the healthcare system.”
Building on successes from COVID-19 pandemic
The strategy builds on ETHP’s demonstrated success and collaboration in delivering vaccines to its community. From December 2020 to June 2022, ETHP administered more than 630,000 COVID-19 vaccines in East Toronto and beyond – including at two record-breaking clinics – becoming a national leader in vaccine delivery.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned that partnering with our community using an equity-based approach was the most effective way to keep people healthy. That includes ensuring access to supports at people’s family doctor offices or the community site where they already go to get other services,” Dr. Powis says.
“Our flu and RSV strategy expands on this. While Toronto Public Health continues to be a key partner in our work – and is traditionally where our community-based partners go to request vaccine supply – we recognized there was an opportunity to ensure our member organizations received flu and RSV vaccines this season in a more expedited way.”
Supporting pregnant people, infants and high-risk children
As part of the Ontario Government’s new RSV prevention program for infants and high-risk children, MGH is offering the RSV vaccine on-site to pregnant patients who are at 32-36 weeks gestation. The hospital is offering Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody RSV treatment, to all eligible infants born in 2024.
This is being done through the RSV Clinic, an existing paediatric clinic at MGH that was previously reserved for high-risk children. It will now accommodate all East Toronto infants between zero and eight months of age, as well as high-risk children up to 24 months, so they are provided with immediate RSV protection.
MGH is also following up with all patients who test positive for flu, RSV or COVID-19 in its Stavro Emergency Department to ensure these individuals have the follow-up care they need.
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine and RSV vaccine?
Everyone aged six months and older can get the flu vaccine.
Eligible groups for the RSV vaccine include:
- Pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation) delivering near or during the 2024-2025 cold and flu season
- Individuals 60 years of age and older who are:
- Living in long-term care homes
- Living in Elder Care Lodges
- Living in retirement homes
- Hospitalized ALC patients
- Receiving dialysis
- Transplant recipients
- Experiencing homelessness
- Indigenous, including those in urban dwellings
The Ontario Government determines eligibility for the flu vaccine and RSV vaccine. Learn more on our Cold, Flu and COVID-19 Resources webpage.
Where to get the flu and RSV vaccine
Flu vaccines are available at local pharmacies and primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) offices.
RSV vaccines may be available through eligible individuals’ healthcare providers.
The following ETHP member organizations are offering the flu vaccine and/or RSV vaccine to their patients and clients. Please visit their websites or contact them directly to confirm vaccine availability.
It is safe to get the flu and RSV vaccine at the same time or around the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine or any other routine vaccines.