As the colder temperatures set in and students gather closely in classrooms, it’s crucial to be aware of the spread of respiratory viruses beyond COVID-19 during the back-to-school season. In addition to protecting against the flu, vaccination rates in Canada are declining.
Throughout the 2024-2025 flu season, only one-third of adults opted for a flu shot, marking a decrease from previous years. A similar pattern is seen among children, with 31% of youth aged six months to 17 years receiving a flu shot during the 2023-2024 season, down from 34% in the previous season.
Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatrician, infectious disease specialist, and microbiologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre, points to studies showing a decline in vaccination rates among both adults and children.
Explaining the rise in respiratory viruses during winter, Dr. Papenburg mentions factors like humidity, temperature, and sunlight, which play a role in promoting the circulation of viruses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Increased indoor human contact during colder weather further contributes to the spread of these viruses, particularly in settings like schools and daycares.
The influenza vaccination campaign typically kicks off before the winter months to provide protection during the peak flu season from November to March. Provincial vaccination campaigns, starting around October, aim to reach as many individuals as possible to minimize flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Free for all individuals aged six months and older in Canada, flu vaccination is especially crucial for those with chronic illnesses, underlying health conditions, young children, and seniors. Last year, over 25,500 hospitalizations and 689 deaths were linked to the flu in Canada, with more than 1,100 pediatric hospitalizations reported.
Highlighting the importance of vaccination in preventing flu-related hospitalizations, Dr. Papenburg stresses that getting vaccinated can reduce the risk of severe outcomes by half.
