Getting your flu shot is more important than ever to keep you and your loved ones safe, especially if you’re over the age of 65.

And yes, you CAN have both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. 

Medical experts warn that the seasonal flu could make the already debilitating symptoms of coronavirus worse, putting adults over 65 who are most at risk in even more danger of severe and long-term health outcomes, or even death.

Studies show that for those with pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, the flu can make you 6 times more likely to have a heart attack.

Each year seniors are hit the hardest by flu season, especially those in care homes. In fact, 60% of seniors who catch the flu end up in hospital or worse.

This fall and winter, getting your flu shot is the best way to show you care about your health and the health of the people around you. Even if you can’t get the more effective NACI recommended high-dose vaccine, the regular dose still provides strong protection.

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NACI continues to recommend that:

• A seasonal influenza vaccine should be offered annually to anyone 6 months of age and older who does not have contraindications to the vaccine. It is particularly recommended for the following groups: (Strong NACI Recommendation)
  • People at high risk of severe disease, influenza-related complications, or hospitalization
    • Children 6 months up to 5 years of age
    • Adults 65 years of age and older
    • Adults and children with certain chronic health conditions
    • Individuals who are pregnant
    • People of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
    • Indigenous peoples
  • People who can pass the influenza virus to those at high risk
    • Healthcare and other care providers, including childcare providers
    • Household contacts of people at high risk
  • People who provide essential community services
    • Healthy individuals working in essential services (e.g., grocery, pharmacy, utility services) where absenteeism due to illness would cause an interruption in essential services
  • People in direct contact with poultry infected with avian influenza during culling operations
• When children 6 months to less than 9 years of age receive a seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time, they should be given 2 doses 1 month apart. Afterwards, they only need 1 dose every fall.
• If a seasonal influenza vaccine is given for the first time to an individual 9 years of age or older, only 1 dose is recommended for that year and future years.
• Household contacts of infants younger than 6 months of age, or members of a household expecting a newborn during the influenza season, are recommended to receive the influenza vaccine because infants younger than 6 months are at high risk but cannot receive the vaccine.

For the full statement, including supporting evidence and rationale, please see NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2023-2024.

CARP has been pushing provincial/territorial governments to fully fund the NACI recommended high-dose flu shot for seniors and make it easily accessible through doctor’s offices, pharmacies and other convenient locations.

Advocacy Win: Now NACI recommended high dose flu vaccines are available at no charge to adults 65+ in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, New Brunswick and P.E.I.

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• 7 in 10 people over 65 have a medical condition that makes them “high-risk” for severe complications from the seasonal flu.
• People 65 years of age and older have the highest hospitalization rate (60%) and the highest likelihood of death (66%) from the seasonal flu
• Experts warn that catching the flu would make you much more vulnerable to COVID-19
• Seniors in long-term care are at increased risk of contracting flu. 62% of reported outbreaks in 2018-19 were in long-term care facilities, and a further 22% were in other settings (e.g. retirement homes, correctional facilities, etc.)
• The high-dose flu vaccine is proven to be more effective for seniors

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FluWatchers contribute to Canada’s national health surveillance program, FluWatch, to help track the spread of the flu and flu-related illness across Canada.

The FluWatch program is essential part of public health that aims to:

• Detect: Detect and respond to outbreaks and other events of public health concern
• Inform: use the data and information to create, improve and apply to public health programs and policies to control the flu.
• Enable: Make sure the information gathered on the flu in Canada supports international flu monitoring and is ready in case of a global outbreak

Ready to get started?

Become A FluWatcher!

Or click here  for a Step by Step to Sign Up.

Once you sign up to become a FluWatcher, you will receive a weekly email, asking if you have had a cough or fever in the previous week. It only takes about 15 seconds to answer. There may be a few more questions, depending on your answers to the first two questions.

The survey answers are anonymous, and all information collected follows the rules of the Privacy Act.

Remember, it is important to answer the questionnaire each week, even if you are healthy, to allow for accurate reports.

FluWatchers
Public Health Agency of Canada
650H-130 Colonnade Rd
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Email: [email protected]

FluWatchers normally track the flu but, with the ongoing pandemic, the focus is shifting to track COVID-19 over the coming months. The sign-up process and weekly surveys are the same. The COVID Watch report is published every day.

Become a FluWatcher  and join COVID Watch today!

• These resources include:
  • How to tell the difference between the cold and the flu Here.