'Get your shots,' health unit officials remind Londoners

Public health officials in the London area are encouraging Londoners to roll up their sleeves and get immunized as respiratory virus season approaches and the Ontario government announces its vaccine rollout schedule.

Officials with the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) say it's quick and easy to protect yourself against COVID-19, the flu, and in some cases RSV with updated vaccines becoming available for the general population in late October.

"We'd just like to see everybody consider protecting not only themselves, but those around them, with immunizations," said Melissa Thompson, the health unit's manager of vaccine preventable diseases.

Last week, the Ontario government released its schedule for fall immunization programs and started encouraging residents to get flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

The province said free flu and COVID-19 shots will be available to Ontarians as of Oct. 27. COVID-19 vaccines will be available for certain high-risk and priority groups starting the week of Sept. 22, while flu vaccines will be available to those same individuals starting the week of Sept. 29, according to the province.

According to Thompson, the late October eligibility date is in line with the start of respiratory virus season.

"Respiratory season typically starts at the end of October, beginning of November, so we like to have people protected at the very beginning of the season," she said. "Vaccine deliveries come in starting now and we need to phase that out because we can't vaccinate everybody all at the same time."

The earlier availability for certain groups is to ensure those individuals have immunity before the viruses begin to spread rapidly.

The province said groups eligible for early vaccination include hospitalized patients, hospital staff, residents and staff in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other similar settings, and people aged 65 or older.

On top of vaccines for flu and COVID-19, Thompson said, the MLHU is now offering immunization for RSV as well for specific groups.

RSV is a respiratory virus that spreads every year in the community and particularly effects children and the elderly. It can spread easily, Thompson said.

"For those who are possibly immunocompromised, younger or older, that can cause complications, including some outbreaks within retirement homes and long-term care homes. With these vaccines available now, getting more protection will help to decrease the incidence in the community and hopefully decrease the spread," she said.

Looking ahead to the upcoming respiratory virus season, Thompson said new strains of both COVID-19 and influenza are accounted for in the most recent vaccines that will soon be available.

People seeking immunization can find it at pharmacies and healthcare providers, with RSV immunization being limited to healthcare providers and hospitals. All three vaccines will also be administered at the MLHU's clinics for children four years old or younger, Thompson said.

"All [of the shots] can be given on the same day," she said.

Thompson and other experts recommend those who hesitate to take up vaccination speak with their doctors to learn more about their safety and efficacy. The MLHU helps by making that information available for doctors and the general public.

"We do get a lot of questions about vaccines, and we are very willing to answer those questions as well," Thompson said.