Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
    • File Search Request
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Consumption and Treatment Services
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Influenza Flu

HomeMy HealthInfectious DiseasesInfluenza (Flu)
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Woman blowing nose because she's sick

Influenza is a contagious viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs. The flu can be very serious. Flu causes about 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.

The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent its spread. Talk to your health care provider or visit a participating pharmacy to get the flu vaccine. 

View/download our flyer on the flu – caring for someone sick at home, or learn more about the flu from Ontario Health.

What are the symptoms?

Common flu symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Runny or Stuffy Nose                  
  • Sore Throat
  • Headache
  • Muscle or Body Aches
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Ear Pain, Vomiting, or Diarrhea in Children

Some side effects of the flu vaccine (fever, headache, fatigue) can look similar to COVID-19 symptoms. If these occur, they usually begin soon after vaccination and last 1-2 days. Seek health care advice if symptoms persist.

How can I prevent the flu?

Follow these steps to protect yourself, your family and your community from the flu:

  • Get a flu shot every year
  • Clean your hands often
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Clean and disinfect items and surfaces that are touched a lot
  • Stay home when you are sick

Learn more on our preventing infection page. You can also Visit www.ontario.ca/page/flu-facts for more details about how to prevent getting and spreading the flu. 

For preventing flu in children, review this infographic resource from Immunize Canada. 

Where can I get the flu vaccine?

  • Ages 2+ can be vaccinated by a primary care provider OR a pharmacy

  • Anyone 6 months to up to 2 years is encouraged to their primary care provider for a flu shot.

 

Child on a parents lap after receiving the flu vaccine 

Looking for a flu clinic in Ontario?

Is the flu vaccine safe?

The flu vaccine is very safe. The flu vaccine may cause mild side effects such as a sore arm or redness where the needle was given. It cannot cause the flu.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every year, especially:

  • Seniors
  • Pregnant women
  • Children
  • People with health problems  
  • Anyone who takes care of children, elderly people or people with health problems

Who should not get the flu vaccine?

The flu shot is not recommended for:

  • Infants under 6 months of age
  • Anyone who has had a serious reaction to the vaccine in the past
  • Anyone with a serious allergy to any component of the vaccine

Flu Activity 

If you would like to see how flu is circulating across the province, please visit Public Health Ontario’s website. 

Flu information for professionals

  • Influenza information for health care providers and pharmacies
  • Influenza information for long-term care homes
Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Infectious Diseases
    Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
    • A-Z List of Infections
    • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
      Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
      • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
      • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
        Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers Menu
        • COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
      • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
      • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
        Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers Menu
        • COVID-19 FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers
      • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Influenza (Flu)
    • Preventing Infection
    • Tuberculosis
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
      Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
      • Breastfeeding
      • Child Safety
      • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Babies 0-12 months
        • Toddlers 1-3 years
        • Preschoolers 3-5 years
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
      • Preconception and Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Immunization and Vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
      • Immunization at Every Age
      • Immunization Exemptions
      • Immunization Records and Reporting
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Immunization Clinics
      • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Food and Eating
      Toggle Section Food and Eating Menu
      • Food and Eating for Every Life Stage
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
      • Bike Safety
      • Child Safety
      • Concussions
      • Sun Safety
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • Mental Health and Addiction Support
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.