Free flu shots available in Ontario from this week

Free flu shots will be available for the general public in Ontario starting Monday.

From Oct. 28 the vaccines will be at primary care offices, participating pharmacies and some public health units for individuals over six months.

The shots had already been made available for more vulnerable and high priority individuals at the start of the month.

It takes two weeks for the human body to develop an immune response from the flu vaccine.

CHCH spoke with pharmacist Phil Hauser who says it’s common to have a sore shoulder, headaches or a mild fever following the vaccine.

According to the Ministry of Health it is safe to receive a Covid-19 shot and the flu shot at the same time.

If doing so, Hauser advises to get the shots in separate arms to help mitigate any soreness in the following days.

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccines are also free of charge for eligible people, including infants, high-risk children up to 24 months old, and residents of long-term care homes and retirement homes.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says it is important to stay up to date on vaccinations, noting a recent rise in cases of whooping cough.

READ MORE: Unpredictable whooping cough outbreaks see cases rise in Ontario, drop in Quebec

Health officials stress to practice proper hygiene such as sneezing or coughing into one’s elbow, washing hands well and staying home if people are feeling sick.

With files from the Canadian Press