As children prepare to return to school, experts caution parents about the rise in respiratory viruses expected in the upcoming months. Recent data highlights a concerning trend in vaccination rates from the previous year.
Data from Ontario Public Health indicates that while overall positivity rates for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV remain relatively low, there has been a gradual increase. COVID-19 positivity in Ontario rose to 1.4 per cent in mid-August, up from a low of 0.4 per cent in July.
Dr. Dale Kalina Samji from McMaster University’s Infectious Disease Division emphasized the potential severity of flu seasons, drawing parallels to the challenges faced in previous years. The onset of cooler weather and the return of children to school and daycare environments typically lead to an uptick in respiratory illnesses.
A recent report by Merck Canada revealed that 48 per cent of surveyed Canadians did not receive any respiratory vaccines in the past year, indicating a significant gap in protection. Dr. Alan Kaplan, chair of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, underscored the importance of individuals, especially those at high risk, being informed about vaccination opportunities.
The survey showed that only 44 per cent received the flu vaccine, while 34 per cent received the COVID-19 vaccine within the last year. Despite the importance of prevention, 64 per cent expressed hesitancy in discussing respiratory illness prevention with healthcare professionals in the coming months.
Experts stress the critical role of vaccination in safeguarding against respiratory illnesses and advise parents to keep sick children at home to prevent the spread of infections.
