Cold, Flu and COVID-19 Resources

Last updated: October 10, 2024

Here's how to help keep you and your loved ones safe during cold and flu season:

• Get vaccinated
• Stay home if you feel sick
• Wash your hands often
• Choose well-ventilated spaces whenever possible
• Wear a well-fitted mask in crowded indoor settings

Where to get the flu vaccine

People who are considered high-risk can now get the flu vaccine at some pharmacies and primary care offices (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner).

Everyone in Ontario can get the flu vaccine at the following locations starting October 28, 2024. Learn more about the flu vaccine.

• Your local pharmacy
  • Please contact your local pharmacy to confirm availability.
• Your primary care provider (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner)
  • Please contact your primary care provider to confirm availability.

All individuals aged six months and older are encouraged to get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available to them. It is safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time or around the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine or any other routine vaccines.

For the 2024-2025 season, we 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. Learn more about our strategy.

Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine

People who are considered high-risk can now get the updated COVID-19 vaccine at some pharmacies. The vaccine will be available at other healthcare provider offices in the coming weeks. The updated COVID-19 vaccine better protects against the KP.2 variant.

Everyone in Ontario can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine at the following locations starting October 28, 2024. Learn more about the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

• Your local pharmacy
  • Please contact your local pharmacy to confirm availability.
• Your primary care provider (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner)
  • Please contact your primary care provider to confirm availability.
• Other clinics found at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine
• Toronto Public Health clinics (only for children aged four and younger)
  • Book an appointment at a Toronto Public Health clinic if your child is eligible.

All individuals aged six months and older are encouraged to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them and it has been at least three months since their last COVID-19 dose or infection (whichever is longer).

Where to get the RSV immunization

In fall 2024, the Ontario Ministry of Health introduced a new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program for infants and high-risk children. These groups can get the RSV vaccine through:

• Pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation) delivering near or during the 2024-2025 cold and flu season can get the RSV vaccine through their prenatal care provider to protect their newborn. This vaccine is available through participating prenatal healthcare providers, primary care providers (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner) and midwives.
  • For the 2024-2025 season, Michael Garron Hospital is offering the RSV vaccine on-site to pregnant patients who are at 32-36 weeks gestation. 
• Infants born in 2024-2025 and high-risk children up to 24 months can get monoclonal antibody treatment for immediate RSV protection. This is available through hospitals, birthing centers, primary care providers and specialty clinics.
  • For the 2024-2025 season, Michael Garron Hospital is offering Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody RSV treatment, to all eligible infants born in 2024.

People aged 60 and older can also talk to their healthcare provider about getting the RSV vaccine. Learn more about RSV.

For the 2024-2025 season, we 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. Learn more about our strategy.

Where to get other vaccines for school-aged children

To help school-aged children catch up on their routine vaccines, Toronto Public Health is offering vaccines under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) and Student Immunization Program (SIP). This act and program require students to be vaccinated against certain vaccine-preventable diseases or have a valid exemption to avoid suspension from school.

Vaccines include those for Hepatitis B, BPV, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal, pertussis and varicella (if born in 2019 or later). School-aged children can get these vaccines at Toronto Public Health clinics by appointment. Book an appointment at a Toronto Public Health clinic.

Health Access Taylor-Massey is also offering vaccines this fall to school-aged children who live in the Taylor-Massey neighbourhood and surrounding areas. Visit ethp.ca/HATM to see upcoming vaccine clinics.

What to do if you have cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms

If your symptoms are severe and potentially life-threatening (e.g. shortness of breath or chest pain), please call 9-1-1 immediately or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

If your symptoms are not life-threatening, take the Ontario Government’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment for recommendations on what to do next. Recommended next steps may include self-isolating or, if you are at higher risk of severe illness, seeking COVID-19 testing and treatment like the Paxlovid pill.

Where to get care for cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms

If you have an urgent but non-life threatening health issue, such as mild cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms, we encourage you to contact your family doctor, nurse practitioner or other primary care provider. Find other places to get care in East Toronto at ethp.ca/FindServices.

If you need to go Michael Garron Hospital’s (MGH) Emergency Department, please arrive prepared by reading the information on MGH’s website(opens in a new tab), if you are able to.

Where to get COVID-19 treatment

If you have symptoms (even if they are mild) and you are at higher risk of severe COVID‑19, seek testing and care immediately by either:

• Contacting a primary care provider (e.g. your family doctor, nurse practitioner or your treating specialist)
• Contacting your local pharmacy to find out if there is a pharmacist available that can prescribe Paxlovid 
• Visiting a Clinical Assessment Centre (available in select areas only)

You can use a rapid antigen test (RAT) if you have one and it is not expired. However, these tests may be negative in the early stage of infection. It may also be inaccurate if the test is expired. If you have symptoms (even if mild) and are at higher risk of severe COVID‑19, seek PCR testing and care immediately if the test is negative or if you don’t have a RAT.

Information about the COVID-19 vaccine

ETHP has developed materials to help our staff, physicians, clients, families and caregivers make confident and educated decisions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, or are interested in promoting vaccine confidence in your community, we encourage you to read, watch and share the resources below.